These are very mediocre snapshots.   Many advanced amateurs could do much better than this.  They are certainly not up to the usual high quality standards that the Register Guard normally has for its photos.

Very unfocused composition here.   Where is your eye drawn to in these photos?   No where,, as these pictures are so confused.  Details that don't add to the overall structure of am image actually make it weaker.    This is something that any decent Art School will teach.  

You really should add a woman to your all male photography staff.  You might find yourself getting photos that have a much more interesting and emotional perspective.   If I was one of your editors, I would  give Pam Cressall a chance to show you what she could do in covering stories like this one.   The Springfield Times posted far, far better photos shot by Pam of this event last year, than these simple snapshots.  Her work puts these photos to shame.