Newspapers in Columbus, Canton, Sandusky, East Liverpool and Fremont were named the best in the state Sunday in the annual Associated Press Society of Ohio newspaper competition. General Excellence awards for 2011 went to The Columbus Dispatch, The (Canton) Repository, the Sandusky Register, The (East Liverpool) Review and The (Fremont) News-Messenger.

Best Photographer awards went to Chris Russell from The Columbus Dispatch, Craig J. Orosz from The Lima News, Nick Graham, Middletown Journal, James Miller from The Marion Star, and Julie Ames from the Coshocton Tribune.

Best Online Photojournalist awards went to Doral Chenoweth III from The Columbus Dispatch, William D. Lewis, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, Jason Werling from Sandusky Register, Sarah Gordon from the Ashland Times-Gazette and Jessica St. James, The Ironton Tribune.
Sixty-seven daily newspapers submitted 2928 entries in the contest, which featured news and sports stories, features, editorials, columns, graphics and photos from 2011.

Entries were judged by editors from The Washington (D.C.) Post, Division V The New York (N.Y.) Times Syndicate, Division IV the News-Enterprise, Elizabethtown, Ky., and the Kileen (Texas) Daily Herald, Division III The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va., and The Statesboro (Ga.) Herald Division II and The Daily Times, Marysville, Tenn., and The Lake Sun, Camdenton, Mo., Division I.

DIVISION V – Newspapers with a daily circulation of more than 75,000
General Excellence
1st – The Columbus Dispatch
2nd – The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer
3rd – Dayton Daily News

Best Photographer
1st – Chris Russell, The Columbus Dispatch
2nd – Gus Chan, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer
3rd – Lonnie Timmons III, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer

Best Online Photojournalist
1st – Doral Chenoweth III, The Columbus Dispatch
2nd – Carrie Wise, The Columbus Dispatch
3rd – David I. Andersen, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer

Best Illustration
1st – Chris Morris, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “OSU”
2nd – Andrea Levy, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “9/11”
3rd – Jeff Basting, The (Toledo) Blade, “Fall Fly Fishing on the Scenic Little Beaver Creek”

Spot News
1st – Chuck Crow, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “Fairport Harbor Fires”
2nd – Kyle Robertson, The Columbus Dispatch, “Franklinton Fire”
3rd – Jeff Hinckley, The Columbus Dispatch, “Just Praying for a Miracle”

General News
1st – Lynn Ischay, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “Homeless Stand Down Attracts Crowd”
2nd – Kyle Robertson, The Columbus Dispatch, “Above the Clouds”
3rd – Karen Schiely, Akron Beacon Journal, “Priest Misconduct”

Feature
1st – Jonathan Quilter, The Columbus Dispatch, “Tough Crowd”
2nd – Lynn Ischay, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “Heart: Patients Leave”
3rd – Lisa DeJong, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “Erika Has a Little Lamb”

Sports
1st – Jonathan Quilter, The Columbus Dispatch, “Goal”
2nd – Ed Suba, Jr., Akron Beacon Journal, “Basketball Dance”
3rd – Amy E. Voigt, The (Toledo) Blade, “Sailing High Despite Loss”

Photo Essay
1st – Andy Morrison, The (Toledo) Blade, “Scuba Diving with John Harris”
2nd – Lisa DeJong, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, “Despite Predictions, Judgment Day Came and Went in 2011”
3rd – Amy E. Voigt, The (Toledo) Blade, “Tight-Knit Group has Tough Toledo Street in its Grip”

Best Use of Multimedia
1st – Mary Nguyen and Doral Chenoweth III, The Columbus Dispatch, “Crawlumbus: The Downtown Highway Project”
2nd – Dayton Daily News, “Shuttle Decision”
3rd – Dayton Daily News, “Marny Wilson Killing”

DIVISION IV – Newspapers with daily circulation of 25,000 to 74,999
General Excellence
1st – The (Canton) Repository
2nd – The Lima News
3rd – The (Youngstown) Vindicator.

