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The LaGrange Daily News was once again named one of the best newspapers in the state in the Georgia Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

The LDN, which competes in Division B for daily newspapers with 7,999 or less in circulation, won 15 total awards, including five first place. The LDN also finished third in its division in general excellence.

The 2022 GPA Better Newspaper Contest was for work during the year of 2021.

“I am so proud of our staff for the work they did last year,” said LDN Publisher and Editor Daniel Evans. “While we certainly don’t do our jobs to win awards, it’s nice to see our work recognized by our peers. The LDN staff works tirelessly to inform the readers of LaGrange and Troup County. It’s a job we take seriously, and that’s reflected in these awards.”

Here’s a list of awards the LDN won:

• First place in best special section for the LDN’s inaugural “Welcome to Troup County” magazine.
• First place in best enterprise reporting for stories on the Kyle Clinkscales missing person case for work by Iris Hersey, Shiann Sivell, Ed Pugh and Evans.
• First Place in investigative reporting for stories on the Clinkscales case by Hersey, Sivell, Pugh and Evans. The LDN also won second place in this category for reporting by Hunter Riggall, Jenna Eady, Sivell, Evans and Pugh on the Service Delivery Strategy discussions between the cities of LaGrange, Hogansville, West Point and Troup County.
• First place for best magazine themed issue for the February-March issue of LaGrange Living by then magazine editor Eady and staff.
• First place for a motor vehicle ad for West Georgia Boat Center.
• Second place for breaking news writing for stories by Evans, Sivell and Hersey on an investigation into the Troup County Fire Department, an 18-hour standoff, and a LaGrange Police Department video where a machete-wielding man was shot by officers after refusing to drop the weapon.
• Second place for a food ad for The Stockyard and in healthcare for the Heart and Vascular Care of Georgia.
• Third place for a signature page for Spring and in full color ad for an showcasing the Wild Animal Safari.
• Third place for best editorial page.
• Third place for best headline writing.
• Third place for best magazine story — original writing by Sivell for a story on Brett Whaley’s balloon-making business.