Winners announced in ‘14 OAPME newspaper contest

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - DIVISION I, newspapers with a daily circulation up to 7,999:

General Excellence: 1, Chillicothe Gazette; 2, Port Clinton News-Herald; 3, The Marion Star.

Best Digital Presence: 1, The Marietta Times; 2, Ed Gebert, Van Wert Times-Bulletin; 3, The Ironton Tribune.

Best Full Page Layout: 1, The (Fremont) News-Messenger; 2, Coshocton Tribune; 3, Coshocton Tribune.

Best Investigative Reporting: 1, John Jarvis, The Marion Star, “Morrow County EMS”; 2, Nick Bechtel, The Marion Star, “Police Review Use of Force “; 3, Kristina Smith and Craig Shoup, Port Clinton News-Herald, “Judge Takes Felon’s Rifle”.

Best Enterprise Reporting: 1, Kristina Smith, Port Clinton News-Herald, “Lake Erie Algae Woes”; 2, Jona Ison, Chillicothe Gazette, “When Addiction is Born”; 3, David Berman, Chillicothe Gazette, “Korean War Memorial”.

Best Explanatory Reporting: 1, Kristina Smith, Port Clinton News-Herald, “Task Force Sets Up Buys”; 2, Hannah Camille Bealer, The (Fremont) News-Messenger, “Autism on the Rise”; 3, The Marietta Times, “Empty Spaces”.

Best Breaking News Coverage: 1, Caitlin Turner and Elise Manahan, Chillicothe Gazette, “Chester Hill Standoff”; 2, Jonathon Bird and Kristina Smith, Port Clinton News-Herald, “Fatal Plane Crash”; 3, The (Fremont) News-Messenger, “Turnpike Pileup”.

Best Special Section: 1, Chillicothe Gazette, “Salute to Veterans”; 2, Debra Tobin, Logan Daily News, “Breast Cancer Awareness”; 3, Joel Sensenig, The (Fostoria) Review Times, “Home Improvement”.

Best Community Service: 1, Chillicothe Gazette, “Healthy Start for Kids”; 2, Kristina Smith and Craig Shoup, Port Clinton News-Herald, “Senior Center Cuts”; 3, Chillicothe Gazette, “Make a Difference Day”.

Best Photo Essay: 1, Bill Sinden, The Marion Star, “Farewell to a Sheriff”; 2, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “Firefighters Fight Extreme Cold to Fight Emmitt House fire”; 3, Elise Manahan, Chillicothe Gazette, “PRCTC Students Endure Mace Spraying”.

Best Sports Photo: 1, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “Stretching to Score”; 2, Jay Gehres, The (London) Madison Press, “Rainy Header”; 3, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “Lunging Rebound”.

Best Feature Photo: 1, Jessica St. James, The Ironton Tribune, “Vice Principal Moonlights as Death”; 2, James Miller, The Marion Star, “Veterans Raise Old Glory”; 3, Dean Shipley, The (London) Madison Press, “In a Flap Over the Cold”.

Best News Photo: 1, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “Historic Emmitt House Destroyed by Fire”; 2, Jessica St. James, The Ironton Tribune, “Mourning Allison”; 3, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “Child Dies After Crash on Ohio 28”.

Best Illustration: 1, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “State Looks to Overhaul 911 System”; 2, Erin O’Neill, The Marietta Times, “Anatomy of a Sternwheeler”; 3, Chillicothe Gazette, “New Schools, Fewer Sites”.

Best Informational Graphics: 1, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette, “Korean War Memorial Under Attack on Two Fronts”; 2, Kandi Johnson, The Ironton Tribune, “What’s it Worth? “; 3, Michael Lehmkuhle, Port Clinton News-Herald, “Boating Under the Influence”.

Best Daily Sports Section: 1, Chillicothe Gazette; 2, The Salem News; 3, Port Clinton News-Herald.

Best Special Sports Section: 1, The Marietta Times, “Pigskin 2014”; 2, Jim Walker, The Ironton Tribune, “Pigskin Preview”; 3, Port Clinton News-Herald, “Fall Sports Preview”.

Best Sports Enterprise: 1, Derrick Webb, Chillicothe Gazette, “Making the Right Call”; 2, Matthew Horn, Port Clinton News-Herald, “I’m Nobody’s Mascot”; 3, Denny McPherson, The Marion Star, “BEYOND THE SCORES — A Lot Goes Into Hosting A Playoff Game”.

Best Sports Event Coverage: 1, Chris Balusik, Chillicothe Gazette, “Friendly Rivalry Delivers Results”; 2, Rich McGowan, The (Fremont) News-Messenger, “Central Catholic Grounds Clyde”; 3, The (Tiffin) Advertiser-Tribune, “Seth-tacular”.

Best News Writer: 1, Stephen Huba, The (East Liverpool) Review; 2, Brian Bohnert, The (Fostoria) Review Times; 3, Morgan Manns, The (Fostoria) Review Times.

Best Photographer: 1, Frank Robertson, Chillicothe Gazette; 2, Elise Manahan, Chillicothe Gazette; 3, Jason Molyet, Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum.

Best Sports Writer: 1, Matthew Horn, Port Clinton News-Herald; 2, Kevin Shields, The (Fremont) News-Messenger; 3, Rich McGowan, The (Fremont) News-Messenger.

Best Sports Feature Writer: 1, AJ Atkinson, Chillicothe Gazette; 2, J.J. Mickey, Coshocton Tribune; 3, Jarred Bates, Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum.

Best Sports Columnist: 1, Ron Johnston, The Marietta Times; 2, Derrick Webb, Chillicothe Gazette; 3, Rich McGowan, The (Fremont) News-Messenger.

Best Graphics Artist: 1, Michael Lehmkuhle, The (Fremont) News-Messenger; 2, Sarah Allen, Hillsboro Times-Gazette; 3, Kandi Johnson, The Ironton Tribune.

Best Feature Writer: 1, John Jarvis, The Marion Star; 2, Nick Bechtel, The Marion Star; 3, J.D. Creer, The Salem News.

Best Editorial Writer: 1, Michael Throne, Chillicothe Gazette; 2, Kate York, The Marietta Times; 3, Jill Nevels-Haun, Port Clinton News-Herald.

Best Columnist: 1, Gary Abernathy, Hillsboro Times-Gazette; 2, Andrea McKinney, The (London) Madison Press; 3, David Fong, Troy Daily News.

Best Business Writer: 1, John Jarvis, The Marion Star; 2, Daniel Carson, The (Fremont) News-Messenger; 3, Chris Balusik, Chillicothe Gazette.

Best Headline Writer: 1, David Berman, Chillicothe Gazette; 2, Lora Abernathy, Wilmington News Journal; 3, Gary Abernathy, Hillsboro Times-Gazette.

Best Use of Social Media: 1, Jill Gosche, The (Tiffin) Advertiser-Tribune; 2, Andrea McKinney, The (London) Madison Press; 3, Kristina Smith, Port Clinton News-Herald.