ABERDEEN - The Rapid City Journal earned more awards than any large daily newspaper in the Dakotas, collecting 12 in the 2007 North Dakota and South Dakota Associated Press Managing Editors Associations news contest.

The Fargo Forum earned 11 awards, and the Sioux Falls Argus Leader had 8.

The Journal swept the top three awards in Spot News. Steve Miller, Ryan Woodard and Bill Harlan took first for their coverage of the Alabaugh Canyon Fire; the Journal staff took second for its reporting of the Central High School lockdown; and Miller and Kevin Woster took third for their coverage of flooding in Hermosa.

Photo Editor Ryan Soderlin took first in Sports Photo for "Mighty Crusaders," and photographer Seth McConnell took second for "High School Rodeo."

In Feature Photo, former photographer Dick Kettlewell took second ("Winter Sky Illuminated") and McConnell third ("Mount Rushmore Spectacular").

Former photographer Steve McEnroe captured honorable mention in News Photo for "Rock Climber Injured In Fall."

Reporter Kayla Gahagan's stories on bullying at Dakota Middle School finished second in General News; Editorial Page Editor Mary Garrigan took home second and honorable mention for her editorials; and the staff took honorable mention for its Page One.

The contest was judged by the Nevada Press Association and awards were handed out Saturday in Aberdeen.