By: The Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors announced winners of the group's annual writing and photo contests on Thursday.
Cash awards will be presented to the first-place winners at the annual PAPME awards dinner in Harrisburg on May 14.
Judges selected a "Best of Show" winner across all circulation divisions, and a photographer to receive the Paul Vathis Memorial Photography Portfolio Award, in honor of the late Pulitzer Prize-winning AP photographer from Pennsylvania. Winners for both prizes will be revealed at the award ceremony.
The entries were judged by editors at AP member newspapers in Colorado and Utah.
CIRCULATION OVER 75,000
WRITING
Sports Deadline Reporting First: Daily News Staff, Philadelphia Daily News, "Harry Kalas"
Second: David Murphy, Philadelphia Daily News, "ROCK OUT!"
Sports/Outdoors Column First: Bob Ford, The Philadelphia Inquirer," Iverson talks: One for money, two for show"
Second: Joe Starkey, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Last not least at marathon"
Sports Feature Reporting First: Mark Kram, Philadelphia Daily News, "Picking Their Brains"
Second: Michael Vitez, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "A swerve, a crash-'That boy's dead'
Editorial First: Charles Raymond Shaw, Intelligencer Journal, "Forgiving"
Second: Reg Henry, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Hard cases, bad politics"
Investigative Reporting First: Barbara Lake, Wendy Ruderman, Philadelphia Daily News, "Tainted Justice"
Second: Craig R. McCoy, Nancy Phillips, John Sullivan, Emilie Lounsberry, Dylan Purcell, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Crisis in Courts"
Spot News Reporting First: Mike Fuoco, Dennis Roddy, Jonathan Silver, Lillian Thomas, Jon Schmitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Stanton Heights police shooting"
Second: News Staff, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Most tragic day"
General News Reporting First: News Staff, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "LA Fitness shootings"
Second: Matt Assad, The Morning Call, "Casino Coverage"
Enterprise Reporting First: Andrew Conte, Luis Fabregas, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Failure to Inform"
Second: Mark Kram, Philadelphia Daily News, "Picking Their Brains"
Business Writing First: Alfred Lubrano, Jane M. Von Bergen, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Jobs at a Loss: Upheaval in the Region's Job Market"
Second: G-20 Team, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Pittsburgh Summit 2009"
Feature Writing First: John Luciew, The Patriot-News, "One Arrest Changed Many Lives"
Second: Jeff Hawkes, Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era, "As long as there is breath, there is hope."
Column First: John Baer, Philadelphia Daily News, "Why is high court treading lightly in ugly Luzerne case?"
Second: Eric Heyl, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Honesty best cure for Web of deceit"
Public Service First: Craig R. McCoy, Nancy Phillips, Dylan Purcell John Sullivan, Emilie Lounsberry, The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Crisis in courts"
Second: Barbara Laker, Wendy Ruderman, Philadelphia Daily News, "Tainted Justice"
Online Coverage of Breaking News First: Online Team, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Officers killed, wounded in Stanton heights standoff"
Second: No Winner
PHOTOS
Spot News Photo First: Michael Henninger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Church Fire"
Second: Justin David Graybill, Intelligencer Journal, "Mourners Honor a life cut short"
Feature Photo First: Eric Schmadel, Tribune-Review (Greensburg), "Welcome Home Dad"
Second: Darrell Sapp, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Foggy Bottom"
Sports Photo First: John Whitehead, The Patriot-News, "Just Two More"
Second: Monica Cabrera, The Morning Call, "Heart of a Eagle"
Personality Portrait First: Peter Diana, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Pro Football Preview"
Second: Andrew Russell, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Role Model Role Call"
Photo StoryFirst: Sean Simmers, The Patriot-News, "A Life well Lived'' Second: Sean Simmers, The Patriot-News, "On the March"
CIRCULATION 30,000-75,000
WRITING
Sports Deadline Reporting First: Frank Bodani, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Lions cursed no more"
Second: Derek Levarse, Times Leader, "Buckeyes rule"
