Custer County Chronicle Publisher Charley Najacht was elected president of South Dakota Newspaper Association during the group's 130th annual convention last weekend.

Najacht and his wife Norma also publish the Hill City Prevailer and the Winner Advocate.

In accepting the gavel from outgoing President Lucy Halverson of the Lyman County Herald, Najacht emphasized that South Dakota's 130 newspapers are important to the success and vitality of the communities they serve.

"Newspapers in South Dakota will continue to be a vital source of information in their communities for many years to come. Our readers and advertisers rely on us to provide local news and promotional services that directly affect their lives," Najacht said. ...

More than 160 first-place awards for excellence in news, editorial and advertising were announced during the South Dakota Newspaper Association's 130th convention Friday and Saturday at Cedar Shore Resort, Oacoma.

Awards were given in categories for news and sports writing, editorial and column writing, photography, page design and advertising.

News-editorial contest results can be downloaded here.

Advertising contest results can be downloaded here.

General excellence awards were won in various circulation categories by the Chamberlain/Oacoma Sun, Custer County Chronicle, Mobridge Tribune, The Daily Republic at Mitchell and the Rapid City Journal. General excellence awards are given to the top newspapers in each circulation group, as determined by judges.

Sweepstakes awards went to the Onida Watchman, Custer County Chronicle, Mobridge Tribune, Yankton Daily Press ...

State Senator Al Novstrup of Aberdeen will be honored by South Dakota Newspaper Association this week for his legislative work to improve openness and transparency in government.

Each year SDNA recognizes an individual or organization demonstrating outstanding efforts to protect the public’s right to know with its Eagle Award. The award will be given to Novstrup during SDNA’s 130th convention Friday at Cedar Shore Resort, Oacoma.

In 2012, Novstrup was the prime sponsor of two open government bills that were signed into law. One new law, which takes effect July 1, will clarify that public officials’ employment contracts are public records. A second new law will make it more convenient for ...

Terry Woster, who covered most of the state’s biggest stories during his four decades as a journalist, will receive the South Dakota Newspaper Association’s Distinguished Service Award during the group’s upcoming convention.

Woster will be honored April 27 at Cedar Shore Resort, Oacoma, during SDNA’s 130th annual convention.

Woster grew up on a farm in Lyman County, graduated from South Dakota State University in 1966 with a journalism degree and began his professional career at the Chamberlain Register. From there he worked for the Volga Tribune and the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls before going to work in 1969 as a correspondent and state government reporter in Pierre for The Associated ...

Longtime newspaperman Noel Hamiel will be inducted into the South Dakota Newspaper Hall of Fame on April 27 at Cedar Shore Resort, Oacoma.

Hamiel will be honored during the 130th convention of the South Dakota Newspaper Association. He becomes the 103rd member of the Newspaper Hall of Fame.

Hamiel retired as publisher of The Daily Republic in Mitchell in 2007 after 35 years in the newspaper business. He began his career in 1972 at the Huron Plainsman as a sports writer. He also worked at the Brookings Register, Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, The Morning Sun in Pittsburg, Kan., the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan and the Cincinnati Post.

When he retired ...