First Place, Team Picture Story - Glenn Hartong / Cincinnati EnquirerA Cincinnati firefighter watches as the Rapid Assistance Team (RAT Team) prepares to enter a burning house on the report of a firefighter down. A short search revealed that firefighter Oscar Armstrong had been caught in a flashover. Armstrong, a firefighter for three years was the first line of duty death in the department in more than 20 years. Hundreds of firefighters later attended his visitation and funeral.
First Place, Team Picture Story - Glenn Hartong / Cincinnati EnquirerA Cincinnati firefighter, in a desperately futile effort, tries to give Oscar Armstrong mouth-to-mouth recusitation after Armstrong was caught in a flashover and then thrown outside by fellow firefighters who tried to rescue him.
First Place, Team Picture Story - Glenn hartong / Cincinnati EnquirerCincinnati firefighter Kevin Wyatt mourns at the scene after hearing that firefighter Oscar Armstrong had been officially pronounced dead.
First Place, Team Picture Story - Glenn Hartong / Cincinnati EnquirerOscar Armstrong's mother insisted that she be allowed to see the place where he died. Here,she quietly stands and looks at the house as other firefighters come to the house and do the same.
First Place, Team Picture Story - Glenn Hartong / Cincinnati EnquirerAt the house where he died a small sign and a flower mark the window through which Oscar Armstrong was thrown when fellow firefighters tried to rescue him.
First Place, Team Picture Story - Glenn Hartong / Cincinnati Enquirer Cincinnati firefighters Adrian Burton (left) and Keith Armstrong (right) prepare to place the American flag on Oscar Armstrong's casket as they prepare to move him to Zion Baptist Church for his visitation. Both firefighters were classmates with Armstrong in the fire academy. Firefighters stood vigil by firefighter Armstrong ever since he died.
First Place, Team Picture Story - Glenn Hartong / Cincinnati EnquirerFirefighters from Columbus Ohio manning Oscar Armstrong's firehouse, Engine 9, salute as his funeral procession prepares to pass
First Place, Team Picture Story - Glenn Hartong / Cincinnati EnquirerFirefighter Oscar Armstrong's casket is carried into St. Xavier Church in downtown Cincinnati
First Place, Team Picture Story - Glenn Hartong / Cincinnati EnquirerHundreds of firefighters attended the funeral for Oscar Armstrong, here is a mass salute as the casket is taken onto the church.
First Place, Team Picture Story - Michael Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerBoots and a helmet sit before Oscar Armstrong's casket during his funeral services at St. Xavier Church.
First Place, Team Picture Story - Michael Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerTears flow down the cheeks of a Cincinnati firefighter as Oscar Armstrong's casket passes by during his funeral.
First Place, Team Picture Story - Glenn Hartong / Cincinnati EnquirerCincinnati firefighters hug Oscar Armstrong's fiancee, left, and mother right following his burial at Spring Grove Cemetery.
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Second Place, Team Picture Story - Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerOn Aug. 14, 2003, the largest blackout to ever hit North America left 50 million people from Toronto to New York without power. The massive failure put Clevelanders in the dark as well, causing a state of emergency with commuter gridlock, stranded travelers and depleted water supplies.The skyline of Cleveland at dusk during the power outage, August 14, 2003.
Second Place, Team Picture Story - Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerTim Russell tries to make a phone call to Minnneapolis outside the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Cleveland during the power outage. Lines were tied up for hours or phones simply failed to work.
Second Place, Team Picture Story - Mike Levy / The Plain DealerTraffic signals failed, causing gridlock in Downtown Cleveland/
Second Place, Team Picture Story - Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerChet Walker, a guest services worker at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in downtown Cleveland, works by candlelight during the power outage.
Second Place, Team Picture Story - Dale Omori / The Plain DealerVisitors to Cedar Point Amusement Park, some from as far away as Illinois and Michigan, found themselves stranded at a the gas station near the park. Gas pumps were inoperable, stranding travelers who were low on fuel.
Second Place, Team Picture Story - Chris Stephens / The Plain DealerJeff Bowman talks to his wife in Atlanta while Nathan Klayko,12, takes a rest on a stopped escalator at Cleveland Hopkins Airport International Airport. Air travel stopped when power went out there.
Second Place, Team Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain DealerCynthia Adams shops in the near darkness of a Tops supermarket following the power outage that affected up to 50 million people.
Second Place, Team Picture Story - Mike Levy / The Plain DealerA darkened Superior Avenue in downtown Cleveland was a test for drivers who only had their headlights to show the way.
