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The SNA's most popular contest of the year, its Editorial Contest, includes thousands of entries from members across North America. This contest recognizes editorial excellence in six different circulation classes that separate dailies from non-dailies. The County Press publishes three days a week — Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

The awards reflect the commitment of the editorial staff in its pursuit of excellence in print journalism and newspaper design.

The County Press won:

First place — Best Editorial Page (a collective staff recognition);

First place — Best Coverage of Local Business and Economics News as compiled by Associate Editor Jeffrey Hogan on the Sunday Marketplace page;

Second place — Best Young People's Coverage for a series "A Day in the Life" by Staff Reporter Jennifer Decker, and edited by Community Editor Angela Seyfried, that spotlighted the senior year of a group of Lapeer County students;

Second place — Best Headline "Creuse Control" by former sports editor Mike Larson;

Third place — Best Graphic Artwork by County Press graphic artist Kari McMillan;

Honorable Mention — Best Arts and Entertainment Writing for a story titled "Extra, Extra" by Staff Reporter Susan Younger.

Traverse City-based SNA is the only, non-profit professional trade association specifically serving the suburban and community newspaper industry through leadership, education, promotion, research and the advancement of high standards. SNA's membership is comprised of nearly 2,400 newspapers in the United States and Canada.

"We're delighted at the awards," said Bill Southern, publisher of The County Press. "It's always nice to be recognized for the work you do. The awards represent the hard work our journalists and our other professional staff members do on a daily basis, but to be recognized by other journalists and the association is special because it means we're keeping with our mission to inform and entertain our readers with quality writing and design features."

JRC, which also owns and operates the Oakland Press, Macomb Daily, and Royal Oak Daily Tribune, among a host of other newspapers in Michigan, won more awards than any other newspaper company for the fourth consecutive time.

JRC finished with 142 awards.

All first place winners will be recognized in a full-color advertisement to be published in Editor & Publisher magazine giving its members recognition among their peers while adding credibility to the strength of suburban and community newspapers.

The County Press has been published since 1839.