First Place, Spot News over 100,000 - Dale Omori / The Plain DealerWendy Brubaker leaves her burned out home after talking with state fire marshals about an early morning fire that killed her youngest two daughters. Her two older daughters and husband survived the fire.
Second Place, Spot News over 100,000 - Lisa Dutton / The BladeToledo Edison employee Nick Lyon pauses at the scene of the fatal train accident that killed an 11-year-old boy riding his bike across the tracks. Lyon was the first person to reach the boy.
Third Place, Spot News over 100,000 - Scott Shaw / The Plain DealerWorkers recover Hurricane Katrina victims in downtown New Orleans.
Award of Excellence, Spot News over 100,000 - Allan Detrich / The BladeToledo firefighter Lt. Richard Knight carries the $18,000 artificial leg of Mike Desorbo out of the apartment building fire on S. St. Clair St.
Award of Excellence, Spot News over 100,000 - David I. Andersen / The Plain DealerWillie Chappell, uncle of Brandon McCloud, hugs Brandon's sister Lacole Harris, 19, after the coroner's van carrying Brandon's body drove by. Brandon, 17, was killed by Cleveland Police while they were serving a search warrant for his arrest on a string of armed robberies.
Award of Excellence, Spot News over 100,000 - David I. Andersen / The Plain DealerCleveland fire fighters disappear into the smoke as they cut holes into the boarded-up abandoned building at W. 97th St. and Lorain Ave. in Cleveland. A body of a homeless woman was found after the triple three alarm fire was put out.
Award of Excellence, Spot News over 100,000 - Marvin Fong / The Plain DealerMary Curry (right) comforts Shanaye Cook at the scene of a house fire that killed nine people on E. 87th street in Cleveland.
Award of Excellence, Spot News over 100,000 - Mike Munden / The Columbus DispatchColumbus firefighters decontaminate of one of several construction workers who were affected by the chemical spill or cloud on the OSU campus. The workers were working at the OSU power plant on a new boiler when the accident occurred, they did not cause the accident but did breathe in some of the chemical.
