The Transcript-Bulletin won 20 awards for quality in writing, photography, design and advertising at the annual Utah Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest last Saturday in St. George.

The Transcript-Bulletin garnered 15 first-place awards, three second-place awards and two third-place awards. Among the awards won was winning the top honor of the “General Excellence Award” for Group III of the contest.

On the editorial side, the Transcript-Bulletin received the “Community Service Award” for staff writer Jamie Belnap’s coverage of child sexual abuse cases. In addition, Belnap received first place in the “Best General News Story” category for her story “Animals Under Fire,” which chronicled a rash of attacks on pets and domestic animals.

Editor Jeff Barrus took home a first-place award in the “Best Editorial” category for his editorial “Commissioners have to rethink $3 million bond” on the convention center addition at Deseret Peak Complex. He also won first place in the “Best Editors Column” category for several Out & About columns.

Photographer Maegan Burr and Abby Palmer, who designed the page, garnered a first-place award for the photo page of the Tooele County Fair. Burr also received third place in the “Best Sports Photograph” category for her photo of Tooele High School wrestler Mason Burbidge pinning Riverton’s Calvin Leota.

The Transcript-Bulletin received a first-place award in the “Best Feature Story” category for community news editor Sarah Miley’s article on Clinton Sagers, who received the Purple Heart more than 60 years after serving in World War II. Miley also garnered a third-place award in the “Best News or Feature Series” category for the series “Agriculture in the 21st century.”

In the “Best Breaking News” category, staff writer Natalie Tripp was awarded first place for her article on a human skull that was found in the attic of a Tooele home last June.

Liz Arellano received a first-place award for her layout, which combined a story and photos of a falconer from Stansbury Park, in the “Best Lifestyles Page” category.

In the “Best News Coverage” category, the Transcript-Bulletin also won first place.

The Transcript-Bulletin received second place in the “Best News Photograph” category with former photo editor Troy Boman’s photograph of inmates lined up against a wall as they were inspected in the recreation yard at the Tooele County Jail. Abby Palmer also garnered a second-place award for her “Best Front Page” layout in the Nov. 18 edition of the Transcript-Bulletin.

Columnist Clint Thomsen won first place in the “Best Feature Column” category for his weekly Outdoor Adventure columns.

On the advertising side, the Transcript-Bulletin took four first-place awards for best in-house produced ad, best use of ad color, best R.O.P. ad campaign and best in-house promotion. The Transcript-Bulletin also received second place for best classified page or pages.