The Gothenburg Times made it six in a row as the top newspaper in its circulation class as judged in the Nebraska Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

The Times received 20 awards in the competition which was announced Saturday during the annual NPA convention in Lincoln.

The newspaper earned eight first place awards, nine seconds and four thirds.

“We were most pleased with the first place award in the General Excellence category,” Greg Viergutz, co-publisher of The Times, said. “It is the top individual award given and recognizes the exceptional efforts made in each issue by our entire staff.”

Judges consider news; content; quality of writing; headlines; page design; photos and captions; graphics; special pages such as front, sports, lifestyle; reproduction; advertising design and content; and treatment of public notices.

Other first place honors were for: sports feature photo, photo page, sports writing, best use of color—news, feature story series, reader contest and building circulation.

Viergutz completed his term as president of the Nebraska Press Advertising Service, the for-profit arm of the association and was elected to a one-year term on the board of directors as past president.

The Times placed third in the overall sweepstakes competition between all circulation classes. The Aurora News-Register ranked first, followed by the Gering Courier.

In the daily division, the Kearney Hub won the sweepstakes award.

Other Dawson County newspapers were also recognized at the banquet.

The Tri-City Tribune placed second to Aurora in its circulation class while winning nine first place awards, six seconds and three thirds.

The Lexington Clipper-Herald picked up three firsts, two seconds and three thirds.

The Times received the fol-lowing awards (includes publication dates and titles):

Newspaper Placings

Loral Johnson Sweepstakes Award, Weekly—1. Aurora News-Register, 2. Gering Courier, 3. Gothenburg Times

Class C Weeklies—1. Gothenburg Times, 2. Imperial Republican, 3. Papillion Times

Individual Awards

1st—General Excellence, Jan. 26, June 19, Sept. 28

1st—Sports Feature Photo, March 9 (Celebrating the Upset) by Deb Egenberger

1st—Photo Page, March 9 (Making History…Again) by Deb Egenberger

1st—Sports Writing, March 2 (Repeat Appearance) by Deb Egenberger

1st—Use of Color—News

1st—Feature Series, Feb. 23, March 2 (Lucky to Be Alive/Heeding Heart Symptoms) by Elizabeth Barrett

1st—Reader Contest, Jan. 5 (Feature Story Contest) by Greg Viergutz

1st—Building Circulation, Nov. 23 (Online Subscriptions) by Greg Viergutz

2nd—Sports Page, Jan. 26, May 18, July 27, Sept. 28 by Deb Egenberger

2nd—Photo Page, July 6 (Pony Express Rodeo) by Deb Egenberger

2nd—Use of Color—News

2nd—News Photography, July 27 (Distributor in Place) by Elizabeth Barrett

2nd—Feature Series, Aug. 24, 31 (Waiting for a Kidney) by Elizabeth Barrett

2nd—Advertising Campaign, multiple issues, (Stone Hearth Estates) by Jo Atkinson

2nd—Classified Advertising Section, July 27 by Kathi Viergutz

2nd—Single Classified Advertising Idea, Black & White, Sept. 28 (Ampride) by Jo Atkinson

2nd—Personal Column, Feb. 16, Aug. 24 by Deb Egenberger

3rd—Personal Column, May 4, Nov. 30 by Elizabeth Barrett

3rd—Sports Writing, Oct. 12 by Deb Egenberger

3rd—Advertising Campaign, multiple issues, (Gothenburg State Bank) by Greg Viergutz