2010 Contest Winners

Here are the winners of the 2010 Maine Press Association Better Newspaper Contest. The awards were presented at the Fall Conference Oct. 16 at Point Lookout Resort and Conference Center in Northport.

News Photo
Weekly 1
1. “Blueberry Pie Lover” – Heidi Murphy, The Original Irregular
2.  No award
3.  No award

Weekly 2
1. “Candle Vigil” – Rich Obrey, Sun Chronicle
2. “Solidarity March” – Monica Pettengill, St. John Valley Times
3.  “Plover Protesters” – Amy Root– Donle, York County Coast Star

Daily/Weekend
1.  “Homeless Hangover” – Kevin Bennett, Bangor Daily News
2.  “Sacrifice” – Andy Molloy, Kennebec Journal
3.  “Navy Pilot Goodbye” – Troy R. Bennett, The Times Record

Spot News Photo
Weekly 1
1.  “Early Morning Fire” – Alan Bebout, Wiscasset Newspaper
2.   “Overturned Truck” – Jeannette Hughes, Piscataquis Observer
3.  No award

Weekly 2
1.  “Precarious Position” – James Staub, The Ellsworth American
2.  “Boat Fire” – Dean Kotula, The Ellsworth American
3.  “Big Wave” – Emily O’Connell, York County Coast Star

Daily/Weekend
1. “Candle Lit Shrine” – Gregory Rec, Portland Press Herald
2.  “Sobriety Test” – Daryn Slover, Sun Journal
3.  “Swat Team” – Kate Collins, Bangor Daily News

Scenic Photo
Weekly 1
1.  “Burning the Midnight Oil” – Steve Mitman, The Original Irregular
2.  “Icy Sculpture” – Steve Mitman, The Original Irregular
3.  No award

Weekly 2
1.  “Dog Walker” – Wayne E. Rivet, The Bridgton News
2. “Autumn Still” – Joe Orchulli II, Boothbay Register
3.  “Lilies” – Larry Patterson, The Ellsworth American

Daily/Weekend
1. “Rainy Mannequin” – Troy R. Bennett, The Times Record
2. “Colorful Boats” – John Ewing, Portland Press Herald
3. “Skier” – Tim Greenway, Portland Press Herald
People Photo
Weekly 1
1. “New Year’s Reveler” – Dick Broom, Mount Desert Islander
2.  “Concerned Voter” – Earl Brechlin, Mount Desert Islander
3.  No award

Weekly 2
1.  “Breaktime” – Natalie Bazinet, Aroostook Republican and News
2.  “Groomed for success” – Scott Yates, York County Coast Star
3.  “Snow Boarders” – Diane Randlett, Boothbay Register

Daily/Weekend
1.  “Chicken Hug” – Andy Molloy, Kennebec Journal
2.  “Shutter Island Face” – David Leaming, Morning Sentinel
3.  “Balloon Blower” – Daryn Slover, Sun Journal

Picture Story
Weekly 1
1. “Storm Damage” – Arlene Whitney, Kathy Onorato, Susan Johns and Alan Bebout; Wiscasset Newspaper
2.  No award
3.  No award

Weekly 2
1.  “Firefighter’s Convention” – Dan Limmer, York County Coast Star
2.  “Boothbay Harbor Celebration” – Staff, Boothbay Register
3.  “Balloon Festival” – Scott Mitchell Johnson, Star– Herald

Daily/Weekend
1.  “Fireman’s Funeral” – Gregory Rec, Portland Press Herald
2.  “Handicap PE Class” – Troy R. Bennett, The Time Record
3.  “Cap Haitien, Haiti” – Gregory Rec, Portland Press Herald

Feature Photo
Weekly 1
1. “Ice Fishing” – Steve Mitman, The Original Irregular
2. “Ghosts with the Most” – Rich Beauchesne, The York Weekly
3.  “Piscataquis Valley Fair” – Stuart Hedstrom, Piscataquis Observer

Weekly 2
1. “Kaleidoscope” – Amy Root– Donle, York County Coast Star
2. “Ferris Wheel” – Tyler Drumm, Coastal Journal
3.  “Cross Country Skiers” – Michael Gudreau, Star– Herald

Daily/Weekend
1. “Getting a Lift” – John Ewing, Portland Press Herald
2. “Surfer” – Derek Davis, Portland Press Herald
3. “Nuzzling Horses” – Bridget Brown, Bangor Daily News