Best Photographer
1st – Craig J. Orosz, The Lima News
2nd – Scott Heckel, The (Canton) Repository
3rd – Jay Sowers, The Lima News

Best Online Photojournalist
1st – William D. Lewis, The (Youngstown) Vindicator
2nd – Chris Geier, The Lima News
3rd – Robert K. Yosay, The (Youngstown) Vindicator

Spot News
1st – Scott Heckel, The (Canton) Repository, “Mother’s Grief”
2nd – Jeff Forman, The (Willoughby) News-Herald, “Fire Aftermath”
3rd – Robert K. Yosay, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “Six Dead in Fire”

General News
1st – Maribeth Joeright, The (Willoughby) News-Herald, “Ricket Sentence”
2nd – Jay Sowers, The Lima News, “Falcons Tagged for Flight”
3rd – Maribeth Joeright, The (Willoughby) News-Herald, “Evarts Funeral”

Feature
1st – R. Michael Semple, Warren Tribune Chronicle, “Bocce”
2nd – R. Michael Semple, Warren Tribune Chronicle, “Tiny Dancer”
3rd – Jeff Forman, The (Willoughby) News-Herald, “Shake It Off”

Sports
1st – Jeff Forman, The (Willoughby) News-Herald, “Missed Reception”
2nd – Bob Rossiter, The (Canton) Repository, “Flip”
3rd – William D. Lewis, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “Header”

Photo Essay
1st – Craig J. Orosz, The Lima News, “Lima Warrior Finally Rests”
2nd – Craig J. Orosz and Jay Sowers, The Lima News, “Doctor Found Guilty of Murdering His Wife”
3rd – Maribeth Joeright, The (Willoughby) News-Herald, “Chairlift Rescue”

Best Use of Multimedia
1st – The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “Fracking”
2nd – The Lima News, “Dr. Mark Wangler Trial Coverage”
3rd – Nate Warnecke and David Trinko, The Lima News, “New Elida Road Traffic Pattern”

DIVISION III – Newspapers with daily circulation of 13,000 to 24,999
General Excellence
1st – Sandusky Register
2nd – The (Lorain) Morning Journal
3rd – Mansfield News Journal

Best Photographer
1st – Nick Graham, Middletown Journal
2nd – Anna Norris, The (Lorain) Morning Journal
3rd – Jason Lenhart, The (Newark) Advocate

Best Online Photojournalist
1st – Jason Werling, Sandusky Register
2nd – Angela Wilhelm, Sandusky Register
3rd – Anna Norris, The (Lorain) Morning Journal

Spot News
1st – Nick Graham, Middletown Journal, “Apartment Fire”
2nd – Dave Polcyn, Mansfield News Journal, “Fuel Truck Smashes House”
3rd – Jim Cummings, The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, “Fire Shuts Main Moon”

General News
1st – Jason Lenhart, The (Newark) Advocate, “River Roundup”
2nd – Mike Schenk, The (Wooster) Daily Record, “Hiland Grads”
3rd – Matthew Berry, The (Newark) Advocate, “Beach Closed”

Feature
1st – Dave Polcyn, Mansfield News Journal, “Mercury Keeps Climbing”
2nd – Sara Tobias, Mansfield News Journal, “Jumper”
3rd – Nick Graham, Middletown Journal, “Drummer”

Sports
1st – Mike Schenk, The (Wooster) Daily Record, “Out of Reach”
2nd – Daniel Melograna, Mansfield News Journal, “Short of the Finish”
3rd – Bill Lackey, Springfield News-Sun, “Bad Hop”

Photo Essay
1st – Sandusky Register, “Funeral for Officer Andrew Dunn”
2nd – Trevor Jones, Zanesville Times Recorder, “Stained Glass”
3rd – Mansfield News Journal, “Tanker vs House”

Best Use of Multimedia
1st – Nick Graham, Middletown Journal, “Mudathlon 2011”
2nd – Nabil Shaheen, The (Findlay) Courier, “February Flood”
3rd – Michael Lehmkuhle, The (Newark) Advocate, “Church Gets New Bell Tower.”

