Hoch Publishing Company, publisher of the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, had a banner year in the Kansas Press Association 2015 Awards of Excellence competition, netting a record 25 awards.

“It’s gratifying to receive such recognition from our professional peers,” news editor David Colburn said. “First and foremost, we work together as a team to produce high-quality newspapers for our readers and advertisers. Awards are secondary, but winning a record number of them affirms that we’re focused on our primary goals.”

Hoch Publishing won 11 first-place awards, one more than last year, including best news story, best investigative story, best sports column, best story originating from a public notice, best photo package, best environmental portrait, best special section, best hardware ad, best specialty ad, best community event ad, and best special section advertising.

The newspapers also received eight second-place and six third-place awards.

“I’m delighted we swept all three awards in the investigative news category,” Colburn said, “and with our Explore special section taking firsts in news and advertising. The variety of categories in which we won awards speaks to the talent and versatility of our staff.”

The awards are divided into six categories, based on circulation and how often a paper is published. Hoch Publishing won its awards in the mid-size non-daily division, competing  against ‘daily’ papers from towns such as Atchison, El Dorado, Augusta, and Junction CIty that publish four times a week or less, as well as other weeklies.

This year’s entries were judged by Missouri Press Association.

Awards

First place

• News Story
• Investigative Story
• Sports Column Writing
• Best Story Orginating From a Public Notice
• Photo Package
• Best Environmental Portrait
• Special Section — Editorial
• Best Hardware Ad
• Best Specialty Ad
• Best Community Event Ad
• Special Section — Advertising

Second place

• Investigative Story
• Local Business Story
• Youth Story
• Sports Feature Story
• Headline Writing
• News and Writing Excellence
• Design and Layout Excellence
• Best Classified Display Ad

Third place

• Investigative Story
• Religion Story
• Best Environmental Portrait Best Hardware Ad
• Best Ad Series or Campaign
• Best House Ad