COUNTYWIDE : Times Staff Wins 34 Awards at Fair

Times Orange County Edition writers and photographers captured 34 awards, nine of them for first place, in the annual Orange County Fair journalism competition.

The Times’ David Muronaka won the sweepstakes award for press photographers. His photo of a plane that landed in the Santa Ana River was judged best among 401 entries submitted by 50 photographers.

In the contest for writers, Times columnist Joseph N. Bell received the judges’ choice award for the second successive year for commentary or column. The winning entry, entitled “Roxani,” was a letter to the state insurance commissioner.

Times business writer James S. Granelli won three first-place awards for spot news, non-breaking news and features, in addition to two second-place awards for an in depth/investigative piece and a personality profile.

Mark Chalon Smith, a theater reviewer for the Times, took both first and second place in the entertainment review category.

In the photography contests, Times photographer Gail Fisher captured two first places, two second places, a third- and a fourth-place award. Kari Rene Hall took a first-, a second- and a third-place award.

Division winners include Daily Pilot reporter Janet Zimmerman for the best daily story; Jeff Opdyke of the Orange County Register’s Community edition for best weekly story; Eve Belson of Orange Coast Magazine for best monthly story and Steve Sakach of the Saddleback College Lariat for the Best College Reporter.

Award-winning entries will be displayed in the Fine Arts and Photography Building during the 98th annual Orange County Fair, through July 22 in Costa Mesa.