The Effingham Herald claimed four awards in the Georgia Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, including a first place for best headline writing.

Judges said the Herald’s headlines “were catchy and roped me into reading the story without being misleading or over the top.”

The Herald also picked up a second place in photo illustration for its work on a Habitat for Humanity photo spread.

“Photos show the emotion of those involved in the Habitat house as well as the family the house belongs to,” judges wrote. “They really draw you in and leave you wanting to read the story.”

The Herald garnered two third-place awards, with columnist  Ellen Lambert winning for humorous column and the Herald’s lifestyle coverage also being recognized.

“You can just imagine watching GI Joe crash down in ma’s undies,” judges wrote on Lambert’s submission for “Fighting soldiers from the sky.”

The GPA’s Better Newspaper Contest awards convention was held in Panama City Beach, Fla., on June 6.