Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Stanly News & Press picked up two honors at the North Carolina Press Association awards banquet Thursday night.

Sports editor Charles Curcio won second place for sports coverage in the

Community News division.

“We have changed the way we report sports in the SNAP and thesnaponline.com,” B.J. Drye, editor of The Stanly News & Press, said. “Charles and I have had many conversations about what is needed in your sports section. His coverage very much crosses over into our internet presence through videos and tweets from games.”

Staff writer Chris Miller received third place for education reporting for his story, “At Central Elementary, ties are more than a fashion statement.”

Contest judges comments included, “Great play on words. This displays exceptional reporting with a clever style.”

Miller’s lede for the story was, “The ties that have helped bind Central Elementary School so far this year have been, well, literal ties.”

The story focused on Chauncey Bruton, who is in his first year as behavioral management technician for Central Elementary. Bruton’s colorful ties led to students wearing ties, and many students now see him as a role model.

View the story at https://www.thesnaponline.com/2019/09/10/at-central-elementary-ties-are-more-than-a-fashion-statement/

“Some of Chris’ best writing is when it focuses on people, especially their interactions with students,” Drye said. “Obviously, we do not write to win awards. However, it is nice to be recognized by our peers for the last year of bringing Stanly County news and views to your home.”