From staff reports

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Joplin Globe edged out the state’s largest papers in several categories in the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, receiving top honors for best front page.

Awards were presented on Saturday at the MPA conference held in Columbia.

The Globe, in most categories, faced competition from The Kansas City Star and The St. Louis Post Dispatch.

The newspapers headlines, photos, writing and design were all considered in receiving the first place for best front page. The Globe tied for first place with the Springfield News Leader for best coverage of major storms. Stories, written by several Globe staff members, detailed the 2007 flooding that devastated Miami, Okla., and surrounding areas.

Trish Courtney, Globe newsroom graphic artist, received a first place for a photo illustration used along with a food story in the “Let’s Eat” section.

The Globe received second-place honors for Best Editorial Pages. The Kansas City Star won first place in that category. The Globe also received a second place in the mid-sized newspapers for general excellence.

A third-place award was won for Best Family Living Sections. Photographer Roger Nomer received an honorable mention for best news photo entitled “A mother’s pain.” The photo was use with news coverage of the abduction and murder of 9-year-old Rowan Ford, of Stella.

Mike Pound, Globe columnist, received an honorable mention for his columns which appear six days a week in the newspaper.