First Place, General News - Mike Levy / The Plain DealerOne-year-old Alexander Montgomery, dressed in a Marine uniform, looks to the casket bearing his father, Lance Cpl. Brian Montgomery, of Mentor. The Marine Reservist was one of 48 members of a Brook Park-based unit killed in Iraq in 2005
Second Place, General News - Scott Heckel / The RepositoryFriends flash gang symbols at the rear of the hearse that carried 17 year old shooting victim Michael Cheek to the cemetery following his funeral at the Apostolic Faith Assembly in Canton. Local high school football star, Steven Walker, a University of Pittsburgh recruit, was arrested for the murder.
Third Place, General News - Mike Levy / The Plain DealerApproximately 160 Marines and Sailors of Brook Park based headquarters and service Co. known as the 325 return to their families at the Brook Park Recreation Center.
Award of Excellence, General News - Chris Russell / The Columbus DispatchMattie Loveless's friend Rosemarie Flint comforts her as she leaves her home for the last time. She was forced to leave her home and enter a nursing home because of Ohio's medical funding laws. She needed partial in-home nursing care, but was forced to move into a more expensive nursing home.
Award of Excellence, General News - Ernest Coleman / Cincinnati EnquirerDarlene Williams sits in the lap of her brother, Craig O’Bannon for support during a Memorial Service for her husband, Spc. Ronnie “John Boy Williams”, who was killed in Iraq when his tank fell into a water-filled ravine, drowning him. The two and other family members take part in the Memorial at Summit View Middle School in Independence, KY on July 23, 2005. On the left is her mother-in-law, Sherri Williams, her mother, Corinne O’Bannon, and her son, Huston, 2.
Award of Excellence, General News - Fred Squillante / The Columbus DispatchWord spreads on cell phones that Marine Lance Cpl. James "Jamie" Crum is home from Iraq. Seated in their RV as they drive from the airport to their home are, from left: Crum's uncle, Mike Hance; Crum's girlfriend Melissa Hoak; Crum's grandmother Sandy Bumgarner; and James Crum. James Crum is a member of Lima Company, which lost 16 Marines in Iraq.
Award of Excellence, General News - Gus Chan / The Plain DealerEdie and Dan Deyarmin support each other after finding out their son, Dan Jr., was killed in an ambush in Haditha, Iraq.
Award of Excellence, General News - Jeff Forman / News-HeraldJames Hickey (right) is comforted by his sister-in-law Lorie Froelich as Hickey's son James Hickey III is shackled after being sentenced by Lake County Common Pleas Judge Vincent A. Culotta to three years in prison for robbing a pizza delivery man.
Award of Excellence, General News - Katie Falkenberg / Ohio UniversityPro-life demonstrators gather in front of the White House to urge President Bush to sign the bill which will keep Terry Schiavo alive. Schiavo has been taken off life-support by her husband's wishes, causing many Republicans and pro-life advocates to rally against Mr. Schiavo's decision.
Award of Excellence, General News - Scott Shaw / The Plain DealerRosalind Hudson and Shane Williams look up at the burned home where nine relatives died in a house fire.