Sports/Outdoors Column First: Jack McCaffrery, Delaware County Daily Times, "$112 million reasons to look in a mirror"
Second: Donnie Collins, Scranton Times-Tribune, "Wins not always reason to play"
Sports Feature Reporting First: Jerry Reimenschneider, Julie Pelchar Cohen, Reading Eagle, "Running toward the light"
Second: Frank Bodani, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Not your typical player"
Editorial First: Scott Fisher, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Savage Memorial"
Second: Steven Carpenter, Altoona Mirror, "Give workers checks, not loans"
Investigative Reporting First: Borys Krawczeniuk, Scranton Times-Tribune, "Bon Mellow Series"
Second: Melissa Nann Burke, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Angel Food Ministries"
Spot News Reporting First: Ben Finley, Bucks County Courier Times, "Killing leaves homeless community grieving"
Second: Nichole Dobo and Mike Hoover, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Sexting caution"
General News Reporting First: Brent Burkey, Sean Adkins, Kevin Horan, Tom Joyce, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Harley in York County"
Second: Mark Guydish, Times Leader, "Mass Closing, Martino Era Martino's Mission, W-B Group, Fatigued Bishop, Voicing Unity"
Enterprise Reporting First: Staff, Scranton Times-Tribune, "Outlook 2009"
Second: Daniel Axelrod, Scranton Times-Tribune, "Code Blue"
Business Writing First: David Falchek and Staff, Scranton Times-Tribune, "PPL rate hikes"
Second: Daniel Axelrod, Scranton Times-Tribune, "Code Blue"
Feature Writing First: Ben Finley and George Mattar, Bucks County Courier Times, "Bensalem murder remains unsolved"
Second: Kathy Stevens, The York Dispatch, "Death over Dialysis"
Column First: Christopher Kelly, Scranton Times-Tribune, "The soupspoon Rebellion"
Second: Larry Hicks, The York Dispatch, "The Ball is in York County's Court"
Public Service First: Jeff Frantz, Teresa Boeckel, Jennifer Vogelsong, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "No room for the mentally ill"
Second: Melissa Nann Burke, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Angel Food Ministries"
Online Coverage of Breaking News First: Tom Joyce, Angie Mason, Kevin Horan, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Bonusgate Scandal"
Second: Matt Mead, Erie Times-News, "Mill Creek Rescue/Swept Away"
PHOTOS
Spot News Photo First: Don Carey, Times Leader, "Honor and Tears"
Second: Jason Farmer, The Times-Tribune, (untitled)
Feature Photo First: Susan L. Angstadt, Reading Eagle, "The Heart of Hospice"
Second: Carl Kosola, The Intelligencer, "A Gem of a Field"
Sports Photo First: Aimee Dilger, Times Leader, "American Legion Baseball"
Second: Pete G. Wilcox, Times Leader, "Northwest vs. Southern Columbia Football"
Personality Portrait First: Kate Penn, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Greatest Battle"
Second: Jack Hanrahan, Erie Times-News, "Taunia's Willow"
Photo Story First: Kate Penn, York Daily Record/Sunday News, "Back to 1863" Second: Butch Comegys, Michael Mullen, and Staff, Scranton Times-Tribune, "Hero"
CIRCULATION 15,000-30,000 WRITING
Sports Deadline Reporting First: Jeff Rice, Centre Daily Times, "Buckeyes' defense, special teams smack Lions with second loss"
Second: Jonathan Bombulie, The Citizens' Voice, "Streaking Penguins ice Sharks"
Sports/Outdoors Column First: Tony Coccagna, The Indiana Gazette, "One Shining Moment"
Second: Vinny Pezzimenti, Centre Daily Times, "Disease hasn't touched P-O senior's soul"
Sports Feature Reporting First: Dave Zeitlin, Daily Local News, "2 brothers - 1 dream"
Second: Matthew Burglund, The Indiana Gazette, "For the love of the game"
Editorial First: Dave Janoski, The Citizens' Voice, "Sexting Editorial"
Second: Michael Olszak, New Castle News, "Open Ignorance"
Investigative Reporting First: Dave Janoski, The Citizens' Voice, "Connected"
Second: Ed Mahon, Centre Daily Times, "Swap costing millions"
Spot News Reporting First: Howard Frank, Michael Sadowski, Beth Brelje Pocono Record Tornado hits Cherry Valley
Second: Kristen Gaydos, The Citizens' Voice, "Blast rocks neighborhood"
General News Reporting First: Dave Janoski, Michael Sisak, Ryann Grochowski, Erin Moody, The Citizens' Voice, "Judgment Day"
Second: Jennifer Miller, Dan Kristie, Daily Local News, "City of Fire: The Coatesville Arsons"
Enterprise Reporting First: Dave Zeitlin, Daily Local News, "Lining Up On the Right Side of History"
Second: Ed Mahon, Centre Daily Times, "Back to School/Back to Work"
