The Luverne Journal was honored with several awards in this year's Alabama Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.

The Journal took home three first place, two second place and one third place award.

Greenville Newspapers, LLC, of which the Journal is a part of, claimed 21 overall awards in the APA's annual contest.

"The results this year for Greenville Newspapers were excellent and while I feel we still have our best work ahead of us, this year made a big statement to ourselves and to others that we can produce quality work for our readers and advertisers that is recognized as such by our peers," said Greenville Newspapers Publisher Dennis Palmer.

First place awards for the Journal included: 'Close Call' by Adam Prestridge for Best Spot News Story; 'And the winners are…" by Adam Prestridge for Best News Photo; and 'Pay Back' by Adam Prestridge for Best Sports Photo.

Second place awards included: 'Patriots declaw Cougars' for Best Sports Photo and the Journal was also awarded second place in the First Amendment Award.

'Tis the Season,' a Christmas photo essay was honored with third place by the APA.

72 newspapers submitted 3,038 entries in the annual contest. The entries were judged by the Maryland Delaware D.C. Press Association.

The awards will be presented July 30 at APA's 134th summer convention at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach. The Story of the Year and Best Newspaper Web Site will be announced during the awards banquet.

General excellence awards are based on total points earned from five areas: issues submitted for the general excellence category, awards in nine general categories, awards in public service and FOI categories, awards in single event categories and awards from the advertising contest.

A full list of winners can be found on www.alabamapress.org.