Sports Photo
Weekly 1
1. “Close Quarters” – Jeff Walls, Mount Desert Islander
2. “York Basketball Celebration” – John Carden, York Weekly
3.  No award

Weekly 2
1.  “Canoe Race” – Ken Waltz, The Herald Gazette
2.  “The Throw” – Ken Waltz, The Herald Gazette
3.  “Facemask” – Gloria Austin, Houlton Pioneer Times
Daily/Weekend
1. “Girls Soccer” – Gordon Chibroski, Portland Press Herald
2. “Kayakers” – Kevin Bennett, Bangor Daily News
3. “Girls Basketball Celebration” – John Ewing, Portland Press Herald

Graphic
Weekly Combined
1. “Branch Lake land buy” – Catherine McKinney, Ellsworth American
2. “Local group targets Moosehead” – Staff, Piscataquis Observer
3.  “Overdraft policies” – Ethan Andrews, Trina Johnson and Christine Dunkle, Herald-Gazette

Daily/Weekend
1.  “Battle for Bar Harbor” – Eric Zelz, Bangor Daily News
2. “Marriage Timeline 2009” – Sharon Wood, Kennebec Journal
3.  “Shutdown Days” – Sharon Wood, Kennebec Journal

Specialty Page Design
Weekly 1
1. “Lighthouse Legends” Laura Snyder-Smith, York Weekly
2. “Maritime” – Staff, Mount Desert Islander
3. “Past basketball stars” – Heidi St. Jean, Moosehead Messenger

Weekly 2
1. “Arts Weekend” – Laura Snyder Smith, York County Coast Star
2. “Life is good at Sparrow Farm” – Alicia Tuttle, Capital Weekly
3. “Food page” – Staff, Ellsworth American

Daily/Weekend
1.  “Real Life” – Sharon Wood, Kennebec Journal
2.  “The struggle for independents” – Rebecca Bowden, Bangor Daily News
3.  “Royal flushes” – Corey LaFlamme and Jose Leiva, Sun Journal

Front Page Design
Weekly 1
1. Piscataquis Observer – Stuart Hedstrom, Josh Salm
2. The York Weekly – Laura Snyder Smith
3. The Original Irregular – Heidi Murphy

Weekly 2
1. Ellsworth American – Staff
2. Sanford News – Victoria Willette
3. York County Coast Star – Laura Snyder Smith

Daily/Weekend
1. Sun-Journal – Staff
2. Kennebec Journal – Sharon Wood
3.  Bangor Daily News – Brian Robitaille and Eric Zelz

Local Ad
Weekly 1
1. “Doing business” – Heidi Murphy, Original Irregular
2. “Bio lab” – Staff, Mount Desert Islander
3. “Camp Kawanhee” – Robert J. Gray Jr., Original Irregular

Weekly 2
1. “Side Street Café” – Amy DeMerchant, Bar Harbor Times
2. “Keith Field Goldsmith” – Kathy McDonough and Mike Gustafson, Coastal Journal
3. “Houlton Farms Dairy” – Dave Bates, Houlton Pioneer Times

Daily/Weekend
1.  “Riverwatch/Hilton Garden” – Michelle Pushard, Sun-Journal
2.  “Autumn Celebration” – Michelle Cote, Journal Tribune
3.  “Managing Your Forest” (Wadsworth) – Linda Perry, Sun-Journal

Campaign or Series
Weekly Combined
1. “Testimonials – Staff, Ellsworth American
2. “Red Sky Restaurant” – Cathy McDonald and Michelle Panars, Bar Harbor Times
3.  “Shop at Home” – Dave Bates, Houlton Pioneer Times

Daily/Weekend
1.  “Are you getting your share?” – Shelley Sund, Bangor Daily News
2.  “Coastal Skin” – Heidi Duquette, Bangor Daily News
3.  “Meeting the challenge” – Jesse Richter and Sheri Verville, Sun-Journal

Advertising Layout
Weekly Combined
1. Boothbay Register
2. Ellsworth American
3. Mount Desert Islander
Daily/Weekend
1.  Bangor Daily News
2.  Bangor Daily News
3.  York County Weekend

Supplement/Special Section
Weekly Combined
1.  Country Crossroads – Houlton Pioneer Times
2.  Testa’s – Mount Desert Islander
3.  Sesquicentennial – Aroostook Republican

Daily/Weekend
1. 175th Anniversary – Staff, Bangor Daily News
2. Business Journal – Advertising staff, Morning Sentinel
3. Women’s Quarterly – Advertising staff, Kennebec Journal

