Moonshine Wins First Place for Best Business Story on Palisades Apex Club, Other Recognition in Annual Contest

by | Aug 13, 2026 | Uncategorized

While those of us at Moonshine Ink constantly have our heads down putting together edition after edition, once a year we surface to submit select pieces to the National Newspaper Association Foundation (NNAF).

This allows us a regular revisiting of what it means to be the only indie paper of the mountain communities in Truckee and North Tahoe, as well as how we stack up against other newspapers across the country.

For the NNAF’s 2026 Better Newspaper Contest, we submitted what we believed to be our strongest pieces during 2025. Four of them were recognized:

PRIORITY LIFT LANES: Moonshine’s reporting about Palisades Tahoe’s Apex Club, a membership club that started at $12,000 per person at the beginning of the 2025/26 season, won first place in the Best Business Story category of an annual newspaper contest. Photo courtesy Palisades Tahoe

Best Business Story, first place: Palisades Apex Club Adds Luxury to the Slopes — and Friction Among Passholders by Melissa Siig

Judge’s comments: Fantastic story showing the anger provoked by a ski lodge providing an “easy-pass” lane. Good examples from social people, man on the street, but also explaining how popular the concept is for businesses.

SPIRITUAL REVIVAL, EVENTUALLY: The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel received seven parcels through donation in December 2022. These were just a few of many that had been languishing, unused, for years and were all connected to one woman. From Holding Pattern to Holy Ground: A Church’s Quiet Revival in Tahoma won second place in the Best Non-Profile Feature Story category. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink

Best Non-Profile Feature Story, second place: From Holding Pattern to Holy Ground: A Church’s Quiet Revival in Tahoma by Alex Hoeft

Judge’s comments: Well researched and illustrated.

REDISTRICTING: In November 2025, California voters passed Proposition 50 in a special election, allowing the state’s 3rd Congressional District (among others) to be redrawn and its boundaries changed significantly. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Kevin Kiley were on opposite sides of the tug of war. The cover took home third place in the Front-Page Design category. Illustration by Mike English, layout by Sarah Miller/Moonshine Ink

Best Front-Page Design, third place: October 2025 Gavin Newsom/Kevin Kiley Redistricting Battle by Mike English and Sarah Miller

Judge’s comments: Moonshine Ink bills itself as an “Independent Newspaper” (cost “Priceless”) and, as such, doesn’t always play by so-called journalistic rules. Witness their choice of using an editorial cartoon for the entire front page of their October 9 issue. Granted, the cartoon, which features a large map of California with most of District 3 shaded in red, is relevant to the lead article … Running across the dueling duo at about waist level is the article headline and page number, “National Redistricting Fight Hits Home … 10”.

A few other articles to be found inside are listed in smaller font below the main bout … er, headline: “The Local Healthcare Landscape … 14”, Most Iconic Slogan of Tahoe … 23”, and “Tahoe City Going Off … 29 & 44  |  Ski Films! … 42”.

But what important news is on pages 1-9? Where are the police blotter, obituaries, and letters to the editor to be found? It’s a bold choice, but my guess is Moonshine Ink bets on an attention-grabbing cover and rule-flouting to pique curiosity and attract readers. Apparently, the tactic has worked for almost a quarter century, as the masthead informs us this issue is “Vintage 23, Nip 9.”

Best Performing Arts Story, honorable mention: No Stage to Stand On by Ally Gravina

Judge’s comments: This was not what I expected of a performing arts story; it’s perhaps more important than the art itself because it cannot happen (at least not easily) without space. This story examines the issue thoroughly and does a great job of framing it for the general public. I love the headline, too!