Topeka ? The Lawrence Journal-World won seven first-place awards in the annual Awards of Excellence competition sponsored by the Kansas Press Assn.

The awards were presented at the association’s annual meeting Saturday in Topeka.

In addition to winning top honors for a freedom of information project and its sports pages, Journal-World staffers Terry Rombeck, David Mitchell, Scott McClurg, Kim Callahan and Bill Snead took home first-place honors.

The newspaper won the freedom of information award for a series of stories that prompted the state Department of Corrections to make public its list of parole violators being sought and establish a searchable Web site so Kansans could take a more active role in policing their communities.

“You delivered valuable information, plus you educated readers on freedom of information principles,” the judges wrote. “Bravo!”

The Journal-World’s sports pages also were declared the state’s best.

“One of the headlines says it all — “blowout,'” the judges said, referring to a headline on one of the pages entered. “This paper blew away the competition. Nice blend of sports coverage. Top-notch photos and graphics.”

Reporter Terry Rombeck won first place in news writing for his story “Budget no help to nursing shortage.” Said the judges: “Solid information that will impact the lives of every reader in Lawrence and beyond.”

Senior editor Bill Snead won first place in series writing for “Parched Prairie,” a series on the Kansas drought. The series showed “interest, enterprise, thoroughness,” the judges said. “Tight paragraphs, economy of expression.”

Sports reporter David Mitchell won first place in sports writing for “Webb eyes 3-peat.” Said the judges: “Good attention-grabbing lead. … I liked the fact that you quoted all the top players. … This is a complete story, giving the reader all the info needed to enjoy the tournament.”

Photographer Scott McClurg won first place in sports photography for his photo of Kansas’ Nick Collison going for a rebound. “Great action, technically perfect,” the judges said. “Clear-cut winner.”

Snead and assistant news editor Kim Callahan won first place in feature package for “Bees ease patient’s burden.” “What a great story and great photos, too,” the judges said. “Very nice package.”

Winning second-place awards were business editor Chad Lawhorn, in local business coverage; and the newspaper in news and writing excellence, best use of photos, editorial pages and general excellence.

Third-place awards were won by reporters Dave Ranney and Mike Belt in news writing; reporter Scott Rothschild in government coverage; Law-horn in agricultural writing; photographer Richard Gwin in news photography, McClurg in feature photography, and reporter Jim Baker in feature package.

Honorable mention was given to Snead in feature writing, Ranney in feature writing, reporter Joel Mathis in investigative coverage, Baker in religion coverage, Rothschild and Mathis in government coverage, Snead in agricultural writing, reporter Tim Carpenter in education writing, sports reporter Gary Bedore in sports writing, and the newspaper in special section, for its annual KU Edition and for best front page.