Business Writing First: Nick Malawskey, Centre Daily Times, "Business Matters"
Second: Nick Malawskey, Centre Daily Times, "$8 billion pours into local banks"
Feature Writing First: Beth Brelje, Pocono Record, "Face to face with survival"
Second: Chris Rosenblum, Centre Daily Times, "The American dream"
Column First: Tony Phyrillas, The Mercury, "Gov. Rendell is turning into a Republican"
Second: Nancy Marsh, The Mercury, "Telling your stories is a privilege"
Public Service First: Centre Daily Times Staff, Centre Daily Times, "Binge Drinking"
Second: Nancy Marsh, Evan Brandt, The Mercury, "Borough on the brink"
Online Coverage of Breaking News First: Marta Grouger, John Misinco and Staff, Pocono Record, "Tornado hits Cherry Valley"
Second: No winner
PHOTOS
Spot News Photo First: William B. Hughes, Press Enterprise, "Car into House"
Second: Erica Hilliard, The Indiana Gazette, "State Troopers Investigate Crash"
Feature Photo First: Justin Guido, Butler Eagle, "Tractor Funeral"
Second: Kristen Mullen, The Citizens' Voice, "Victory King"
Sports Photo First: Matthew Harris, The Daily Item, "Injured Wrestler"
Second: Matthew Harris, The Daily Item, "Girls Field Hockey"
Personality Portrait First: Christopher Weddle, Centre Daily Times, "A maestro among us"
Second: Justin Guido, Butler Eagle, "Historical Cleaner"
Photo Story First: Jimmy May, Press Enterprise, "Piper Cub Homecoming"
Second: Jimmy May, Press Enterprise, "PIAA State Swimming and Diving Championship"
CIRCULATION BELOW 15,000
WRITING
Sports Deadline Reporting First: Frank Foreman, The Punxsutawney Spirit, "From Zero to Heroes"
Second: Brian Cox, Drew Pellman, Chris McFarland, The Sentinel (Lewistown), "Warriors stave off late rush"
Sports/Outdoors Column First: Jon Sitler, Times Observer, "SitComm: Finding their seats in Heaven"
Second: B.J. Small, Gettysburg Times, "See and be-extension by muscle memory"
Sports Feature Reporting First: Donald R. Serfass, The Times News, "Remembering Bo Tkach"
Second: Jon Sitler, Times Observer, "The Chicago Cubs selectAddison Dunn"
Editorial First: Brad Siddons, The Sentinel (Lewistown), "How to remove people from office"
Second: Frank Jost, The Sentinel (Lewistown), "Committee's selection should have been more open process"
Investigative Reporting First: Ronald W. Hosie, The Sunday Review, "Judge fights county, The Review"
Second: Donald R. Serfass, The Times News, "Within a whisper"
Spot News Reporting First: Bruce Siwy, Judy D.J. Ellich, Dan DiPaolo, Daily American, "Arrest made in cold case"
Second: Dan Walk, The Punxsutawney Spirit, "Remembering 'A great person'"
General News Reporting First: Donald R. Serfass, The Times News, "Rare blood disease"
Second: Jim Runkle, The Express, "Domenique Wilson Case"
Enterprise Reporting First: Kiernan Schalk, Megan Bollinger, Micaiha Bisebilger, Marjorie Stromberg, Joe Cannon and Bethany Fehlinger, The Sentinel (Lewistown), "Cutting to the Core"
Second: Sentinel Staff, The Sentinel (Lewistown), "Fighting through recession"
Business Writing First: Donald R. Serfass, The Times News, "Winter of the farm"
Second: Sentinel Staff, The Sentinel (Lewiston), "Staying afloat"
Feature Writing First: Dean Wells, Times Observer, "Passing it on"
Second: Tony Di Domizio, The Reporter, "Selling the dream"
Column First: Marcie Schellhammer, The Bradford Era, "The table by the staircase"
Second: Denny Bonavita, Courier-Express, "'Hizzoner,' laughter and letters"
Public Service First: Gettysburg Staff, Gettysburg Times, "Progress 2009"
Second: Dean Wells, Times Observer, "Esolen + One Year"
Online Coverage of Breaking News First: Chris Stanley, The Reporter, "Pizza shop owner murdered"
Second: Jeff Pratt, Erica Dolson, Joe Cress, Mike Bupp, The Sentinel (Carlisle), "Crash on I-81"
PHOTOS
Spot News PhotoFirst: Bradley Kreitzer, The Sentinel (Lewistown), "I want to leave'' Second: Bill Crowell, The Express, "Home for the Holidays"
Feature Photo First: Alan Hancock, The Bradford Era, "Warding off the Evildoers"
Second: Brian F. Henry, Leader Times, "Billy Hicks"
Sports Photo First: Michael Bupp, The Sentinel (Carlisle), "Loose Ball"
Second: Jason Malmont, The Sentinel (Carlisle), "Look Who's in First Place"
Personality Portrait First: Michael Bupp, The Sentinel (Carlisle), "Swimmer of the year"
Second: Brian F. Henry, Leader Times, "Billy Hicks"
Photo Story First: Evan Sanders, Daily Courier, "Reliving history in Perryopolis"
Second: Nate Wilson, The Express, "BEA-utiful Day"
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