20 entries received in the "under 50,000" circulation bracket

Twenty entries have been received in the smaller circulation bracket (under 50,000) for this year's Carmage Walls Commentary Prize. 

First- and second-place honors will be awarded. Judges also may designate several entries for honorable mention.

Winning entries will be announced at an Awards Breakfast on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the News Industry Summit in Sarasota, Fla. 

SNPA members are invited to comment at the end of this article on the entries.  Which entries do you feel are the strongest ... and why?

Click on the links below to access entry materials:

Entry #1: Roger Adkins and Heather Goodwin Henline — The Inter-Mountain, Elkins, W.Va.

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  • Cue Facebook: It's our job to investigate issues

Entry #2: Keith Albertson — The Times, Gainesville, Ga.

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  • Time to roll the dice?
  • Shading the sunshine
  • Detour needs caution
  • Prayers and pistols
  • No remedy from Capitol
  • Deal's fearless veto

Entry #3: Greg Awtry — Star-Herald, Scottsbluff, Neb.

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  • Letter to judges
  • Nebraska, can you see the warning lights flashing?
  • The arrogance of government makes me uncomfortable
  • The truth whispers; enough whispers can make a roar!
  • Bring your toxic waste to Nebraska ... not!
  • Self-governance is not an easy job
  • Fracking wastewater: Now 'hear' this!

Entry #4: Brent Batten — Naples Daily News, Naples, Fla.

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  • DUI alleged; case delays frustrate families
  • Delayed case inches ahead in Hardee County

Entry #5: David Bloom — The Baytown Sun, Baytown, Texas

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  • Getting soaked
  • Baytown water bill mystery
  • Stonewalling on water bills
  • An appeal for fairness

Entry #6: Steve Gaines, Pipes Gaines, Robyn Minor and Daniel Pike — Daily News, Bowling Green, Ky.

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  • More scrutiny needed on wrap
  • Good things could be coming for wrap
  • Audit of wrap much welcomed
  • Wrap appears back on track
  • New auditor should continue wrap probe
  • Officials get failing grade on wrap

Entry #7: Matt Burdette — The Inter-Mountain, Elkins, W.Va.

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  • Cooperation: Community deserves information

Entry #8: Matt Burdette — The Inter-Mountain, Elkins, W.Va.

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  • Prison problem: State alerted to HCC understaffing woes

Entry #9: Matt Burdette and Heather Goodwin Henline— The Inter-Mountain, Elkins, W.Va.

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  • Uncommon bravery: Efforts of civilians, police deserve praise

Entry #10: Chris Cobler — Victoria Advocate, Victoria, Texas

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  • Letter to judges
  • John and Steve first taught me about suicide
  • How can Rotarians help the social media world go around?
  • Handling of school cases teaches wrong lesson
  • Paid holiday needs to get the boot
  • Fast-food decision gives public heartburn

Entry #11: Bob Davis — The Anniston Star, Anniston, Ala.

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  • Which summer blockbuster most closely resembles the Alabama Lege?
  • We are being played
  • The no-tax pledge in Alabama
  • The five stages of Alabama's crisis
  • Scenarios for Gov. Robert Bentley
  • Waiting for the next Montgomery show

Entry #12: Randy Essex — Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colo.

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  • We stand in support of immigrants
  • We need immigration law grounded in reality
  • A message of hope
  • Support for Post Independent immigration stand

Entry #13: John Hackworth — Charlotte Sun, Charlotte Harbor, Fla.

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  • Prosecutors torpedo the grand jury
  • Local prison failing inmates, and its mission
  • Grand juries should bow out of police cases
  • Walker's killers mostly still work at local prison

Entry #14: James A. Haught and Dawn Miller — Gazette Opinion Page of The Charleston Gazette-Mail, Charleston, W.Va.

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  • Legislature: Sorry session
  • Closed Minds: Not open for business
  • Dismal: GOP results
  • Prejudice: Endless attacks
  • Dismal: Sorry Legislature
  • Open to all: Tolerant spirit

Entry #15: Heather Goodwin Henline — The Inter-Mountain, Elkins, W.Va.

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  • Levy flap: Rumors, untruths need extinguished

Entry #16: Brad Johnson — The Inter-Mountain, Elkins, W.Va.

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  • Batman and the big boss: Two superheroes visit Randolph schools

Entry #17: David Lauderdale — The Island Packet, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

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  • Unity in prayer
  • 'On sinking sand'
  • State legislature must remove Confederate flag
  • A few words for president before he offers eulogy
  • 'White cracker' on Greyhound bus to heaven
  • South Carolina moves toward bright new day

Entry #18: Dink NeSmith — The Press-Sentinel, Athens, Ga.

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  • No, thanks, we don't want your toxic trash
  • Will Wayne become a trash can for East Coast?
  • Semantics can't twist Wayne's danger of becoming a toxic-trash dump
  • Let's not get addicted to coal-ash money
  • Gol-ly, Andy, Republic must think this is Mayberry
  • Money trail leads to coal-ash dumping

Entry #19: Rick Norton — Cleveland Daily Banner, Cleveland, Tenn.

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  • A most critical time in city's police history
  • The future of our CPD lies in today's finalists
  • Latest antics underline police chief expectations
  • City councilman's tirade uses good word: 'Stupid'
  • CPD officers receive a deserved commendation
  • Now is the time to give police chief true power

Entry #20: Phillip Tutor — The Anniston Star, Anniston, Ala.

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  • Anniston says no about Confederate flags, and means it
  • In the South, facts matter
  • Memory or history: Throughout the South, memorials with difficult histories pose vexing problems
  • Confederate flags on Quintard in jeopardy
  • The flag, our reputation and Mr. Calhoun
  • A birthday cake for Jefferson Davis