LEWISTON — The Sun Journal picked up four journalism awards during the annual New England Newspaper & Press Association spring conference.

Designer Jason Rathbun won first place in the illustration category for his detailed diagram of Lewiston’s aerial truck, pointing out to readers what kind of equipment was on the truck and what it was used for. The illustration also included details like cost, weight, engine size and life expectancy of Engine 3, a Pierce Ascendent purchased for close to $1 million. The engine is equipped with a 107-foot steel ladder capable of reaching every roof in Lewiston

Former Staff Writer Lindsay Tice won a first place award in the health category for her ongoing coverage of violations at Lewiston’s Marshwood nursing home pre-pandemic, which included multiple interviews with family members of then-current and former patients. During her investigation, Tice learned that — in the 12 months between the fall of 2018 and the fall of 2019 —Marshwood received 43 health and safety citations from state regulators. The average number of health and safety citations at other Maine nursing homes during the same period was 4.7.

Staff Writer Donna Perry and Chief Photographer Russ Dillingham were second-place award winners in the spot news category for their live coverage of the explosion  that leveled the LEAP building in Farmington in September 2019, killing veteran firefighter Capt. Michael Bell and injuring seven others.

Staff Writer Christopher Williams and Executive Editor Judith Meyer earned a second-place award in the courts and crime category for coverage of the implications of illegal drug use by former Lewiston police officer Nicholas Meserve. Williams was honored for his reporting on how Meserve’s actions affected two criminal cases  and Meyer for her editorial explaining why the Sun Journal was covering the Meserve case and the importance that the public fully understands the implications of the officer’s actions.

NENPA is the professional trade organization for newspapers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Rhode Island. The conference was held as a virtual event Thursday and Friday.


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