The Islands’ Sounder and the Journal of the San Juans both took home general excellence awards and individual recognition during the 2015 Washington Better Newspaper Contest.

The awards were presented Oct. 9 at an awards dinner during the 128th annual Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Convention in Everett.

The Sounder, circulation 2000, competed against other newspapers in Group I. The newspapers were judged on work produced from April 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015. The contest drew 2,034 entries from 58 community newspapers; entries were judged by members of the Kansas Press Association.

The Journal won first place for general excellence and took home nine awards.

The Islands’ Sounder brought home second place in general excellence and won for the following in news, editorial, arts, page design, special sections.

Best special sections

First place, Wellness Guide – Sounder and Journal staff

Third Place, Holiday Guide – Sounder and Journal staff

Second Place, Weddings in the San Juan Islands – Sounder and Journal staff

First Place, Springtide – Sounder and Journal staff

First Place, San Juan County Fair Guide – Sounder and Journal staff

Second place, Women in Business – Sounder staff

Editorial and design awards

Second Place, best profile, “Partners Together on the Journey of Life” – Colleen Smith Armstrong

Third place, best editorial, “Stand up together for what is right” – Colleen Smith Armstrong

First place, best crime and court story, “Young rape victims speak out” – Colleen Smith Armstrong

Second place, best environmental story, “The little stake that could” – Cali Bagby

Third Place, best environmental story, “Are the sea stars dying?” – Cali Bagby

Third place, best lifestyle feature, “A story of nuns and cheese” – Meredith M. Griffith

First Place, best personality profile, “Grief and motherhood” – Cali Bagby

Third place, best personality profile, “Small hands, big ideas” –

Colleen Smith Armstrong

Second place, effective use of small space, “Wild and Scenic” – Scott Herning

First place, best feature page design, “Winter Bliss” – Colleen Smith Armstrong

Second place, best feature page design, “Winter Gardens” – Cali Bagby