Independent writers, photographers win prizes

Independent Staff

ALBUQUERQUE — Kathy Helms, an investigative reporter for the Independent, won two first place awards in Saturday's Associated Press Managing Editor annual awards for local writing during the year 2006.

In the category, which features medium-sized newspaper around the state of New Mexico, Helms won top prize for her investigative reporting on the Energy Connection, featuring a series of articles focused on who wants to develop energy sources on the Navajo reservation and who doesn't, and the reasons for both.

Helms, who covers stories from Window Rock and Fort Defiance, also won first place for her features article "Navigating the Narrows," a story about her horseback trip with Navajo delegates through some treacherous canyons on the reservation, and she also won second place in the continuing coverage category for her coverage on the Desert Rock power plant protestors.

Other winners from the Independent include photographers John Bowersmith and Matt Hinshaw for their images taken of rodeo events and motocross, for the Sports Photo division of the competition , Independent reporter Zsombor Peter for his feature article on Gallup's tent city people and Natasha Kaye Johnson, for her sports newswriting article titled "One Last Cheer."

The New Mexico Associated Press Managing Editors announced its awards Saturday at a banquet at the Marriott Pyramid in Albuquerque.