CONTRIBUTED PHOTO From left to right, correspondent Sara Jordan-Heintz, Tama-Grundy reporter Ruby McAllister, Times-Republican/Tama-Grundy Publisher Grant Gibbons and Managing Editor Robert Maharry pose for a photo with the first place plaques the newspapers received at the 2026 Iowa Newspaper Association (INA) banquet in Des Moines on Thursday night.

The annual Iowa Newspaper Association (INA) convention and awards banquet were held on Thursday at the downtown Marriott in Des Moines, and as in years past, the Times-Republican and Tama-Grundy weekly publications — the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle, North Tama Telegraph and Sun Courier — walked away with a host of Better Newspaper Contest awards recognizing excellence in local journalism.

The T-R, competing in Daily Class V against the state’s largest newspapers, won second place for Best Sports Section, third place in Best Breaking News Story for reporter Lana Bradstream’s piece on the unconventional departure of a former Iowa Veterans Home employee, third place in Best News Feature Story for Managing Editor Robert Maharry’s story on Taylor’s Maid-Rite Owner Sandy Taylor Short’s beloved loose meat sandwich being featured at George Motz’s Hamburger America in New York City, and third place in Best Sports Story for Jake Ryder’s article on the Grundy Center football team’s state championship three-peat.

The Tama-Toledo News Chronicle took home a total of four first place plaques in Weekly Class I, including Best News Story for “The Holy War,” a piece that correspondent Michael D. Davis wrote about the Satanic Temple of Iowa’s controversial reading of “Paradise Lost” on the Tama County Courthouse lawn.

“It has it all: people wringing their hands, blasting gospel music, elected officials constrained by the First Amendment and an overview of what the Satanists actually believe. Highly informative, very well written and well worth the read,” the judges from the Minnesota Press Association wrote in their comments.

Additionally, Ryder won Best Sports Story for an article on South Tama County (STC) wrestler Autumn Elsbury capping an undefeated season with a state championship, and the News Chronicle won Best Editorial Page and Best Use of Social Media in its class. Beyond that, News Chronicle correspondents Sara Jordan-Heintz and Jonathan Meyer won second and third place, respectively, in the Best Personality Feature category for “Going to the Mat for Love” — Jordan-Heintz’s Valentine’s Day feature about Elsbury’s parents, Brintley and Danny — and “Trial by Fire” — about then-STC senior Belle Johannsen getting job shadow experience with the Marshalltown Fire Department.

The News Chronicle also won second place in the best front page competition, third place in the Harrison “Skip” Weber Coverage of Court and Crime category, and third place for Continuing Coverage regarding the ongoing controversy over wind energy in Tama County.

At the North Tama Telegraph, the newspaper won three first place awards: Best Continuing Coverage in Weekly Class I for its coverage of a situation involving the Traer Municipal Utilities Board by Ruby McAllister and Best Sports Photo for McAllister’s snapshot of the North Tama volleyball team celebrating a state berth.

“This photo captures the excitement and energy of a team that is state-bound – as well as the supporters in the stands. What an amazing moment to capture and highlight in the community newspaper,” the judges wrote.

“Dengler Domain” author Sean Dengler also won first place in the Master Columnist contest. McAllister took second place in the Best News Photo contest for a picture from a local Memorial Day service and in Best Sports Feature Story for her piece on North Tama’s coaches imploring the school board to consider a move to 8-man football. The newspaper as a whole took second place for Coverage of Court and Crime with a focus on the murder trial of Karina Cooper and the sentencings of both Cooper and her co-conspirator, Huston Danker.

The Sun-Courier took first place in Coverage of Education primarily for McAllister’s stories about the Gladbrook-Reinbeck school district and the strained relationship between the two primary communities, and she took second place in the Best News Feature Photo contest for a shot from the Reinbeck Art Festival. McAllister took second place in the overall Best Photographer contest for her class.

“From lighting, to capturing portraits and even crash scenes, the photographer does a very nice job of capturing the community. My personal favorite is the young lady singing in the play. Nice job,” the judges wrote.

The Iowa Falls Times-Citizen was recognized as the INA’s 2026 Newspaper of the Year.