The Shelby County Reporter has received recognition from the Alabama Press Association for outstanding work during 2003.

The Reporter won a second place award for Best Use of Color/Editorial throughout the year.

In addition, Reporter sports editor Ashley Vansant was honored for his work.

Vansant won first place for a news feature story, &uot;Iron hand, open heart&uot; about Pelham Mayor Bobby Hayes.

He also won a first place award for best sports single event story, &uot;Briarwood steamrolls top-ranked Tigers;&uot; a first place award for best feature photo for &uot;Pumpkins anyone?&uot;; a third place award for best feature photo for &uot;All dressed up.&uot;

Winners of the 2004 APA Better Newspaper Contest were announced this week. Seventy-six newspapers submitted 2,913 entries in the annual contest. The awards will be presented at the APA’s 133rd annual summer convention at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach.

The Reporter also won awards this year in the APA’s advertising contest.

Awards included first place for best classified section; second place for best single ad under a half page for the Shelby County Pest Control ad; third place for the July-published FYI section of the newspaper for best regularly scheduled special section; and third place for the Shelby County, Alabama section published in February as best one-time special section