Once again the Suwannee Democrat has brought awards from the Florida Press Association’s annual Better Weekly Newspapers competition.

The awards were presented June 23 in Central Florida during the annual FPA convention and awards ceremonies. More than 2,000 newspapers from across Florida compete for the awards with three different categories for newspapers by circulation. Newspapers in the same circulation size compete against each other.

Newcomer to journalism Vanessa Fultz, a Democrat reporter, brought home a second and third place for stories she entered for 2005.

Fultz took a second place in the Agricultural Writing category for a story she did regarding raw milk sales to the public by dairies, a big issue in North Florida where many people say they believe there are good reasons not to pasteurize milk.

Fultz also was awarded a third place in the 2005 Hurricane Season Coverage category for her story on a Biloxi, Mississippi family who fled to Live Oak during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“I am very excited about receiving these awards so soon in my journalism career,” Fultz said. Fultz added it’s her goal to keep the community informed while keeping her stories relevant and interesting.

Suwannee Democrat Managing Editor Susan K. Lamb was awarded a third place in the Environmental or Conservation category for one of her stories about an ongoing local fight between home owners and a dairy over the dairy farm’s expanding manure spray fields.

“I’m always thrilled to be chosen for an award by my peers, especially when it’s a story that’s about local issues,” Lamb said of her win. “When we win in the FPA contest, we know we’ve gone up against other papers the size of ours and the competition is always tough.”

Democrat Publisher Myra Regan said she’s always glad to see the Democrat rewarded for the hard work of its employees. “Sue’s personal attention to her stories and her background knowledge of the material she covers are the reason she consistently wins at Florida Press,” Regan said of Lamb’s award.

“Vanessa has shown a deep desire to reach our readers and give them stories about people just like themselves!” Regan said of Fultz’s awards.