Best Supplement Cover
Weekly Combined
1. Fall 2009 – Heidi Murphy, The Original Irregular
2. My Generation – Staff, Sun Chronicle
3. Western Mountains Gardening 2009 – Heidi Murphy and Steve Mitman, Original Irregular

Daily/Weekend
1. Maine Food and Farm – Shelly Sund and Jeff Orcutt, Bangor Daily News
2. Medical Journal – Natalie Blake, Kennebec Journal
3. Autumn Home and Garden – Mike French, Kennebec Journal

Best NIE Idea
Weekly 1
1. Piscataquis Observer
2. No award
3. No award

Weekly 2
1. Houlton Pioneer Times
2. Aroostook Republican
3. Ellsworth American

Daily/Weekend
1. The Times Record
2. Bangor Daily News
3. No award

In– Paper Circulation Promo
Weekly Combined
1. The Weekly Freebie – Ellsworth American
2. No award
3. No award

Daily/Weekend
1.  We deliver, you save – Bangor Daily News
2.  No award
3.  No award
Self– Promotion
Weekly Combined
1.  Our readers, your customers – Ellsworth American
2.  County Crossroads – Houlton Pioneer Times
3.  No award

Daily/Weekend
1. We’ve captured the moment – Sun– Journal
2. Putting the numbers to work – Bangor Daily News
3. No award

Best New Idea
Weekly Combined
1. 2010 Recipe Contest – Ellsworth American
2. No award
3. No award

Daily/Weekend
1. Business cards – Morning Sentinel
2. Progressive Businesses – Bangor Daily News
3. No award

Sponsorship Page
Weekly Combined
1. Queen Victoria visit – Mount Desert Islander
2. National Honor Society – Star– Herald
3. No award

Daily/Weekend
1. Ellsworth Turns 140 – Bangor Daily News
2. No award
3. No award

Editorial Page
Weekly Combined
1.  Bar Harbor Times
2.  Capital Weekly
3.  Republican Journal

Daily
1. Journal Tribune
2. Sun Journal
3. No award

Weekend
1. Sun Journal
2. Bangor Daily News
3. No award
Sports Section
Weekly 1
1. York Weekly
2. Mount Desert Islander
3. Original Irregular

Weekly 2
1. Village Soup Sports
2. Bridgton News
3. Ellsworth American

Daily /Weekend
1. Press Herald/Sunday Telegram
2. Morning Sentinel
3. Sun Journal

Web Site
Weekly Combined
1. Ellsworth American
2. Capital Weekly
3. York County Coast Star

Daily/Weekend
1. Portland Press Herald
2. Bangor Daily News
3. Sun Journal
Best Staff Blog
Weekly Combined
1. Down in front – Daniel Dunkle, Herald Gazette
2. No award
3. No award

Daily/Weekend
1. On Maine Politics – Susan Cover, Kennebec Journal
2. Clearing the bases – Kevin Thomas, Portland Press Herald
3. No award

Best Special Online Project
Weekly Combined
1. Business Directory – Ellsworth American
2. No award
3. No award

Daily/Weekend
1. Cowan Mill Fire – Sun– Journal
2. No award
3. No award

Multimedia Presentation
Weekly Combined
1. “Don’t assume you’re safe” – Deb Cram, York County Coast Star
2. “The Fence View” – Staff, Ellsworth American
3. No award

Daily
1. Portland’s public art – Suzi Piker, Portland Press Herald
2. No award
3. No award

Weekend
1. “Holland Street standoff ends in suicide” – Staff, Sun Journal
2. No award
3. No award
News Story
Weekly 1
1. “Swine flu hits as vaccine arrives” – Robert Levin, Mount Desert Islander
2. “Police: $10M swiped from entertainer” – Susan Morse, The York Weekly
3. “Gauge Barnes remembered” – Charlotte Boynton, Wiscasset Newspaper

Weekly 2
1. “Rogue Wave” – Earl Brechlin, The Ellsworth American
2. “Judge orders Cummings’ sentence fully suspended” – Tanya Mitchell, The Republican Journal
3. “Faith faces fire in Smyrna” – Elna Seabrooks, Houlton Pioneer Times

Daily/Weekend
1. “An island in search of a truce” – Trevor Maxwell, Maine Sunday Telegram
2. “Felon keeps hand out” – Rebekah Metzler and Judy Meyer, Sun Journal
3. “Unclaimed ashes await final resting place” – Eric Russell, Bangor Daily News

