BILOXI – The DAILY LEADER news staff captured 11 awards,including five first place honors and a third place in the GeneralExcellence competition, Saturday in the editorial division of theMississippi Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

Winners of the awards for news coverage in 2006 were announcedduring MPA’s summer convention held at the Beau Rivage. The DAILYLEADER competed in the Daily Division C category for newspaperswith circulations under 9,000.

“These awards represent a lot of hard work and dedication on thepart of our newsroom in particular and all employees at thenewspaper,” said Publisher Bill Jacobs. “I’m proud of our firstplace awards and our showing in the General Excellencecompetition.”

Managing Editor Matthew Coleman received first place awards forBest Front Page and for Best Editorial Page. He also garnered athird place honor in the Best Editorials category.

Staff Writer Scott Tynes won first place in the Best GeneralNews Story competition for his report on a memorial service for a”professional hitchhiker” whose body was found near Interstate 55last year.

Sports Editor Tom Goetz won first place in the Best SportsColumn competition.

Keith Stovall, a former DAILY LEADER newsroom staffer, won firstplace in the Best Personality Portrait competition for his pictureof Lincoln County farmer Robert Robinson and his grandsonChristopher. The picture was featured on the cover of theAgriculture section in last year’s FOCUS.

Speaking of FOCUS, the newspaper’s 15th annual edition wonsecond place in the Best Special Section category.

Lifestyles Editor Tammie Brewer captured a second place honorfor Best Lifestyles Page or Section. The newspaper’s staff also wona second place award for Best Design.

Staff member Sarah Holcombe received an honorable mention in theBest Feature Story category for her article titled “Deutsche DaysRemembered,” a story about a local German POW camp.