Warden Publishing received 33 awards, at the Missouri Press Association’s 2020 Better Newspaper Contest for work produced in 2019.

Awards were presented during an online presentation held in place of the association’s 154th annual convention.

Of the 33 awards, eight were for first place, nine were second place, 10 were third place and there were six honorable mentions.

The Maries Advocate staff received first place for Best Overall Design.

Laura Schiermeier, Advocate reporter in Vienna, received first place in Best Story About Religion for her article on the “VCLA Toy Giveaway” and in Best Business Story for her article about Eagle Fitness.

Roxie Murphy, Advocate Belle reporter, received first place for Best News Coverage for the reporting on the Belle soccer bus accident, Best Coverage of Government for the coverage of the Belle police, and Best Breaking News Story for her coverage of the Bland man who interrupted the Bland city meeting claiming he was given “mercury."

The judge of the contest commented, “A solid case for being at the right place at the right time to catch a good story. Great photo too. Well done.”

Jacob Warden, Advocate photographer, received first place for his photo “Spreading Ashes.”

The Advocate also received second place in the categories Best Breaking News Story, Best Columnist - Serious, Best News Photograph, Best Story about the Outdoors and Best Newspaper in Education Project.

Third-place awards included General Excellence, Best Feature Photograph, Best Sports Pages, Best Story about Rural Life or Articulate, Best Story about the Outdoors, Best Page Design, Best Headline Writing, Best News or Feature Obituary and Best Health Story.

Honorable Mentions for the Advocate include; Best news or Feature Series, Best feature photograph and Best Health Story.

A contest judge stated that “I’ve never seen a newspaper use so many pictures so well,” about the Advocate’s sports pages.