You rarely see Jimmy Ruff’s, Billy Dewitt’s or George Sanchez’s names on the pages of The Clanton Advertiser, but they are three very important members of the staff that produces your morning news six days a week.

They make up our press crew and do an excellent job. In fact, last night in Orange Beach their work was acknowledged by the more than 100 Alabama newspapers of the Alabama Press Association.

The Clanton Advertiser received the first-place award for best presswork in the small daily division of the Alabama Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper contest. Considering our competition, winning first place in the print competition category speaks well about the pride and dedication Jimmy, Billy and George have in their daily work.

The print crew picked up another first-place award in the small weekly division for the print quality it produces twice a week for the Greenville Advocate, a newspaper printed in our plant here, also. And it didn’t stop there.

Our guys won a third-place award in the large weekly division for the work they do weekly for the Shelby County Reporter, a newspaper I consider to be one of the best newspapers in Alabama.

If I sound overly proud of our press crew, I’m guilty. Since we established a printing plant in Clanton six years ago, our crew has won at least one first-place printing award five of the last six years.

This year’s judges said “The color is really crisp, almost looks as good as a photograph – very hard on newsprint.”

Our press crew, as well as every member of our team, wants to produce quality products for our readers and advertising customers every day. We know it is our responsibility, and we take the responsibility seriously.

Thanks Jimmy, Billy and George for making us look good.