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This past week I have received some very good and exciting news.

The Associated Press has recognized my work by presenting me with two of their awards for stories and programs I did in 2009. 'Mutton Buster" received Best Sports Story for Small Market, and "Extreme Makeover Mustang Edition" was recognized as the "Bill Stout Memorial Award for Enterprising News".

The second award I am thrilled with winning as it was in an open category competing against all markets big and small in a 7 state region. It acknowledges the special insight and innovative look we took into the mustang adoption program. Specifically the Extreme Mustang Challenge which takes trainers and wild mustangs and puts them together for 90 days in hopes of landing both of them in the show arena. Those mustangs are later adopted out to those who bid on them the final day of the show.  Saunya Bolton, the local trainer from Sun Valley made an excellent subject as did her little Il Divo, the mustang with a lot of heart.  I will be picking up my awards in June in Anaheim California.

Then today I found out I have been nominated for a regional Emmy Award for the mustang program as well. I along with photographers Scott Walker, John Tyson, Graphic Designer Dave Allan and Post Production Producer Timm Rensel are nominees in the Special Program Current Events Category. We are the only news team from Reno Nevada nominated in these very competitve awards. We won't know if we will receive a statuette until May 15th. Keep your fingers crossed.

I want to thank everyone who helped me tell the story of Saunya and Il Divo--from here to Ft. Worth Texas and back. It was truly one of the highlights of my career--a career that often has to focus on the bad.

This time a positive story, one about relationships, love, try, competition, setbacks, and success on its own terms, seems to have literally won the day.