The Dawson Community News earned four first-place awards and nine overall Friday night in the Georgia Press Association's annual Better Newspaper Contest.

The honors were presented during the GPA's annual banquet on Jekyll Island.

The Dawson Community News received first-place awards in lifestyle, religion and education coverage, as well as for layout and design among the state's weekly papers with a circulation of 3,000 to 3,999.

Second-place honors went to the DCN for its special issue on the Mountain Moonshine Festival and to Sudie Crouch for her humorous column about raising children in a "Honey Boo Boo" world.

Third-place awards were given for page one, plus individual awards to David Renner and Michele Hester for coverage highlighting local business, including a state bill on sludge application and the impact of sales revenue from the local outlet mall on Black Friday.

Hester also received a third-place award for a feature photo snapped in September at the Reading Education Association's annual Are You Smarter than a 10-year-old competition.

"I am very proud of the hardworking staff at Dawson Community News and view the awards as recognition for a job well done," said Editor Stephanie Woody.