DIVISION II – Newspapers with daily circulation of 8,000 to 12,999
General Excellence
1st – The (East Liverpool) Review
2nd – The Marion Star
3rd – The Athens Messenger

Best Photographer
1st – James Miller, The Marion Star
2nd – Dustin Lennert, The (Athens) Post
3rd – John Halley, The Athens Messenger

Best Online Photojournalist
1st – Sarah Gordon, Ashland Times-Gazette
2nd – Bill Sinden, The Marion Star
3rd – Shannon Harsh, The (Alliance) Review

Spot News
1st – J.D. Pooley, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune, “Occupier Arrested ”
2nd – James Miller, The Marion Star, “Flood Waters Begin to Recede in Marion County” 3rd – Patricia Schaeffer, Lisbon Morning Journal, “Sebring Plastics Fire”

General News
1st – Matthew Berry, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, “Verdict”
2nd – Matthew Hatcher, The (Athens) Post, “A Greater Society”
3rd – Sarah Gordon, Ashland Times-Gazette, “Labor Rally”

Feature
1st – J.D. Pooley, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune, “Rainy Fair”
2nd – Patricia Schaeffer, Lisbon Morning Journal, “Into His Work”
3rd – John Halley, The Athens Messenger, “The Rodeo is Over”

Sports
1st – Alex Goodlett, The (Athens) Post, “Ohio Zips Past Akron”
2nd – Tom E. Puskar, Ashland Times-Gazette, “Oh So Close”
3rd – James Miller, The Marion Star, “Pleasant Moves On”

Photo Essay
1st – Meg Vogel, The (Athens) Post, “Living Legend Keeps Home Close to Heart”
2nd – Alex Goodlett, The (Athens) Post, “Life Lessons from Sam’s Gym”
3rd – J.D. Pooley, The (Bowling Green) Sentinel-Tribune

Best Use of Multimedia
1st – Shannon Harsh and Ruth Lang, The (Alliance) Review, “Patterson Homicide Investigation”
2nd – Joe Higgins, The Athens Messenger, “Route 33 Semi-Truck Accident”
3rd – Shannon Harsh and Ruth Lang, The (Alliance) Review, “Remembering 9/11”

DIVISION I – Newspapers with daily circulation of up to 7,999
General Excellence
1st – The (Fremont) News-Messenger
2nd – Port Clinton News-Herald
3rd – Coshocton Tribune

Best Photographer
1st – Julie Ames, Coshocton Tribune
2nd – Mike Ullery, Piqua Daily Call
3rd – Jonathon Bird, The (Fremont) News-Messenger

Best Online Photojournalist
1st – Jessica St. James, The Ironton Tribune
2nd – Lora Abernathy, Hillsboro Times-Gazette
3rd – Audrey Ingram, Wilmington News Journal

Spot News
1st – Mike Ullery, Piqua Daily Call, “Inventory”
2nd – Charles Caperton, Xenia Daily Gazette, “Body Found in Xenia Park”
3rd – Henry Conte, Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum, “Water, Water Everywhere”

General News
1st – Charles Caperton, Fairborn Daily Herald, Flags Retired at Ceremony”
2nd – Jim Rinaldi, The (London) Madison Press, “Karnes Funeral”
3rd – Jessica St. James, The Ironton Tribune, “Fright Night”

Feature
1st – Elizabeth Nihiser, Logan Daily News, “A Day in the Life: Tori Rinehart”
2nd – Mike Ullery, Piqua Daily Call, “Fall Fishing”
3rd – Mike Ullery, Piqua Daily Call, “Fountain Drink”

Sports
1st – Sara Tobias, Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum, “NBA Lockout Won’t Stop Them”
2nd – Mike Ullery, Piqua Daily Call, “Explosive Swimmer”
3rd – Mike Ullery, Piqua Daily Call, “State Champ”

Photo Essay
1st – Julie Ames, Coshocton Tribune, “Border Funeral”
2nd – Julie Ames, Coshocton Tribune, “Border Homecoming”
3rd – Jessica St. James, The Ironton Tribune, “Prayer for Pooches”

Best Use of Multimedia
1st – Luke Moore, The (Greenville) Daily Advocate, “Greenville Bond Fails”
2nd – Luke Moore, The (Greenville) Daily Advocate, “Prelude to the Dream”
3rd – Lora Abernathy, Hillsboro Times-Gazette, “Memorial Day 2011