CHARLESTON — The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register captured 19 awards over the weekend during the 2023 West Virginia Press Association Better Newspapers Contest.

The event was held at the Four Points by Sheraton in Charleston. The awards honored news, sports, feature and editorial writing along with advertising work done in 2022. The newspapers compete in Division I with the state’s large dailies.

The newspapers won six first-place awards; five second-place awards; and eight third-place honors.

Intelligencer Editor John McCabe won a pair of first-place awards, for best single editorial and best editorial page. The single editorial, titled “Mayor Right To Focus On Wheeling’s Future,” lauded Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott for his challenge to residents during his State of the City speech, to cast their eyes forward to the future of the Friendly City and the potential it has.

The submission for best editorial page spanned the pages for the editions of Feb. 10, 11 and 12, 2022.

Contributing writer Nora Edinger won first place for best business, economic or labor reporting with her story, “Missing Links: Supply Chain Issues Hit Home.”

That story chronicled the supply-chain issues that it local businesses like Fiestaware and Figaretti’s, and how such issues aren’t just the problem of major retail chains.

The newspapers also picked up three first places among the advertising categories. The newspapers won for best classified section for the July 3, 2022, edition, best process color ad-larger than a quarter page for the Trinity Health Systems-Healthy Hearts ad, and the Roxby Design Team won for best agency advertisement for McLure House-Proud Sponsor.

Second-place awards came in the following categories:

– Best sports special section, The Intelligencer/News-Register staff, Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend;

– Best coverage of breaking news, The Intelligencer/News-Register staff, Double Derecho coverage;

– Best process color ad, larger than a quarter page for Harvey Goodman — The Team That Works;

– Best promotion of public notice for Public & Legal Notice; and

– Best special section for Catholic Schools Week.

Third-place awards were:

– Best editorial, John McCabe, for “Challenging Young Minds Always Good;”

– Best lifestyle columnist, Heather Ziegler;

– Best sports special section, The Intelligencer/News-Register staff for the 2022 Football Preview;

– Best front page, Ian Hicks, for the May 1, 2022, front;

– Best theme page(s) for Ohio Valley All-Stars;

– Best single black and white ad, larger than a quarter page, for Marshall County Clerk;

– Best color ad, quarter page or less, for The Jeweled Bird — You Can Never Have Too Much Bling!; and

– Best promotion of public notice, for Find The Latest Legals.

“We are once again so proud of our staff and the fantastic work they do throughout the year,” said Perry Nardo, general manager of The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register. “They strive each day to make sure those who live in the Ohio Valley stay on top of the important people and events in their community, and to help our business partners best share their message. We do our best to make a difference in the Upper Ohio Valley and honors like those awarded at the West Virginia Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, reinforce the importance of that mission.”