Spot News Story
Weekly 1
1. “Hurricane wave sweeps family into sea” – Earl Brechlin, Mount Desert Islander
2. “Explosion awakens Westport “– Alan Bebout, Wiscasset Newspaper
3. “Milo man taken into custody” – Stuart Hedstrom, Piscataquis Observer

Weekly 2
1. “Gunty’s gone” – Jonathan Hunt, Sun Chronicle
2. “Cop slugged, suspect nabbed” – Mark Good, The Ellsworth American
3. “Rescue on the rocks” – Laura Dolce, York County Coast Star

Daily/Weekend
1. “Cowan Mill burns” – Staff, Sun Journal
2. “Officer foils gunman ‘here to kill people’” – David Hench, Press Herald
3. “Three swept out to sea at Thunder Hole” – Bill Trotter, Bangor Daily News

Investigative Report
Weekly Combined
1. “Housing Bond Needed to Keep Project Afloat” –Robert Levin, Mount Desert Islander
2. “Violence Sends Waves Across Penobscot Bay” – Kim Lincoln and Shlomit Auciello, The Herald Gazette
3.  “Taxpayers to Share Tourist Train Costs” – Jacqueline Weaver, The Ellsworth American
Daily/Weekend
1. “Health & Wealth” – Lindsay Tice, Sun Journal
2. “Feds Seize Developer Records” Christopher Williams, Sun Journal
3.  “Deeper in Debt” – Eric Russell, Bangor Daily News
Analysis
Weekly 1
1. “Moose Make Moosehead,” – Suzanne AuClair, Moosehead Messenger
2. “Four school votes, four defeats” – Alan Bebout, Wiscasset Newspaper
3. “Voters to decide on $100K for fire station” – Stuart Hedstrom, The Piscataquis Observer

Weekly 2
1. “Traditional Congregations Strive for Relevance” – Katherine Heidinger, The Ellsworth American
2. “Cap tax exempt status” – Gail Geraghty, The Bridgton News
3. “The Cost of Afghanistan” – Gina Hamilton, Coastal Journal

Daily/Weekend
1. “Matinicus Trap War” – John Richardson, Maine Sunday Telegram
2. “911 Where Are You?” – Terry Karkos, Scott Thistle and Donna Perry; Sun Journal
3. “Have They Got Your Number?” – Kathryn Skelton, Sun Journal

Continuing Story
Weekly 1
1. “Woman dies in hepatitis case” – Dick Broom, Mount Desert Islander
2. “Voters reject school budget” – Charlotte Boynton, Wiscasset Newspaper
3. No award

Weekly 2
1. “Is there water to spare?” – Steve Bodnar and Laura Dolce, York County Coast Star
2. “MERC in Biddeford” – Jonathan Hunt, Tess Nacelewicz, Dan Bustard and Leslie Bridgers; Sun-Chronicle
3. “Sumner Memorial a failing school” – Jacqueline Weaver, Ellsworth American

Daily/Weekend
1.  “Haiti Earthquake aftermath” – Bill Nemitz and Matt Wickenheiser, Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram
2.  “Guns in Maine” – Staff, Bangor Daily News
3.  “Revenge in Rumford” – Staff, Lewiston Sun Journal

Arts/Lifestyle Feature
Weekly 1
1. “Everyday artist” – Ruth Maron, York Weekly
2.  No award
3.  No award

Weekly 2
1.  “The final frontier of Fandom” – Dagney C. Ernest, Herald Gazette
2.  “Sing to me sweetly” – Ethan Anders, Republican Journal
3.  No award

Daily/Weekend
1.  “Maine’s funny man” – Darcie Moore, The Times Record
2. “Re-enact, remember” – Mark LaFlamme, Sun Journal
3.  “Rock opera” – Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News

Feature Story
Weekly 1
1. “Remembering the guys on the front lines of war” – Suzanne AuClair, Moosehead Messenger
2. “Insurance problems may undo schoolhouse plans” – Susan Morse, The York Weekly
3. “Them Apples” – Earl Brechlin, Mount Desert Island

Weekly 2
1.  “It isn’t going to last forever” – Julia Davis, Sun Chronicle
2.  “Farming on a Finntown Road” – Joshua Lambert, Herald Gazette
3.  “A fisherman’s life, a family’s loss” – Laurie Schreiber, Bar Harbor Times

