Top of the Top

We already know SFR Art Director Anson Stevens-Bollen has the goods, but now the top journalists in the Western states along the Rocky Mountains are affirming his success with a first place honor in this year's Top of the Rockies journalism awards hosted by the Society of Professional Journalists.

In addition to praising his illustration on the New Mexico Legislature called Inside the Chorizo Lab (seen above), the judges also gave top honors to SFR Deputy Editor Enrique Limón for headline writing with his gems on Highway to Bell; Mime, body, spirit; and G Wiz and a second place award in arts and entertainment enterprise reporting for his story on George RR Martin's plans to open artists' studios.

He took a second place prize for a single arts and entertainment story for the victorious tearjerker on the life of an exotico, Wham, Glam, Thank You Ma'am.

Saúl Armendáriz wrestles under the name Ca

ssandro. Photo by Enrique Limón.

The judges didn't stop there:

Peter St. Cyr, a regular contributor to SFR, got props for investigative enterprise reporting into medical cannabis labeling for

with a first place award. He also got top honors in the news feature category for

, which explored legal drama in the quest for immigrants' seeking citizenship.

Independent journalists Laura Paskus earned a first place prize for her SFR contribution on environmental reporting for Divert and Conquer, a story on New Mexico's dubious, and expensive, plans to divert the Gila River

Judges also awarded first place to Joey Peters in politics enterprise reporting for Email Fail, a look at hurdles to transparency that come with electronic correspondence, and second place for education enterprise reporting. He also earned second place award for health reporting for Obstacles, a story about how insurance benefits for autism treatment are still short, and third place for a general reporting series on his marijuana reform work. Peters started a new job this spring with New Mexico Political Report after working for nearly four years as an SFR staff writer.

Former staff writer Justin Horwath earned a first place in environment general reporting for his 2014 story on the city's top water users and second place in legal general reporting for his coverage of the Jamie Estrada trial. He also snagged third place in legal enterprise reporting for his story on the Casanova Con Man. Horwath left his job at SFR this month.

Online, SFR took honors for the Restaurant Guide, which earned second place for its multimedia presence and for our overall site, and third place for general website excellence.

An awards reception took place Saturday night at the Denver Press Club.

Santa Fe Reporter