MONTE VISTA—Valley Publishing staff received seven awards at the Colorado Press Association’s annual awards banquet held April 14 in Colorado Springs— five first place awards and two second place awards.
“Seven awards is impressive,” Publisher Jennifer Alonzo said. “I am extremely proud of our staff. They work hard to get the job done. The Summer on the Rio Grande magazine continues to improve each year; the awards this publication has won is evidence of that. The magazine won first place in both Best Editorial Special Section and Best Advertising Special Section for the third year in a row. It doesn’t get any better than that,” commented Alonzo.
“We’re fortunate to have such a great, diverse staff; a few of them have been in this business for many, many years, which makes it much easier for the rest of us. We’re very blessed to have Benns and Sylvia Lobato as ‘old timers’ in the business, as well as production expert Ellie Bone,” said Alonzo.
The following awards were presented to Valley Publishing’s newspapers, including editorial, photos and advertising:
Center Post Dispatch
First place – Teresa L. Benns, Public Service- “Saguache Town Board in turmoil”

Del Norte Prospector
First place — Anthony Guerrero, Best Agriculture Story- “CPAC addresses URG economic council”

Monte Vista Journal
First place – Jennifer Alonzo, Ellie Bone, Chelsea McNerney-Martinez, Best Advertising Special Section- “Summer on the Rio Grande 2017”
Second place – Jennifer Alonzo, Ellie Bone, Chelsea McNerney-Martinez, Best Advertising Special Section- “Creede 125th birthday celebration”
First place – Staff, Best Editorial Special Section, Newsprint- “Spring Agriculture in the San Luis Valley”
First place – Jennifer Alonzo, Teresa L. Benns, Lyndsie Ferrell, Anthony Guerrero, Sylvia Lobato, Best Editorial Special Section-Glossy or Magazine- “Summer on the Rio Grande 2017”
Second Place— Ellie Bone, Best Cover Design- “96th Annual Ski Hi Stampede”