Let's make a toast to health. The Western Publishing Association awarded Desert Companion a coveted Maggie award April 29 for T.R. Witcher's story, "Spread the health around," which appeared in the November/December 2010 issue. The story is about a nonprofit health-care co-op that began in Northern Nevada and is set to start operations in Southern Nevada this year. In fact, the concept is so common-sense and innovative, even Washington D.C. has its eye on the promising program.

What makes this year's Maggie award -- considered "the Oscars of publishing" -- especially sweet is that Desert Companion moved up into the big leagues this contest year with its more frequent publication schedule. In the top tier of competition, bimonthlies, monthlies and even weeklies are all tossed together in a big, gnashing, free-for-all editorial mosh pit. Our piece won Best News Story over such worthy competitors such as SF Weekly and Westword.

Congratulations to T.R. Witcher. Help us celebrate -- by subscribing.