First Place, General News - Dave Zapotosky / The (Toledo) BladeJacob Rodriguez, 16, attends a hearing in Lucas County Juvenile Court. He was arrested late Tuesday night and charged with the murder of Rory Hunter, 23, who was found about 4:30 a.m. Jan. 10 in a field in the 1100 block of East Broadway. After being tried as an adult, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison for his involvement in the murder.
Second Place, General News - Eric Albrecht / The Columbus DispatchWith no replacement named yet retiring police Chief Walter Distelzweig stops the grandfather clock in his office before leaving the police headquarters to go to his retirement ceremony. The chief who was fastidious with details stopped the clock because no one would be the office to take care of it.
Third Place, General News - Katie Rausch / The (Toledo) BladeWanda Flory, of Swanton, center, watches with Terry, left, and her husband Richard, center right, as Thea Grabiec, right, kisses Sarah Shovan, Friday evening at the Westfield Franklin Park Mall in Toledo. Graviec and Shovan were participating in "National Same Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A," a protest staged in response to Wednesday's "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day."
Award of Excellence, General News - Chris Russell / The Columbus DispatchMembers of a United States Army honor guard from Fort Knox carry SSG Christopher L. Brown's casket to an awaiting hearse as his widow Ariell Taylor-Brown and daughter Charlie Brown watch during a memorial service. He was killed while serving in Afghanistan.
Award of Excellence, General News - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch Westerville North High School students gather around a rock sprayed with reflective paint during a candle light vigil outside the school. They were honoring Leroy A. Gilkey, 38, a Spanish teacher at the school who was was murdered by his father during an argument about the care of his terminally ill mother.
Award of Excellence, General News - John Kuntz / The Plain DealerFriends and classmates of Chardon High School student Daniel Parmertor grieve after saying goodbye to Daniel for the last time leaving his gravesite after the internment ceremony at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon. Daniel is one of three that were killed in the school's cafeteria during a shooting rampage by another teenager.
Award of Excellence, General News - Katie Rausch / The (Toledo) Blade"I feel like I'm in a dream, like I'm going to wake up any time," Lasandra Lucas said. Lucas' granddaughters, Keondra, 1, and Leondra Hooks, 2, were shot as they slept in their great-grandmother's house in Moody Manor. Keondra died, though Leondra remains at the hospital in critical condition.
