First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunMelissa Donegan salvages what she can from her home Friday, March 15, 2024 in Lakeview, Ohio. Donegan's home was one of dozens in the area distroyed by a tornado Thursday night.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunFire fighters from three Clark County departments battled a house fire Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 in the 10,000 block of Plattsburgh Road on the east side of the county. The residents, who were home at the time of the fire, all escaped without injury, however, the condition of the family's pets were unknown at the time.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunAfter finding a small flag in the rubble that was his house, Ron Watt posts it on the remains of his deck Friday morning. Ron and his dog, Pearl, took shelter in a bathtub as a tornado destroyed his home and much of Lakeview, Ohio Thursday night. Ron said he has lived in the house for more than 30 years and plans to rebuild his home.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunEllen Getz makes a face of disbelief towards her family as she's presented with a crown, sash and flowers after being announced as the 2024 Clark County Fair Queen on the first day of the fair Friday, July 19, 2024.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunFulton Elementary School Principal Deborah Howard celebrates with members of the community during a "Fulton First Day Clap-in" for the students as they arrive at school Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunTony Rieker extinguishes a small grass fire after helping light thousands of American flags during the annual flag retirement ceremony at American Legion Post 286 in New Carlisle Friday, June 14, 2024. The American Legiion receives thousands of faded and worn out flags from all over the country to officially retire. This year they retired between 8,000 an 10,000 flags.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunAdam Hawksworth enjoys the bubbles raining down during the National Trail Parks and Recreation District's Foam Frenzy parties Thursday, July 18, 2024 at Northeastern School in South Vienna.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunThe "Transformation" butterfly mural on the back of the State Theater is reflected in the tiny drops of water on a car window Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunBriella Setzer was a hot hotdog Wednesday, June 19, 2024 as she uses a handheld fan to keep cool in her hotdog costume. Briella was dressed like a hotdog to attract business to her family's hotdog cart called Briella's Hotdogs which was parked in a parking lot along North Bechtle Avenue.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunA line of people wait in the bitter wind and snow to ride the farris wheel at the Holiday in the City Grand Illumination Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunKate Williamson, 6, uses a magnifying glass to check out a fuzzy caterpillar munching on a plant in the pollinator garden at the Snyder Park Gardens and Arboretum Saturday, August 3, 2024 during the Garden Jubilee.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunThe super moon rises behind the Miami Valley Islamic Association of Springfield Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunLilly Powell, 16, takes a nap with her dairy feeder calf after getting him settled in one of the barns at the Clark County Fair Friday, July 19, 2024.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunPaul Johnston is caught by the sunlight as he straightens the streamers covering the windows of the new business he and his wife, Kari, are opening along South Fountain Avenue in downtown Springfield. The new retail business, called Reimagine Gifts & More, is looking at a grand opening date of October 15.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunFourth generation potato farmer, Kathy Sponheim, has a lot of spuds at Michael Family Farms in Champaign County. Kathy's family supplies potatoes to the great lakes region of the country.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunWayne's Isaiah Thompson tries to avoid a tackle by Fairmont's Jack Probasco during round two of the playoffs Friday, Nov. 8, 2024.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunSpringfield's Sherrod Lay catches a touchdown pass under pressure from Trotwood's Nate Lockwood.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunClifford Borden, owner of Pritchet Shoe Service, is the sole survivor of Springfield's brotherhood of cobblers. Every week day the 74-year-old opens his tiny shop and takes in shoes to repair or just polish. Borden started working in the shop in 1974 and took it over from his father-in-law in 1990. He said there used to be several shoe repair businesses in Springfield but the owners either retired or died. "You can tell a lot about a person from the shoes they wear." Borden said, "and a fine pair of shoes can make you feel like a million dollars."Clifford Borden buffs out a pair of work boots after replacing the sole at Pritchet Shoe Service.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunThe tiny Pritchet's Shoe Service building has been a landmark along North Light Street in Springfield for many years.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunClifford Borden smooths out a sole he replaced on a pair of work boots at Pritchet Shoe Service,
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunClifford Borden trims the sole of a boot after replacing it.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunThe tools of Clifford Borden's trade.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunClifford proudly talks about the faded photos of his children, taped to the work bench in his shop. Both of his children worked in the shop when they were young.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunClifford shows the before and after a pair of boots was repaired and polished.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunEarly in the morning on Feb. 28, Shoji Uota and his family experienced what Uota called "The morning from hell" as a tornado ripped through their Clark County neighborhood, destroying their home. The family was all safe but the roof and most of the wall of their house were gone. The next few hours were spent trying to salvage what they could and talking to county officials, their insurance company and Gov. Mike DeWine. In the end, their house was declared unsafe and they had to move to a hotel until they could find somewhere else to live. Emi Campbell and her daughter, Emma, search for their car keys in their Ridge Road house early Wednesday morning, Feb. 28, 2024, after it was destroyed by a tornado two hours earlier.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunShoji Uota pours his dog some fresh water after finding the dog's bowl in the remains of his kitchen Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Uota's house was destroyed a few hours earlier in an F2 tornado.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunShoji Uota stops sorting through the remains of his house long enough to put on a pair of dry socks on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Uota's house on Ridge Road was destroyed by a F2 tornado a few hours earlier.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunGovernor Mike DeWine talks to Shoji Uota and Emi Campbell at their home on Ridge Road that was destroyed by a tornado early Wednesday morning.
First Place, Photographer of the Year - Small Market - Bill Lackey / Springfield News-SunEmi Campbell and her family collect the belongings Friday, March 1, 2024 as they prepare to move out of their Ridge Road house that was destroyed in Wednesday's tornado.
