BAR HARBOR -- The Morning Sentinel was the second-place finisher in the General Excellence Weekend catagory in the Maine Press Association's annual contest.

The Sun Journal of Lewiston won daily and weekend Newspapers of the Year awards in the annual contest. The Ellsworth American and the Houlton Pioneer Times were named the state's best weeklies.

The winners were announced Saturday night during the MPA's annual fall conference in Bar Harbor.

Other notable winners were Sentinel photographer Jeff Pouland for his first place finish in the Sports Photo Daily/Weekend category; editorial page editor Naomi Schalit, who was a two-time winner; as was columnist and theater critic J.P. Devine. Reporter Amy Calder of the Morning Sentinel took a second-place award in the News Story Daily/Weekend category.

Other contest winners from the Morning Sentinel follow:

Feature Photo Daily/ Weekend 3. Jeff Pouland

Sports Photo Daily/Weekend 1. Jeff Pouland

Campaign or Series Daily/Weekend 2. Renee Paradis and Ron Robbins

Supplement/Special Section Daily/Weekend 1. Cindy Stevens, Denise Vear, Sales and Creative Staffs

Best Supplement Cover Daily/Weekend 3. Michael French, Morning Sentinel

Sponsorship Page Daily/Weekend 2. Jarred Bailey and Joan Hallee, Morning Sentinel

Editorial Page Weekend 3. Naomi Schalit

Sports Section Weekend 2. Staff

Web Site Daily/Weekend 3. Staff, KennebecJournal.com and MorningSentinel.com

News Story Daily/Weekend 2. Amy Calder

Local Column Daily/Weekend 3. J.P. Devine

Critic's Award Daily/Weekend 2. J.P. Devine

Editorial Weekly Daily/ Weekend 3. Naomi Schalit

Opinion Column Daily/ Weekend 3. George Smith