Brainerd Dispatch Community Editor Chelsey Perkins earned first place in the human interest story category in the 2018-19 Better Newspaper Contest.
The award recognized human interest stories among daily newspapers with a circulation above 10,000 entered in the contest, run by the Minnesota Newspaper Association. Perkins' award-winning entry was her story about the life and unsolved murder of Rachel Anthony , who disappeared from a Pine River liquor store in 2001.
Describing Perkins' submission, a judge wrote: "'When She Vanished' combines the best of storytelling to take the reader on a journey through Rachel Anthony's life and tragic death. Very well done."
