After 120 years, there’s been a lot work putting out what is calculated to be 6,235 editions of a paper known originally as ‘The Crawford Independent’; then, ‘The Crawford County Independent’; and finally, the ‘The Crawford County Independent & Kickapoo Scout’.
For the record, it appears that some miscounting may have occurred during the past 120 years. We should have published 6,240 papers and it appears by our count we published 6,244 papers.
Why did the miscount occur? Who really knows. Maybe, it was the 30 leap years. Perhaps, it was counting a few Special Editions, as regular weekly newspapers.
Anyway, we hit Volume 120 Number 1 on April 30, instead of May 23, 2025.
Miscounting may have occurred for any number of reasons, the point is the very first edition of the Crawford Independent was put out by T.F. O’Neil on May 23, 1905.
Maybe the May 23, 1962 edition can add some perspective.
“The Gays Mills Independent observes its 57th birthday this week,” according to the May 23, 1962 edition of the Crawford County Independent.
“T.F. O’Neil put the first issue of Volume 1 into the mails on May 23, 1905, and this week we print the first issue of Volume 58,” the newspaper noted.
“Local news was much the same 57 years ago, but the advertising differed In that first tissue. Instead of automobiles, a stage line and general blacksmithing were advertised.”
For that 1962 edition of the Crawford County Independent, Glenn L. Hagar was the editor and publisher; Kenneth F. Pettit was the linotypist; and Pearl Swiggum was the reporter.
One more thing on the front page flag of that edition, sometimes referred to as a masthead, it is proudly proclaimed the Independent was a Wisconsin Press Association Award-winning Newspaper. It seems we will have to do a little more digging into the history of the 120-year old newspaper’s awards. What follows is just the recent Wisconsin Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest Awards won since 2006.
Of course, the Crawford County Independent & the Kickapoo Scout are throwing a 120-year party to celebrate the moment at our office in our office in the Gays Mills Mercantile Center this Friday, May 23, 2025, from 2 to 6 p.m. with lots of great refreshments including brats and hot dogs on the grill, a veggie tray, cupcakes and more. There will be contests, prizes and reduced subscription prices.
We will also have our staff on hand, our award-winning columnists, former staff members and many more interesting individuals. Make time to come and see us this Friday afternoon and help us celebrate 120 years of a local newspaper.
2024 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Feature Story (Profile)
• First Place: Local Column
• First Place: Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting
• First Place: Best Use of Color
• First Place: Local Sports Column
• Second Place: Local Column
• Second Place: Localized National Story
• Second Place: General News Photo
• Second Place: Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting
• Second Place: Ongoing/Extended Coverage
• Third Place: Localized National Story
• Third Place: General News Photo
• Third Place: Health Coverage
• Third Place: Feature Photo
• Third Place: Spot News Photo
• Honorable Mention: Ongoing/Extended Coverage
2023 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Best Use of Color
• First Place: Feature Photo
• First Place: Ongoing/Extended Coverage
• First Place: Photo Essay
• Second Place: Community Engagement Award
• Second Place: Environmental Reporting
• Second Place: Ongoing/Extended Coverage
• Third Place: Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting
• Third Place: Environmental Reporting
• Third Place: Feature Story (Non-profile)
• Third Place: Reporting on Local Government
• Third Place: Spot News Photo
• Honorable Mention: Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting
• Honorable Mention: Environmental Reporting
• Honorable Mention: Feature Story (Non-profile)
• Honorable Mention: Local Outdoor Column
2022 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting
• Third Place: Reporting on Local Education
• Honorable Mention: Best Front Page
• Honorable Mention: Reporting on Local Education
• Honorable Mention: Photo Essay
2021 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Feature Story (Profile)
• First Place: Ongoing/Extended Coverage
• First Place: Business Coverage
• First Place: Local Column
• Second Place: Environmental Reporting
• Second Place: Coronavirus Coverage
• Second Place: General News Photo
• Second Place: Artistic Photo
• Second Place: Photo Essay
• Third Place: Community Engagement Award
• Third Place: Localized National Story