Daily
1.  “Postcard Jack” – Doug Harlow, Morning Sentinel
2.  “The Centrist of the Storm doing it her way” – Bill Nemitz, Portland Press Herald
3.  “Finding some peace by the river” – Daniel Hartill, Sun Journal

Weekend
1.  “A chance at a normal life” – Abigail Curtis, Bangor Daily News
2.  “Parental Warning” – Meg Haskell, Bangor Daily News
3. No award
Local Column
Weekly 1
1. Karen Pease – Original Irregular
2. Nina Brawn– Piscataquis Observer
3. Holly Simason – Island cooking, Mount Desert Islander

Weekly 2
1. Eric Green – Capital Weekly
2. Shawn P. Sullivan – Sanford News
3. S. Peter Lewis – Bridgton News

Daily/Weekend
1. Mark LaFlamme, Sun Journal
2. Renee Ordway, Bangor Daily News
3.  Bill Nemitz, Portland Press Herald

Critic’s Award
Weekly Combined
1. “‘Chorus Line’ a Dazzling Debut” – Joe Sheehan, York County Coast Star
2. “The Wonderful ‘Wizard of Oz” – Dagney C. Ernest, The Herald Gazette
3. “The Little Wine That Could” – Stephen Fay, The Ellsworth American

Daily/Weekend
1.  “‘Halloween II’ Butchers the Franchise” – Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News
2. “Hilarious ‘Chaperone’ Anything But Drowsy” – Melissa Orth, The Times Record
3. “String quartet, Kargul amaze with Schuman program” – Morton Gold, Journal Tribune

News/Sports Headline
Weekly 1
1. “Beware the Tides of March” – York Weekly
2. “Tisor tallies two to triumph” – The Original Irregular
3. “Back with a Bang” – Piscataquis Observer

Weekly 2
1. “Cannery Woe: State, Towns Respond to Stinson’s Seafood Closing” – Ellsworth American
2. “Organic milk MOOves into supermarkets” – Houlton Pioneer Times
3. “Final call to the principal’s office” – Bridgton News

Daily/Weekend
1. “Girls’ Knight Out” – Sun Journal
2. “Mirror, mirror … not on the wall” – Kennebec Journal
3. “Big pain in the drain: After washed-out weekend, more rain on the way” – Sun Journal

Feature Headline
Weekly 1
1. “Egg Rock Light is cracking” – Mount Desert Islander
2. “Two’s company, 800 is a crowd” – Original Irregular
3. “The house that Chuck built” – Wiscasset Newspaper

Weekly 2
1. “Eave of Destruction” – Ellsworth American
2. “At Hair World, waxing never wanes” – Capital Weekly
3. “Heroes toasted at breakfast” – Star-Herald

Daily/Weekend
1. “You talkin’ to me?”  Turkey hunters perfect their calls – Sally Tyrrell, Press Herald
2. “To thine own Elf be true” – Bangor Daily News
3. “Spirits in the night? A chance of a ghost” – The Times Record

Editorial
Weekly Combined
1.  “Can more be done for the Sanford Mill?” – Shawn P. Sullivan, Sanford News
2.  “Roadside memorials” – Earl Brechlin, Mount Desert Islander
3.  “The real way to protect traditional marriage” – Staff, Coastal Journal

Daily/Weekend
1. “Pineland’s key lesson” – Robert Long, The Times Record
2. “Christmas story even more timely” – Rex Rhoades, Sun Journal
3.  “Marriage and equality” – Susan Young, Bangor Daily News

Opinion Column
Weekly Combined
1. “We need a breather from polluted airwaves” – Stephen Betts, Herald Gazette
2. “Endless summer” – Erika Shriner, Bar Harbor Times
3.  No award

Daily/Weekend
1.  “E-mail brings messages of support” – George Douglas, Journal Tribune
2. “A father’s view of losing Holly” – Dr. Erik Steele, Bangor Daily News
3.   No award

Editorial Cartoon
Weekly Combined
1. “Labor Day past and present” – Darryl Smith, Capital Weekly
2. “Maine tourist repellant” – Joe Marshall, Mount Desert Islander
3. “Lawns affect lobsters” – Louis Rizzo, York County Coast Star

Daily/Weekend
1. “Trick or treat” – Jeff Robinson, Journal Tribune
2. “Death and taxes” – George Danby, Bangor Daily News
3.  No award
Sports Story
Weekly 1
1. “400 reasons to celebrate” Frank Coppola – The York Weekly
2. “MDI sailors best in Maine” Jeff Walls –Mount Desert Islander
3.  No award

