MARK SMITH / PVT From left, graphic artist Heather Ruth, Publisher Marie Wujek, reporter Mark Waite, photographer Horace Langford Jr., and graphic artists Brandy Minnick and Jessica Beaudoin all took NPA awards. Advertisement

WINNEMUCCA -- The Pahrump Valley Times this weekend brought in 18 awards during the annual Nevada Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.

Publisher Marie Wujek came home with the plaques and certificates after attending the overnight event Saturday. Reporter Mark Waite, for the second consecutive year, received the Freedom of the Press award for his story titled "$163 million contract approved."

In covering the award of the federal detention center contract to Corrections Corporation of America, Waite was cited for "excellent use of (freedom on information) request, good follow-up in getting important info to your readers."

Judging of the annual awards is done by journalists from outside Nevada.

Waite also did well in two other categories.

Where best news feature stories were concerned, he won a first place award for a story titled "Whatever happened to," about projects that had, quietly or otherwise, departed from the scene.

"Great story idea," said the judges. "As a reader, I would appreciate the update."

He also won an honorable mention for his story called "Foreclosures drag on home prices."

The judges cited Waite's "great use of data to create interesting story."

He also won a first place award for his investigative piece on CCA, titled "Detention center on trial," and a third place award for "CCA to pay for mitigation."

About the first the judges wrote, "This story shows all sides of a controversial issue." Where the CCA story was concerned, they said, "Interesting to see what effect the detention center would have, not only on humans but also on wildlife."

"Mark is one of the best sorts of journalist," said Editor Mark Smith. "He can take very complex issues and render them understandable to the public, and he can do so rapidly so the articles are newsworthy and not historical pieces."

Wujek herself won a third place for best local column.

Photographer Horace Langford took all four places in spot news photography, including a first place for a vivid shot of Roy Shawgo's home boiling in flames. Shawgo has since been charged with setting the fire.

The judges commented, "Good job catching a devastating scene."

Langford also won a second place for a photo titled "160 Rollover," a third for a photo, published in black and white, of a gentleman who lost some of his scalp in a wreck -- "That one makes me hurt," said the judge -- and an honorable mention for a photo called "Charred," of a man peering into a truck that had been burned out.

In advertising, the PVT also gained a string of awards, including a first place for best spot-color ad created by a newspaper by Jessica Beaudoin for "Candidates discussion forum."

Beaudoin also earned a third-place award for best large-space ad created for a newspaper, "Spring specials."

Heather Ruth gained a third-place award for best multi-color ad in a newspapers, "Advance Medical Center." Judges said she made "good use of block art for pediatric ad."

Brandy Minnick took two places for best in-house advertising promotion for circulation, advertising or editorial.

She took first place for "Progress 2009" and followed that up with a second place for a special edition ad.

Minnick and Ruth also took all three places for best black and white ad -- Ruth taking first and third spots, Minnick the second-place award.

Of Ruth's first-place "Peppers" ad, the judges said, "Good use of art and type with just a hint of spice."

"Dave's Pizza," by Minnick, got the message across, said the judges.