FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Alabama Press Association recently announced the winner so the 2008 Alabama Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, including four awards for The Demopolis Times staff members.

David Moore, chairman of the APA Better Newspaper Contest Committee, announced the winners last week of the 71 newspapers, which submitted 2,856 entries in the annual contest.

The Arkansas Press Association judged the entries. The awards will be presented July 19 at APA&8217;s 137th summer convention at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach. The Times competes in a division with all daily newspapers with a circulation of 40,000 or less.

In the competition, Phillips-Odom, received a first place award in the best human interest column category for her column, &8220;Do your part to battle homelessness.&8221;

Times staff was also awarded a first place award for best sports feature story for the article, &8220;Honoring the Best.&8221;

Kelli Wright, staff writer for The Times, was awarded third place in the best business story or column category for &8220;21 Steps: Anatomy of a New Era cap.&8221;

Times staff also was awarded a third place award for the best news feature story category for the article &8220;Poverty Protest.&8221;