Newspapers from across the state entered submissions in a variety of categories. Texas Press Association members judged the entries and then KPA members returned the favor.

The Mirror won five first-place awards, six second-place awards and three third-place awards.

The newspaper won first place in news and writing excellence, local business story, photo package, best use of photos and headline writing.

Mirror editor Shawn F. Linenberger’s business story was “Passing the pizza torch” about Ryan and Jamie Boden selling their longtime Gambino’s location and moving to their vacation home in the Ozarks for their next chapter.

The photo package centered on the Leavenworth County Fair. Entrants had to pick editions from three different time periods last year for news and writing excellence and best use of photos.

Second-place awards were for feature story, youth story, education story, sports photo, best front page and sports pages.

Linenberger’s piece about a mural in the alley behind Grounded Coffeehouse won for best feature, while Linenberger’s popular story “Occupying the Witte House” about the Tonganoxie Class of 2024 pranking THS principal Cody Witte first thing in the morning in Witte’s basement won second for youth story. Another of Linenberger’s stories, “Somber Scenario,” about the THS FCCLA-sponsored mock drunk driving wreck in the Chieftain Park parking lot also placed second.

Jennifer Bailey’s photo of THS quarterback Talon Langford throwing the ball down field also placed second in the sports photo category.

The Mirror also won second for best front page and sports pages.

Third place went to Linenberger’s sports story about THS wrestling seniors being part of the most successful four-year run in school history, while another third place went to the best story/photo combination about an eclipse in 2024.

The final third-place award went to Linenberger for a feature photo from the THS Veterans Day Appreciation ceremony.

Newspapers receive 100 points for first-place entries, 70 for second and 60 for third.

The Mirror tallied 1,100 points. All winners will be announced this June during the KPA Convention in Salina. The newspaper with the most points in each category will win the Sweepstakes Award.

The Mirror has won the last three sweepstakes awards in its division.