Sheila Howard named first quarter Eddy winner

Each quarter the newsroom recognizes an employee who’s made a significant contribution to the paper. For the first quarter of 2024, that employee is Sheila Howard.

Sheila joined The Blade in January 2023, having written three books and done some freelance journalism.

In 12-plus months she has more than risen to the challenge of daily journalism. Although hired as a general assignment writer, she has managed to forge a strong relationship with the Lucas County minority communities thanks to her ongoing stories, which give members of those communities a voice.

From day-in-the-life stories and coverage of community events to profiles of visiting dignitaries, she has spotlighted these readers and their concerns. This has often entailed weekends. In return, readers now routinely reach out to Sheila with tips and ideas for stories.

To celebrate her citation, Sheila has requested that we bring in charcuterie boards for the newsroom. Look for that to happen on March 14.