Staff from The Islands’ Sounder and Journal of the San Juan Islands took home eight state newspaper awards this month.

Winners of the 2021 Washington Better Newspaper Contest were announced during the 134th annual meeting of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association on Oct. 8 online. Approximately 51 papers statewide participated in the contest. This year, judges for Washington papers were from Kentucky.

Community guide special section: Sounder and Journal staff Colleen Smith, Mandi Johnson, Diane Craig, Tate Thomson and Laura Kussman won second place across all four circulation divisions for The Book of the San Juans.

Health or medical story, first place: Laura Kussman, Islands’ Sounder “Leg amputation has not held Jacob Hansen back”

Health or medical story, third place: Mandi Johnson, Journal of the San Juans, “Unapproved COVID-19 ‘vaccine’ causes a stir”

Animal Feature story, second place: Colleen Smith, Islands’ Sounder, “Crossing state lines to find forever homes”

Editorial, first place: Colleen Smith, Islands’ Sounder, “Vacation rentals are part of larger issue”

Business feature story, first place: Colleen Smith, Islands’ Sounder, “Environmentally conscious laundry services”

Personality Profile, short, first place: Colleen Smith, Islands’ Sounder, “Interview with newspaper delivery person Jerry Carter”

Personality Profile, short, third place: Colleen Smith, Islands’ Sounder, “The sweet scent of romance and business”