Times Community News cleans up in contest

Times Community Newspapers received major accolades in this year’s California Newspaper Publisher Association contest, including 17 first-place awards and six second-place nods.

Winners were announced Saturday at the statewide awards at the Sheraton Universal in Universal City.

“It always feels good to be honored by your peers, and getting honored in so many different categories makes it that much more gratifying,” Editor Dan Evans said.

“Every single aspect of the paper, from design to sports, photography to investigative reporting, entertainment to online, received recognition. Pound for pound, the Times Community News publications are among the best in the state, and I’m extremely proud our staff and reminded, yet again, how lucky I am to work with such a group of talented and hardworking journalists,” he added.

Four area newspapers — the Burbank Leader, Glendale News-Press, La Cañada Valley Sun and Pasadena Sun — were recognized:

Pasadena Sun

General Excellence (Staff) — Second Place

Coverage of Local Government (Death of teen sparks outcry, Adolfo Flores) — Second Place

Best Page Layout & Design (Matt Wilkes) — First Place

Local Breaking News (Officials probe deadly house fire, Joe Piasecki) — Second Place

Coverage of Education (PCC teachers cash in on extra pay, Joe Piasecki) — First Place

Local Breaking News (Winds come, damage stays, Adolfo Flores/Tiffany Kelly/Joe Piasecki) — First Place

Sports Photo (Spartans stumble on steep Hills, Cheryl Guerrero) —First Place

News Photo (Winds come, damage stays, Raul Roa) — First Place

Burbank Leader

Best Website (News/Web Desk) — Second Place

Breaking News (Body found in foothills, Jason Wells/Veronica Rocha) — First Place

Best Front Page (Matt Wilkes) — First Place

Lifestyle Coverage (Steve Appleford) — First Place

Sports Photo (Burroughs takes control of league title, Cheryl Guerrero) — Second Place

Artistic Photo (Burbank volunteers help Rose Float bloom, Raul Roa) — First Place

Best Editorial Cartoon (Dora & Leno, Bert Ring) — First Place

La Cañada Valley Sun

Best Investigative Reporting (Using money to shape policy, Joe Piasecki) — First Place

Best Website (News/Web Desk) — First Place

Lifestyle Coverage (Steve Appleford) — First Place

Coverage of Education (Silence grips La Cañada Unified, Megan O’Neil/Daniel Siegal) — First Place

Glendale News-Press

Sports Coverage (Grant Gordon) — First Place

Best Website (News/Web Desk) — First Place

Best Editorial Comment (Union attitude a loss for students, Jason Wells) — Second Place

News Photo (Raul Roa) — First Place

-- Nicole Charky, nicole.charky@latimes.com

Follow on Google+ and on Twitter: @nicosharki.