Libby Berndt receives award

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"]Former Sidney Herald publisher Libby Berndt has been honored with the Master Editor-Publisher award by the Montana Newspaper Association.Berndt become publisher of the Herald in 2001 and retired at the end of this May to spend more time with her family after focusing so many years on making the Herald a successful newspaper.During her career at the Herald, she also served as a part-time typesetter, classified receptionist, advertising sales representative and office manager/bookkeeper.Outside of the office, she was instrumental in forming the Sidney Women of Today organization and served as president of the group. She is a past board member of the Richland Youth Hockey Association and was instrumental in establishing girls fast-pitch softball at Sidney High School. She is a past member of the Sidney Jaycees, past president of the Sidney Lions Club, a member of the Sidney Chamber Leadership  Task Force and a recipient of the Sidney Chamber Partners in Progress Award.She was involved in the Horizons Community Development, a board member for the Foundation for Community Care, past president of the Montana Newspaper Association and a member of the MNA board for many years.Berndt was nominated for the award by Wolf Point Herald-News publisher Darla Shumway and Sidney Herald managing editor Bill Vander Weele.Sidney Herald wins awardsThe Sidney Herald was the winner of two first-place awards in this year’s Montana Newspaper Convention’s Better Newspaper Contest.The Herald competes in the class with Montana’s small daily and large weekly newspapers.The Herald earned first-place honors for best investigative/indepth reporting for its work on the Sherry Arnold search.Judges wrote, “Well rounded coverage on deadline is tough to do. This was well done.’The Herald also captured top honors for its editorial page.Judges remarked, “Local editorials put this entry in first place.”The Herald received second-place honors for best editorial and best special section.For the editorials, judges wrote, “To the point editorials on timely topics. Each piece does a remarkable job of rallying the community. Very valuable to the readership.”The special section was for the Herald’s “Tappin’ the Bakken” publication.The Herald earned a third-place award for best front page.Judges wrote, “Strong coverage of tragedies. Good use of photos.”[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]