Jeremiason takes first in state with sports photo

Minneota photographer Brian Jeremiason took first place honors in the 2016-2017 Better Newspaper Contest for the state of Minnesota.

Jeremiason's photo of K. P. Kompelien Field baseball action from behind the fence was rated No. 1 for weeklies with up to 1,500 circulation.

"We're very proud of Brian. He's been providing tremendous sports photographs for The Mascot for the past year and it's really nice to see it pay off with a top award in the state of Minnesota," said Mascot Publisher Byron Higgin.

Called, "Under the Lights," the photo was called by judges, "A unique shot of an otherwise ordinary scene. It's framed well, too!"

Second place went to the Parkers Prairie Independent and third to the Stillwater Gazette.

The annual Minnesota Newspaper Awards Banquet was held Thursday night, at which time the awards were handed out.

The Mascot took three thirds as well — and writer Scott Thoma had a hand in all three of those.

His awards included:

•Sports Story. His account of the former Minneota "Red Eye" men's softball team and their tremendous success was honored by the state association.

•Social Issues Story: Thoma's account of Minneota American Legion Commander Jim Fink's drive to the state legislature to get a law changed so his Legion could collect money for a memorial from the Lyon County Board won the honor. Judges called it, "Concise and a little inspiring."

•Business Story: Thoma and Publisher Byron Higgin worked together for this third place story called, "Rebuilding Minneota." It was story of news businesses coming into the community despite the fact several others had closed up. The judges called it, "A good concept."