Staff report

The Panolian received 13 awards in the Mississippi Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest on Saturday at the MPA’s annual convention.

Eight staff members attended the awards luncheon at the Harrah’s Veranda Hotel in Tunica.

First place plaques were presented to Billy Davis for best general news story, John Howell Sr. for best feature photograph, Rupert Howell for best general interest column, and Rita Howell for best lifestyle section.

Davis’s story about a defendant’s unexpected change of plea to “not guilty” in circuit court last year captured the first place honor.

The judges, from Arkansas newspapers, liked John Howell’s photo of the railroad at Nelson Mills in the Chapeltown community.

Panolian writers swept the general interest column category. Sherry Hopkins placed third, John Howell, second and Rupert Howell, with stories about yard dogs and Jesse Yates, the King of the Honky Tonk, placed first.

The Panolian competes in the division with the state’s largest weeklies and non-dailies.

Sports editor Myra Bean received a second place award for her sports column.

John Howell was awarded second place for best editorial pages and an honorable mention for best indepth/investigative coverage.

John Howell and Rupert Howell shared a third place award for best editorials.

Billy Davis received a second place award for best headline, and the newspaper’s front page, designed by Davis, earned an honorable mention.

The newspaper received a third place award in the general excellence competition.

“We’re always honored when peers from another state recognize our work as award winning,” Panolian managing editor Rupert Howell said.

“Our readers honor us each publication when they subscribe and read our pages each publication,” he said.

Attending the convention, which this year included representatives from Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi newspapers, were Panolian staffers Myra Bean, Madison Drake, Terri Howard, Margaret Buntin, John Howell, Rupert Howell, Rita Howell and Billy Davis.