Area newspapers win state press awards

Area newspapers picked up a few awards during the annual Missouri Press Association Better Newspaper Contest Banquet held Saturday at the Lodge of the Four Seasons, Lake of the Ozarks.
Southwest Missouri newspapers earning awards included:
General Excellence, Class 1- 1. Neosho Daily News
General Excellence, Class 3- 2. Joplin Globe (Cape Girardeau won)
General Excellence, Class 4- HM- Springfield News-Leader (1. KC Star)
Best Newspaper Design, Class 1- HM- Nevada Daily Mail (1. Columbia Missourian)
Best Newspaper Design, Class 2- 2. Joplin Globe (1. St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Best Front Page, Class 2- HM Springfield News-Leader (1. St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Best News Story- Class 1- HM Nevada Daily Mail, Steve Moyer
Best News Story- Class 2- 1. Joplin Globe- John Hacker, Aaron Kessler, Nammi Bhagvandoss
Best Feature Story- Class 2- 1. Joplin Globe- Jeremiah Tucker and staff
Best News or Feature Series- (All Papers) 1. Joplin Globe- Jeremiah Tucker and staff
Best Editorial- Class 1- HM Neosho Daily News, Buzz Ball
Best Editorial- Class 2- 3. Springfield News-Leader
Best Columnist- Humorous- (All Papers) HM Springfield News-Leader, Sarah Overstreet.
Best Feature Photograph- Class 1- HM Nevada Daily Mail, Ralph Pokorny
Best Photo Illustration- Class 2- 3. Joplin Globe, T. Rob Brown
Best Photo Package- Class 2- 3. Springfield News-Leader, Bob Linder
Best News Contest- Class 2- 3. Joplin Globe (behind St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star, which tied for first)
Best Editorial Page- Class 1- HM Neosho Daily News
Best Editorial Page- Class 2- HM Joplin Globe
Best Sports Page- Class 1- 3. Carthage Press, Jason Peake
Best Sports Page- Class 2- HM Springfield News-Leader
Best Sports News Story or Package- Class 1. 3. Carthage Press, Jason Peake; HM Branson Daily News, Wiley Hendrix
Best Sports News Story or Package- Class 2. 2. Springfield News-Leader, Kary Booher
Best Sports Feature Story- Class 2- HM Joplin Globe, Ryan Malashock
Best Sports Column- (all classes) HM (tie) Carthage Press, Jason Peake; Springfield News-Leader, Scott Puryear
Best Coverage of Young People- 3. Springfield News-Leader
Best Special Section- Class 1- HM Neosho Daily News, Michelle Pippin
Best Special Section- Class 2- 1. Joplin Globe, Jeremiah Tucker and staff
Best Special Section- Class 3- 2. Springfield News-Leader
Best Investigative Reporting- Class 1- HM Neosho Daily News, Michelle Pippin
Best Investigative Reporting- Class 2- 2. Joplin Globe, Roger McKinney
Best Local Business Coverage- 1. Joplin Globe (all newspapers)
Best Business Story, News or Feature- Class 2- 2. Joplin Globe, Andy Ostmeyer; 3. Joplin Globe, R. C. Balaban; HM Springfield News-Leader, Didi Tang
Best Coverage of Government- (all sizes) 3. Carthage Press, Dennis W. Sowers
Best Page Design- (all sizes) HM Joplin Globe
Best Newspaper Design- Class 1- HM Nevada Daily Mail
Best Newspaper Design- Class 2- 2. Joplin Globe, Gary Castor
Best Front Page- Class 2, HM Springfield News-Leader
Best News Story- Class 1, HM Nevada Daily Mail, Steve Moyer
Best News Story- Class 2- 1. Joplin Globe, John Hacker, Aaron Kessler, Nammi Bhagvandoss
In the weekly category, former Joplin resident Craig VonderHaar, twin brother of Joplin High School teacher and former KODE sports anchor Bruce VonderHaar, picked up an honorable mention in best sports news story or package for his work with the Washington Missourian.
The Springfield Business Journal finished second only to the St. Louis Business Journal in best local business coverage, while the McDonald County Press' Joyce Haynes captured third place for best newspaper in education program.