By Patric Hedlund, TME

The habit of excellence is built into the DNA of The Mountain Enterprise.

So is the habit of community service. This Thanksgiving we celebrate 56 years of service to this Mountain Community.

Over those years, there have been generational shifts in the ownership of this newspaper.

The constant trait has been joy in celebrating all the hometown heroes we serve—from our wonderful mountain children to our hardworking businesses to our community volunteers.

You are the stars, and you are in the spotlight.

Dear Mountain Enterprise:

I’m so proud of you! Congratulations on winning the first prize from The National Newspaper Association (NNA). You deserve it, probably should have gotten one years ago but I’m happy that this turned out this way. Congratulations! I read The Mountain Enterprise every week. It is my favorite newspaper.

Bob Weisberg, New York

Editor’s Note: We are grateful to Bob Weisberg for his kind note. And…
Surprise! The habit of excellence cultivated in our pages has indeed been winning national and statewide awards for many years. The better we serve our community, the more bling comes our way. Mr. Weisberg’s note is about our latest National Newspaper Association Award for Investigative Journalism.

This year it was for the in-depth investigative series “California Burning” by Patric Hedlund, Marcy Axness and the TME team. We were unable to attend the 2021 awards event in Florida due to covid-19’s delta surge, so we will celebrate by sharing a little…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

Above: In 2007 at the Fairmont Hotel California Newspaper Publishers Awards: Richard Hoegh, attorney and reporter; Nedra Hawley, who founded The Mountain Enterprise in 1966; Publisher Gary Meyer; Doug Peters, scientist and reporter; Sitting: Juanda De Shazer, proofreader, community activist and Hedlund’s mom; Karen Bailey, public safety advocate; Editor Patric Hedlund; Pam Sturdevant—Calendar, Classifieds, co-owner.

Right: 2015: First Place for Editorial Comment regarding a burglar plaguing Cuddy Valley, Piñon Pines and Pine Mountain Club, placing an ad in the local paper.

Right: Brand new Office Manager Kaylin Paschall (right) is being trained by outgoing Office Manager Shaina Della Rocco (left). During her year-plus at The Mountain Enterprise Shaina’s fun spirit and curious mind contributed much to The Mountain Enterprise.

Photographer David Waters said he didn’t have a photo of himself, but he wanted to send a photo from Frazier Mountain High School’s Homecoming he hopes will win a national award. He and his wife Wanda have lived in Frazier Park for about 5 years. “Sports photography is a passion of mine, as well as wildlife photography,” he says. He worked for Associated Press and the Long Beach Telegram. He is taking photos at this year’s FMHS home games. Above: #5 Max Barker scoring a touchdown on Falcon Field at FMHS.

To see full stories with photos, please purchase a copy of the newspaper at many locations (click this link for a list) throughout the Mountain Communities.

Or, have your newspaper delivered via mail and include internet access. Just call 661-245-3794. Classified ads are FREE to paid subscribers! See front page at www.mountainenterprise.com for details.

The e-Edition is available now with full photos and stories at The Mountain Enterprise e-Edition. Select the 2021-1126 edition.

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This is part of the November 26, 2021 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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