KPA’s annual Awards of Excellence contest invites newspapers from across the state to submit entries in several categories.

The Mirror earned first-, second- or third-place recognition in 11 categories in the non-daily division 1 category.

Winning entries for The Mirror were as follows:

• First place, news and writing excellence.

• First place, investigative story, news editor Shawn Linenberger, for “Shooting range draws concerns,” which focused on the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office shooting range proposed near Kansas Highway 16 drawing concerns from local citizens. The Leavenworth County Commission later approved the range.

• Second place, religion story, Linenberger, for “Yuletide carols for a cause.” A former member of Jarbalo United Methodist Church returned for a benefit concert to help raise money for the small church.

• Second place, editorial pages.

• Second place, photo package, sports editor Justin Nutter, for “End of an era: Williams retires after 38 seasons at THS.” Photos were from various stages in Tonganoxie High cross country coach Phil Williams’ career at THS.

• Second place, environmental story, Linenberger “Hens on parade: Pets provide urban attraction.” Tonganoxie residents raise chickens, providing families with plenty of eggs each year.

• Second place, story/picture combination, “Now and Then: Mother recalls 1987 prom as daughter prepares for her final high school formal.” The story and photo focused on Erica Clark and her daughter, Taylor. Erica attended THS prom as a senior in 1987. Taylor was preparing for her senior prom 25 years later.

• Third place, agricultural story, Linenberger for “Hens on parade.” The story won in both the agricultural and environmental categories.

• Third place, sports story, Nutter, for “Delaware Valley League separating in 2013.” DVL schools made plans to split off into different conferences for the next school year, including McLouth, which will play in a league with several other Jefferson County schools and select other schools.

• Third place, sports feature story, Nutter for “As Tonganoxie teen, Thomas flourished on baseball diamond.” The story centered on Phil Thomas, a Tonganoxie grad who had an illustrious baseball career in high school and college in the late 1960s.

• Third place, newspaper website.

Staff members will receive their awards at a presentation during the KPA Convention on May 4 in Topeka.