POLSON — The Lake County Leader claimed 24 awards in the Montana Newspaper Association’s 2011 Better Newspaper Contest, including seven first-place honors.

Editor-in-Chief Ali Bronsdon, who hauled in nine individual awards in the competition, received first-place recognition for “Best Serious Column,” “Best Nature Photo” and “Public Service Journalism.”

Andrew West of the Delaware State News judged the “Best Serious Column” category for the event and in his comments he wrote that Bronsdon’s “voice demonstrates a great sense of community pride,” and that her column “is written with the readers in mind.”

The Cape Gazette’s (Del.) Dennis Forney was the judge for “Best Nature Photo,” finding Bronsdon’s photo of a sunset over Logan Pass (“Going to the Sun”) to be best among Division 3 contestants.

“The dramatic and magical beauty of nature sings from the photo with its rich colors brought out by an excellent exposure,” Forney wrote in his comments. “A great example of capturing the moment.”

Sports Editor Brandon Hansen placed six times and collected first place in the “Best Sports Story” category for “Remembering Marvin.”

The story detailed the emotional loss and remembrance of Marvin Hudson-Lewis, a Salish-Kootenai College basketball player who drowned while swimming in South Dakota.

“Wonderful tribute to Marvin,” West wrote in his comments.

Former reporter Lisa Broadt collected three awards and earned top honors in the categories of “Best Health-Fitness-Medical Science Reporting" for her story about Ronan’s “Rockin’ Robots," and “Best Web Project” for an article and video combo introducing readers to Port Polson Players characters Bullshot and Rosemary. The Leader also took home the top prize in the “Best Lifestyle” category for its “Theater Series.”

“An interesting look at the development of the Polson community’s theater district and its history,” Owens wrote in his comments.

The Leader received nine second-place awards, six third-place awards, and two honorable mention honors to go along with its seven first-place awards.

What The Leader Won...

Best Headline Writing

Dylan Kitzan, second place

Best Serious Column

Ali Bronsdon, first place;

Lisa Broadt, second place

Best Humorous Column

Brandon Hansen, third place

Best Long Feature Story

Ali Bronsdon, second place

Best Health-Fitness-Medical Science Reporting

Lisa Broadt, first place

Best Lifestyle

Lake County Leader “Theater

Series,” first place

Mark Henckel Outdoors Reporting Award

Ali Bronsdon, third place

Best Sports Story

Brandon Hansen, first place

Best Sports Column

Brandon Hansen, second place

Best Sports Feature

Brandon Hansen, second place

Best Editorial Page(s)

Lake County Leader, second place

Best Sports Page(s)

Lake County Leader,

honorable mention

Best Graphics

Ali Bronsdon, second place

Best Feature Photo

Ali Bronsdon, honorable mention

Best Sports Photo

Brandon Hansen, second place

Best Photo Essay

Ali Bronsdon, third place

Best Nature Photo

Ali Bronsdon, first place

Best Website

Lake County Leader, third place

Best Web Project

Lisa Broadt, first place;

Ali Bronsdon, third place

General Writing Excellence

Brandon Hansen, second place;

Dylan Kitzan, third place

Public Service Journalism

Ali Bronsdon, first place