The Appeal-Democrat has been recognized with several top awards in the 2008 Better Newspapers Contest, sponsored by the California Newspaper Publishers Association.

The newspaper has been awarded first or second place in three categories: local breaking news, front-page presentations and editorial comment. Newspapers will learn which prize they've won during an Oct. 25 ceremony in Universal City.

"These awards recognize the exemplary work delivered by our staff," said Len La Barth, Appeal-Democrat editor. "They demonstrate our commitment to community journalism. I'm extremely proud of our newsroom."

"Mid-Valley blown away" was the headline on the Jan. 5 breaking news story reporting the winter storm that left tens of thousands of Mid-Valley residents and businesses without power. The newspaper itself was without power most of the day, but managed to publish on time the following day.

Presentations of the storm coverage as well as the funeral for a slain Marysville teen earned the front-page awards.

The winning editorial, "Marijuana program is in the cards," published Sept. 2, 2007, examined how local counties were dragging their feet on issuing identification cards to medical marijuana users:

"After more than a decade, many people still have serious 'issues' with medical marijuana, including some who voted for the Compassionate Use Act. While some of their concerns are valid, and the law itself is widely abused, as citizens we don't get to pick and choose which laws we're going to follow.

"To the contrary, it's our duty to uphold the will of the people, a duty that does not magically vanish for laws we don't personally support."

The editorial was authored by Michael Green, a member of the Appeal-Democrat editorial board who is now serving as interim editor of Tri-County Newspapers, part of the Freedom Communications Inc. family.

In addition to the first- or second-place awards, three Appeal-Democrat associates also were named blue-ribbon finalists in the competition. Reporter Nancy Pasternack was recognized for the stories "Skunked in Marysville" and "Chinatown's levee: Spirits and sins." Photo Editor Chris Kaufman was awarded for a general news photo and photographer Nick Adams for a breaking news photo.

CNPA's annual Better Newspapers Contest recognizes the most outstanding journalistic achievements published by California newspapers. Daily and weekly publications compete in separate divisions based on circulation. The Appeal-Democrat won for newspapers with 10,001 to 25,000 circulation.

Earlier this year, Freedom Communications Inc., parent company of the Appeal-Democrat, awarded the newspaper with one of the two 2007 D.R. Segal Awards, named after the former Appeal-Democrat editor and Freedom CEO.

The award, recognizing outstanding achievement in community journalism, was based on the results of independent grading of the newspaper's print and Web products by the American Press Institute. The Appeal-Democrat was awarded in the newspapers-under-25,000-circulation category. It was the second consecutive year the newspaper won the award, and the first time that interactive work was judged.