• Third Place: Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting
• Third Place: Reporting on Local Government
• Third Place: Spot News Photo
• Third Place: Photo Essay
• Honorable Mention: Best Headlines
• Honorable Mention: Business Coverage
2020 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Localized National Story
• First Place: Environmental Reporting
• First Place: Ongoing/Extended Coverage
• Second Place: Business Coverage
• Second Place: Local Column
• Second Place: General News Photo
• Third Place: General News Story
• Third Place: Localized National Story
• Honorable Mention: Localized National Story
2019 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Local Column
• First Place: Spot News Photo
• First Place: Feature Photo
• First Place: Artistic Photo
• First Place: Breaking News Story
• Second Place: Local Column
• Second Place: Reporting on Local Government
• Third Place: Local Outdoor Column
• Third Place: Best Front Page
• Third Place: Freedom of Information Story
2018 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Environmental Reporting
• Second Place: Community Service/
Engagement
• Honorable Mention: Localized National Story
2017 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Investigative Reporting
• First Place: Best Localized National Story
• First Place: Best Use of Color
• Second Place: Breaking News Coverage
• Third Place: General News Story
• Third Place: Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting
• Third Place: Spot News Photo
• Honorable Mention: Community Service Award
• Honorable Mention: Feature (Profile)
• Honorable Mention: Local Column
2016 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• Best Weekly Newspaper
• First Place: Environmental Reporting
• First Place: General News Story
• First Place: Portrait or Artistic Photo
• First Place: Sports Feature
• Second Place: Feature Photo
• Second Place: General News Photo
• Second Place: Local Column
• Second Place: Photo Essay
• Third Place: Feature (Non-profile)
• Third Place: General News Story
• Third Place: Local Column
• Honorable Mention: Environmental Reporting
• Honorable Mention: Headlines
• Honorable Mention: Investigative Reporting
• Honorable Mention: Photo Essay
• Honorable Mention: Reporting on Local
Education
2015 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• Second Place: Investigative Reporting
• Second Place: Photo Essay
• Third Place: Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting
• Third Place: Environmental Reporting
• Third Place: Investigative Reporting
• Third Place: Reporting on Local Education
• Honorable Mention: Editorial Page(s)
• Honorable Mention: Feature Photo
2014 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Local Column
• Third Place: Business Coverage
2013 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Local Column
• First Place: Environmental Reporting
• Second Place: Business Coverage
• Second Place: Environmental Reporting
• Second Place: Photo Essay
• Third Place: Editorial Page(s)
• Third Place: Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting
2012 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Environmental Reporting
• First Place: Freedom of Information/Open Records
• First Place: General News Photo
• Second Place: Business Coverage
• Third Place: Sports Feature
• Third Place: Overall Sports Pages
2011 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Environmental Reporting
• First Place: Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting
• First Place: Editorial Page(s)
• Second Place: Photo Essay
• Third Place: Reporting on Local Government
• Third Place: Sports Page Design
2010 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Spot News
• First Place: Spot News Photo
• Second Place: Sports Photo
2009 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Spot Photo
• First Place: Reporting on Local Government
• Second Place: Photo Essay
• Second Place: General News Photo
• Third Place: Sports Pages
• Third Place: Special Sections
2008 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Spot News
• First Place: Sports Photo
• Third Place: Reporting on Local Government
2007 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• First Place: Sports Photo
• First Place: Spot News Coverage
• Third Place: Sports Photo
2006 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• Third Place: Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting
1997 Better Newspaper Contest Awards
• Second Place: Spot News Photo
(Editor’s note–this list may not be a complete list of WNA Better Newspaper Contest Awards won by the Crawford County Independent & The Kickapoo Scout. However, it is a rather complete list for the years 2006 to 2024.)