Third Place, Team Picture Story - Roadell Hickman / The Plain DealerTragedy Leaves a Legacy of UnityEleven-year-old Shakira Johnson disappeared from a block party on Sept. 13. After five weeks of searching, her body was found in a field not too far from her home and a neighbor was arrested for her murder. The tragedy brought Clevelanders together in grief and support for Shakira's family and for the community.More than 100 people rallied and marched in Shakira's name.
Third Place, Team Picture Story - Lynn Ischay / The Plain DealerShakira's mother Alisa Randle, second from right, gets comfort from family, friends, and more than 100 members of motorcycle clubs across the city who rode to the Johnson house to show concern and sympathy for missing 11-year-old Shakira Johnson.
Third Place, Team Picture Story - Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerAs the search began, Larrita Lindsey, 11, handed out a poster in the missing child's neighborhood.
Third Place, Team Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerThree students of Nathan Hale Middle School and a woman comfort each other as they walk past the house of classmate Shakira Johnson the day her body was found.
Third Place, Team Picture Story - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerA steady stream of visitors stopped by the home of Shakira's mother, Alisa Randle, the day the remains of her daughter were found. They brought food, stuffed animals, balloons, flowers and the handmade Christmas wreath Randle is holding. Seated behind Randle is Judy Love, Randle's "lunch lady" when she attended East Madison Elementary School
Third Place, Team Picture Story - Roadell Hickman / The Plain DealerA Cleveland School of the Arts dancer pauses after performing in the crowded Mt. Sinai Baptist Church during the funeral of Shakira.
Third Place, Team Picture Story - Mike Levy / The Plain DealerA young Muslim girl holds back tears as she is lead out of the church during Shakira's funeral.
Third Place, Team Picture Story - Mike Levy / The Plain DealerA tense overflow crowd wishing to attend the funeral of slain child Shakira Johnson wait for her body to be brought out of the church after the funeral.
Third Place, Team Picture Story - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerShakira Johnson's step-father, Ralph Randle, in the center wearing a hat, watches doves released in his daughter's honor at Lake View Cemetery. Ralph holds son Ralph Jr.'s hand. Shakira's mother waits in a limousine, overcome with grief.
Award of Excellence, Team Picture Story - Daniel Melograna / The News JournalLuke Ervin, 2, wraps himself in a towel as he takes a break from swimming at the Mansfield area YMCA.
Award of Excellence, Team Picture Story - Mitchell Masilun / The News JournalLuke Ervin, 2, enjoys a ride on the swing Oct. 1 as he plays in the backyard with his sister, Joscelyn.
Award of Excellence, Team Picture Story - Mitchell Masilun / The News JournalMonte Ervin dries his son Luke off after his nightly bath.
Award of Excellence, Team Picture Story - Daniel Melograna / The News JournalThe Ervin Family huddle around Luke after he wakes up from his MRI May 16 at Children's Hospital in Columbus.
Award of Excellence, Team Picture Story - Daniel Melograna / The News JournalKari Heinrich holds up oxygen tubes Feb. 7 as anesthesiologist Lami Dairo makes sure all is well after putting Luke under for his MRI at Children's Hospital in Columbus.
Award of Excellence, Team Picture Story - Daniel Melograna / The News JournalIvy Ervin leans back as she talks with Peggy Lintern, July 15, while her son, Luke, sleeps on her chest at Children's Hospital in Columbus.
Award of Excellence, Team Picture Story - Mitchell Masilun / The News JournalIvy Ervin cries as she talks to her husband, Monte, about whether they should try another operation to possibly prolong Luke's life.
Award of Excellence, Team Picture Story - Daniel Melograna / The News JournalLuke Ervin, 3, sleeps while he waits for the medical staff at Children's Hospital to come for him July 15 as his mother, Ivy, leans against the doorway to his room.
Award of Excellence, Team Picture Story - Mitchell Masilun / The News JournalMonte Irvin holds Luke while awaiting the results of a CAT Scan at Childrens hospital in Columbus on July, 12
Award of Excellence, Team Picture Story - Mitchell Masilun / The News JournalMonte collapses over Luke's coffin with Ivy consoling him during the funeral.
Award of Excellence, Team Picture Story - Mitchell Masilun / The News JournalA heart symbolizing Luke Ervin hangs along with other children who have been diagnosed with Cancer in a memorial during the Kids n' Kamp rally on the lawn of the statehouse Friday afternoon. The gold ribbon on his heart signifies his losing the battle with cancer.
