BOSTON, Mass. — Advertiser Democrat Editor Anne Sheehan and staff writer Leslie H. Dixon were honored by the New England Newspaper and Press Association on Saturday, Feb. 25, at its annual conference.
Sheehan won a first-place award for her report “Oxford Meadows: The rest of the story” in the human interest feature story category.
In that report, Sheehan walked readers through the early-morning hours of May 21, 2016, as fire ripped through the Oxford Meadows apartment complex, killing Theresa Heino, 85, and seriously injuring Virginia Brown, 65.
Starting with the first call to 911 at 1:47 a.m., Sheehan detailed the emergency response, evacuation of 39 apartment units, the effort to quickly open a shelter at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School and the county-wide response of emergency workers to quell the fire and account for all residents.
According to NENPA judges, her work was “one heck of an effort to reconstruct the timeline of a major fire for both victims and responders while still weaving in the thoughts, actions and emotions of all involved.”
The judges remarked on the report’s “great insight into the myriad people and agencies involved when something like this happens. Great that the writer was able to focus much more on the people and less on the bureaucracy.”
Dixon won a second-place award in the crimes and courts category for her report “Dawn Cummings Solomon still owes $3.9M to taxpayers.”
In that report, Dixon dug into the status of court-mandated restitution in the fraud case of Dawn Cummings Solomon.
Solomon was convicted of defrauding MaineCare of $4 million in 2010 and was ordered to pay back the entire sum. In December 2015, when Dixon’s report was published, the former Harrison resident and Norway business owner had paid back slightly less than $6,000 despite the fact that she had moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida, and was living in a waterfront apartment.
According to NENPA judges, “this story demonstrates extraordinary enterprise through its use of interviews and in-depth document research.”
In tracing the history of the defendant who left the state of Maine with millions in unpaid damages, judges said, “this smart story questions why court records remain sealed, and why this crook has not been held accountable for ripping off taxpayers. The use of detail is impressive, matched only by this journalist’s pursuit of revelation and accountability.”
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