The Washington Newspaper Publishers Association announced its winners for the 2017 Washington Better Newspaper Contest in Olympia, Washington. The Islands’ Sounder and Journal of the San Juans took home 29 awards.

General excellence, third place: The Islands’ Sounder

Both papers won the following awards for special sections:

First place for Springtide: Greg Sellentin, Hayley Day, Heather Spaulding, Mandi Johnson, Cali Bagby, Shane Watson and Colleen Smith Armstrong.

Third place for Women in Business: Mandi Johnson, Shane Watson and Colleen Smith Armstrong.

Journal of the San Juans awards

Second place for Best News Story, Long: “Survivors speak out against sex crimes,” by Cali Bagby and Colleen Smith Armstrong.

Second place for Best Health or Medical Story: “Sniffing out Parkinson’s,” by Courtney Oldwyn.

First place for Best Business News Story: “Ferry food fight hights the streets,” by Courtney Oldwyn.

Third place for Best Environmental Story: “Where have all the salmon gone?” by Heather Spaulding.

Third place for Best Education Story: “Schoolhouse Rock,” by Hayley Day.

Third Place for Best Government Reporting: “Clash over Tides,” by Hayley Day.

First Place for Comprehensive Cover of a single Issue or Series: “The Fate of Orcas in our waters,” by Hayley Day and Heather Spaulding.

Second Place for Comprehensive Cover of a single Issue or Series: “Teacher accused of sexual misconduct,” by Colleen Smith Armstrong, Courtney Oldwyn, Cali Bagby and Hayley Day.

Second Place for Best Personality Profile, Long: “The Kozloff Legacy,” by Heather Spaulding.

First Place for Best Feature Page Design: “Kids Learn magic,” by Greg Sellentin.

First place for Best Editorial: “Abuse of Power should be against the law,” by Cali Bagby and Colleen Smith Armstrong.

The Islands’ Sounder awards

First place for Best News Story, Long: “Reality of Heroin Addiction,” by Colleen Smith Armstrong.

Third place for Best News Story, Long: “Homeless in Paradise,” by Mandi Johnson.

First place for Best Environmental Story: “Permit for Gateway Pacific Terminal Denied,” by Mandi Johnson.

Second place for Best Education Story: “School and parents correct classroom disruptions,” by Colleen Smith Armstrong.

Second place for Best Crime and Court Story: “Colton Harris-Moore,” by Colleen Smith Armstrong.

Third place for Best Crime and Court Story: “Claim that Orcas Couple Embezzled,” by Colleen Smith Armstrong.

First place for Best Personality Profile, Short: “You can’t arrest yourself out of social problems” by Colleen Smith Armstrong.

Third place for First Place for Best Personality Profile, Short: “Melinda Milligan is retiring,” by Mandi Johnson.

Second place for Best Feature Page Design: “Return of the sun,” by Mandi Johnson and Colleen Smith Armstrong.

Third place for Best Feature Page Design: “Naughty Pirates of Neverland,” by Mandi Johnson.

Second place for Best Editorial: “Don’t let addiction hide in the dark,” by Colleen Smith Armstrong.

First place for Color Feature Photo, “County fair: Barn and Raised,” by Colleen Smith Armstrong.

Second place for Color Feature Photo, “Homecoming 2016,” by Mandi Johnson.