WAGI staffers win top AP awards

WAGI news and sports departments have taken top awards by The Associated Press.

For the second consecutive year News Director Dennis Fowler took first place in the Spot News category at the annual Associated Press South Carolina Broadcasters Awards ceremony held April 23 in Myrtle Beach.

Fowler received the first place award for his live report of a major pre-dawn fire at the Cherokee County Courthouse on May 11, 2004. Fowler took third place honors in the general news category for his in depth report of a follow up story on the courthouse fire May 12, 2004.

The story focused on a 9-1-1 dispatcher who was disciplined for her 15 minute delay in dispatching fire department personnel to the scene from the time the first call was received at the communications center.

Sports Director Fabian Fuentes took First Place in the Sports Reporting category. For the Sixth consecutive year, Fowler received the Associated Press Membership Cooperation Award for his contribution of the most stories used by the wire service in 2004 among its radio member stations statewide.

Gaffney Broadcasting President Ron Owenby said he was proud of Fowler and Fuentes and the dedication they have to their daily responsibility to keep listeners informed. Owenby said the journalistic efforts of Fowler and Fuentes are not only a credit to Gaffney Broadcasting, but to South Carolina as well.

Gaffney Broadcasting operates the 100,000-watt upstate power station, WAGI-FM and WEAC-AM.