The Winchester Sun won several top awards at the Kentucky Press Association’s Excellence in Newspapers contest Friday night in Lexington.

The Sun took home 21 awards and earned second place in its class

“I couldn’t be more proud of our team for all their hard work and the dedication they bring to their jobs each and every day,” Sun Publisher Mike Caldwell said. “They deserve these honors and all the credit goes to them. The newspaper industry is evolving and we continue to be successful only because the staff completely embraces our role of serving this community,” said publisher Michael Caldwell. “We always say that we didn’t go into journalism for awards but it is certainly nice to be recognized by our peers and our industry.”.

Caldwell earned second place for best editorial and the staff won third place for best editorial. “Clear and concise comments on issues of local importance,” the judges wrote about Caldwell’s columns.

In the best general news story category, former Sun reporter Seth Littrell earned first place for his coverage of The Greater Clark Foundation’s report issued in partnership with the Harwood Institute in 2017.

“The write took a great angle at the type of forums that normally go under the radar,” the judge wrote. “Great insight and commentary from the citizens who gave powerful statements concerning the community.”

Long-time reporter Fred Petke took third in the general news coverage category. He also won second for best feature story.

Sun managing editor Whitney Leggett won first place in the best enterprise or analytical story for her coverage of a local woman advocating for Marsy’s Law.

“Excellent reporting on very difficult issue. Information provided here valuable to the community and no doubt the victims,” the judge wrote.

Petke took second in the category.

Leggett also won second for best use of social media and first place for best graphic.

Littrell also won third for best picture essay

Sun sports editor Casey Castle won numerous awards for his coverage of Clark County athletics including first and third for best sports picture, second and third for best sports picture essay, second place, third place for best sports section or page and third place for best sports special section.

The staff also won second place for best special section, first place for best lifestyle page, third place for best front page and third place for best graphic.

The Sun competed in Daily Class 1 for small daily newspapers, improving its standing from third with 11 awards in 2017. Also placing in the class was the Kentucky New Era from Hopkinsville in first and the Times-Tribune of Corbin in third.

“We want the entire community to share our pride in these accomplishments because, in many ways, these honors wouldn’t be possible without your support,” Caldwell said. “Thank you for sharing your stories with us and helping us be Clark County’s best source of news.”

Other newspapers owned by Boone Newspapers also earned multiple awards Friday night.

In Daily Class 2, The State Journal of Frankfort earned first, and in Weekly Class 1 The Interior Journal of Stanford won third place general excellence.

The Interior Journal took home 14 awards. The Danville Advocate-Messenger earned six awards in the Daily Class 2 category. The Jessamine Journal earned one award, and The State Journal took home 23 awards.

The Kentucky Press Association is the nation’s 10th oldest state press association and represents nearly 175 newspapers throughout the state.