Weekly 2
1. “See what Christina sees” – Wayne Rivet, Bridgton News
2. “Cat boys to play for another EM soccer title” – Joseph Cyr, The Star Herald
3. “EHS Eagles win again… ” – Hugh Bowden, The Ellsworth American

Daily/Weekend
1. “Harbour House event perennial hoops showcase” – Ernie Clark, Bangor Daily News
2. “Mabee aids foe, sacrifices finish” – Andrew Neff, Bangor Daily News
3. “Fellowship of the Ring” – Seth Koenig, The Times Record

Sports Feature
Weekly Combined
1. “A golden, whirlwind week for Westcotts” – Kim Lincoln, Republican Journal
2. “Savage was one to remember” – John Cochin, Sanford News
3. “Ackerson was ‘Cats defensive whiz” – Kevin Sjoberg, Star Herald
Daily/Weekend
1.  “All clear after concussion” – Mike Lowe, Press Herald
2.  “When the NFL came to Bangor” – Andrew Neff and Ernie Clark, Bangor Daily News
3.  “Fellowship of the Ring” – Seth Koenig, The Times Record

Sports Column
Weekly Combined
1. “Soup Views” – Ken Waltz, Herald Gazette
2. “On the Pit Box” – Holly Vanose, Herald Gazette
3. No award

Daily/Weekend
1. “On Baseball” – Kevin Thomas, Press Herald
2.  George Almasi, The Times Record
3.  John Holyoke, Bangor Daily News

Environmental
Weekly Combined
1. “Annual Cleanup Illustrates River’s Fragile Balance” – Jonathan Hunt, Sun Chronicle
2. “Predators Killed to Save Plovers” – Laura Dolce, York County Coast Star
3. “DEP Tests County Water Quality” – Kathy McCarty, Star-Herald

Daily/Weekend
1. “Where the Whales Are” – Bill Trotter, Bangor Daily News
2. “Maine’s Got Power” – Kathryn Skelton, Sun Journal
3.  “Will Quahog Heaven Cause Watershed Hell?” – Beth Brogan, The Times Record
Business/Economics
Weekly Combined
1. “Cannery Woe” – Stephen Fay, Ellsworth American
2. “MOOMilk Offers Organic Farmers Hope” – Joseph Cyr, Houlton Pioneer Times
3. “Zumba Program Makes Cardio Fitness Fun for All” – Kathy McCarty, Star-Herald
Daily/Weekend
1. “Wanted: Milk Money”–Kathryn Skelton, Sun Journal
2. “Border Tensions”–Kevin Miller, Bangor Daily News
3. “Reviving Downtown Bangor” – Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News

Education
Weekly Combined
1. “High School Hit List” – Jacqueline Weaver and James Straub, Ellsworth American
2. “Houlton, Hodgdon High Schools Cited in State Report” – Joseph Cyr, Houlton Pioneer Times
3. “Bookmaking Binds Students to History” – Blake Davis, Mount Desert Islander
Daily/Weekend
1. “Hello, Real World” – Dan Hartill, Kathryn Skelton, Lindsay Tice and Carol Coultas; Sun Journal
2. “Educating Maine’s Autistic Children” – Matthew Stone, Kennebec Journal
3.  “Tricky Math” – Lindsay Tice, Sun Journal

Health
Weekly Combined
1. “Domestic Violence: Does Punishment Fit the Crime?” – Stephen Betts, Herald Gazette
2. “Giving Back for Max” – Laura Dolce, York County Coast Star
3. “Woman Dies in Hepatitis Case” – Dick Broom, Mount Desert Islander

Daily/Weekend
1.  “Health Care Debate Hits Home” – Beth Brogan, The Times Record
2.  “Flying with LifeFlight” – Lindsay Tice, Sun Journal
3. “UNE Decision Has Osteopaths Feeling Poorly” – Beth Quimby, Portland Press Herald

General Excellence/Newspapers of the Year

Weekly 1
1. Mount Desert Islander
2. The York Weekly
3. The Original Irregular

Weekly 2
1. The Ellsworth American
2. Sanford News
3. The Bridgton News

Daily
1. Bangor Daily News
2. Portland Press Herald
3. The Times Record

Weekend
1. Maine Sunday Telegram
2. Bangor Daily News
3. Sun Journal