ALPENA – The Alpena News won several awards in the Michigan Press Association’s 2024 Better Newspaper Contest.

In several categories, in which The News competed against papers with similar circulation sizes, the MPA announced Thursday that the Alpena paper won:

— Third place for Spot News Story for Steve Schulwitz’s “Elk living its best life in Rogers City,” a story highlighting a young bull elk that was a frequent visitor to the city

— Second place for Best Columnist for former Publisher Justin Hinkley’s commentary

— Third place for Best Columnist for Managing Editor Torianna Marasco’s commentary

— First place for Best Page Design for Graphic Artist Angie Hall’s Northern Lifestyles designs

— Second place for Sports Feature for Marasco’s “Retiring ref from Hubbard Lake recalls 53 years of calling games,” featuring a local resident’s life as a sports official