Prevailer stacks up SDNA awards

The Hill City Prevailer News won seven awards last Friday at the 2025 South Dakota NewsMedia (SDNA) Better NewsMedia Contest held as part of the annual SDNA convention held last week at The Lodge in Deadwood. The Prevailer competed in Division I of the competition for cities with a population under 3,000. 

Leslie Hladysz won first place for Best News Series for her work covering county library funds.

“You stuck with the reporting on this story over several weeks. This is what a local series should be,” commented the judges. 

Hladysz also placed second in the category of Best Feature Story (non-profile) for her article, “A Closer Look at the Keystone Sewer Plant.” 

“Leslie Hladysz did an excellent job of breaking down the process, putting into layman’s terms exactly why rates are going to increase and how elected officials came up with them,” the judges wrote. “The accompanying piece on the lift station fully breaks down the process and helps the reader understand that things are more complicated than simply flushing. Excellent effort and a good read.” 

Tracy Spaans took brought home three second-place awards, including Best Headline Writing, Best Spot News Story and Best Local Column for her Wednesday Snapshot editorial. 

“Three well-written columns,” the judges wrote. “While all three were developed well and carried the theme throughout, I enjoyed your veterans’ column and the poor sportsmanship one the most. That’s not to discount your photography column—or the writer’s photography, because I had the opportunity to judge other entrees containing their work. All three columns were enjoyable to read and judge. Well-written and engaging.”

Spaans placed third for Best Lede for an article she wrote about the school receiving a beef donation and the faculty getting “cow-pied.”

“This tight lede tells everything upfront, teasing the reader to find out more,” commented the judges. “Sometimes brevity is perfect.”

Finally, Spaans placed third for Best Portrait Photo for an image she took of “Dayna Las Vegas,” performing during the Hill City girls basketball fundraiser at Halley’s Store in Keystone.

Judges commented, “How fun! This photo is full of character. There’s definite flow to it. Colors pop.”

The staff at the Prevailer will continue to put their best foot forward to provide excellent coverage of Hill City for our supportive and loyal readers.