Glen Arbor Sun named local news media publication of the year, wins 18 awards from Michigan Press Association’s 2025 Better Newspaper Contest
From staff reports
The Glen Arbor Sun was named local news media publication of the year and won 18 awards in 11 different categories from the Michigan Press Association’s 2025 Better Newspaper Contest for stories published between August 1, 2024, and July 31, 2025. The awards were unveiled on Thursday, April 23, at MPA conference at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing.
In the Spot News category, the Sun won second place our Jacob Wheeler’s June 19, 2025, story, “American flags, strawberry rhubarb crisp, but no Kings,” third place for our July 1, 2025, story, “Police raid Twin Flames Universe home: Michigan AG announces investigation” and honorable mention for Berry Kendall’s August 24, 2024, story, “You may now sniff the bride.”
In the News Enterprise Reporting category, the Sun won second place for Wheeler’s October 9, 2024, story, “Trump mass deportation threat worries Leelanau’s tight-knit Latino community” and third place our July 7, 2025, story “From Black Eden to Migrant Prison: ICE’s second largest detention center nationwide opens in Baldwin.”
In the Government/Political News category, the Sun won third place for our August 5, 2024, story, “Leelanau Energy task force boasts big goals: Commissioner Lautner pushes back.”
In the Education/School News category, the Sun won first place for our February 10, 2025, story, “Stripped of safe haven status, local schools face immigration enforcement threat,” and second place for our June 5, 2025 story, “National nutrition education program with local impact slated for elimination by Congress.”
In the Business News category, the Sun won third place for Kendall’s June 23, 2025 story, “Passing the whisk: Inn and Trail changes hands, but keeps its heart.”
In the Agriculture News category, the Sun won second place for our July 21, 2025 story, “Saving cherries, saving farms.”
In the Feature story category, the Sun won first place for Abby Chatfield’s October 13, 2024, story, “Childless locals care for Leelanau’s future.”
In the News Photo category, the Sun won first place for our Sept. 4, 2024, story, “Goodbye culverts, hello timber bridge over Crystal River” and second place for Ross Boissoneau’s July 5, 2025, story, “Inland seas expands, announces fundraising campaign.”
In the Feature Photo category, the Sun won first place for Tim Mulherin’s Dec. 16, 2024, story, “Bear crazy: DNR study seeks answers to human-bear conflict,” second place for Boissoneau’s June 20, 2025, story, “Fishing Day an annual treat,” and third place for our May 11, 2025, story, “Oomen-Yamasaki collaboration features ‘Innocents in Peril’.”
In the Best Video Presentation, the Sun won first place for Wheeler and Justin Warnes’ Nov. 16, 2024, project, “Democracy in Leelanau: what unites us in politically divided times.”
In the Environmental/Climate Change/Weather news category, the Sun won first place for Katey Schultz’s Oct. 25, 2024, story, “Report from the Climate Change front line: Mud, grief, perseverance in wake of Hurricane Helene.”
