ONTARIO, OR - Joe Rodriguez, 63, was named Circulation Director of the Argus Observer Tuesday.

Rodriguez has filled the Circulation Director on an interim basis after former circulation director Tom Hooton departed.

“I want to thank the Argus for giving me this opportunity. I truly believe it will be a challenge but I'm looking forward to that challenge,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez has worked for the Argus for 14 years as the assistant circulation manager.

Before that, he worked for the state of Oregon.

“If you want to know about your city, then the Argus is the place to get information,” Rodriguez said.

“I'm very pleased Joe has accepted this position. His history working with the Argus brings valuable knowledge to the circulation director position,” Argus Observer Publisher John Dillon said.

The Argus Observer, located in Ontario, Oregon, emerged from the recent Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association’s advertising conference with a number of awards.

The newspaper clinched three first- place awards at the convention and one honorable mention.

The Argus Observer claimed first-place honors in the Best Use of Media category with its “Ontario: 125 years” special section from November 2008.

The newspaper also claimed first place in the Best Black and White Ad for “Floor to Ceiling Dream Home.” The Argus Observer clinched a first-place award in the Best Merchandising Section, 2009 Spring Car Care section.

The newspaper secured an honorable mention for Best Single House Ad for Letters to Santa.

“I’m proud of our showing at the conference. Our awards represent excellent work by our advertising sales, classified and production staff. As with any accolades, these awards are a shared victory for the entire newspaper,” Argus Observer Publisher John Dillon said. Dillon said he was especially pleased with the first place accolades for the Ontario: 125 years special section.

“That section was truly a team effort and shows what dedication to hard work and excellence can achieve,” he said.

Michael Avok, managing editor of the Capital Journal

PIERRE — Michael Avok, a 40-year-old newsman who grew up in South Dakota, is the new managing editor of the Capital Journal.

“Mike’s got a lot of experience,” Publisher Steve Baker said Wednesday. “He has a good news background.”

Avok comes to Pierre after serving more than 15 years with the Omaha World-Herald newspaper. While in Omaha, he led coverage of Omaha and several other communities and school organizations.

“I think it’s important that the editor knows what’s going on in the community,” Baker said. “That’s how you let the community know you want to make the community better — not just the paper better.

Avok moved from Minnesota to Yankton, when he was 4-years old. His father was a welder and later a supervisor at a manufacturing plant. His mother was a homemaker until the economy got tough in the late ‘70s, when she went to work at Gurney’s Seed and Nursery.

Avok is a 1987 graduate of Yankton High School and moved on to be a Jackrabbit at South Dakota State University in Brookings, graduating from State in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism “I took off several spring semesters to come to Pierre to cover the Legislature as a reporter,” Avok said. “I lived here, in Pierre, from Jan.-March over the years of 1989-93. That’s part of why I am already comfortable here.”

“After working at newspapers in Huron, Columbus, Neb., and Omaha, I now have a chance to bring to you my years of experience in the news business. For me, it’s also a chance to come back home.”

Avok will soon be joined in Pierre by his wife, Carol, who currently manages a store in Omaha.

“After meeting with the newspaper staff several times, you should know that I believe your newspaper is in good hands,” Avok said. “They are a talented lot, and they care about the community and the region. These are good folks.”

“We look forward to serving you. We look forward to hearing from you. We look forward to living and growing with you.”

The Green Valley News & Sun received an honorable mention in the 2009 Suburban Newspapers of America general newspaper excellence category.

The judges noted that the paper is “full of helpful service articles,” the typography is “clear and easy to read,” the ads “are easy to navigate,” and that there were “arresting images on every front page.”

The newspaper was honored in the non-dailies, 10,001-22,500 circulation category. Pam Mox is the publisher of the Green Valley News, The Sahuarita Sun and co-publisher of the Santa Cruz Valley Sun.

The Maryland Independent won first place, followed by the Longboat (Fla.) Observer and the Calvert Recorder in Prince Frederick, Md. The Bolingbrook Sun in Aurora, Ill., also received an honorable mention.

SNA is a non-profit trade association comprised of more than 2,000 suburban and community newspapers in the United States and Canada.