Tim Kalinowski’s award-winning feature highlights a unique area of paleontology, focusing on the mammal species that emerged in Alberta 68 million years ago.

A Cochrane Eagle reporter has taken home one of the top honours at this year’s Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association’s 2025 Better Newspapers Competition (BNC) Awards of Excellence.

The Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding individual achievement in local reporting.

Cochrane Eagle Editor Tim Kalinowski has won in the Best Feature Story By Local Writer category for a story which appeared in the Sept. 18, 2025 edition of the newspaper.

Entitled “Calgary Region Offers Treasure Trove Of Early Mammal Fossils,” the story delved into a unique and under-reported area of paleontology, starting with the earliest known mammals found in Alberta just after the dinosaurs went extinct starting around 68 million years ago.

“I am thrilled to win this award,” said Kalinowski upon hearing the news. “For many years as a reporter I have gone down rabbit holes to ferret out stories which are of perhaps eccentric and singular interest to me, hoping others might find them interesting too. This feature was one such story, and I am pleased the AWNA judges responded so favourably to my effort.”

Earlier this month, former Cochrane Eagle reporter Daniel Gonzalez also took home third place in the 2025 AWNA BNC Photographic Awards for his image “Sharing grief,” making this a banner year for the Eagle’s reporting staff.