The news staff from the Jefferson City News Tribune made a strong showing at the Kansas City Press Club's 2011 Heart of America Awards program.
The photography department brought back five awards, including a sweep of the sports photo category.
Stephen Brooks took gold in the sports photo category with an October volleyball shot of Jefferson City High School Jay Kristin Burnett flattening a spike.
"Wow! Talk about capturing real power. Who knew you could flatten a volleyball like this?" judges said.
Brooks also secured the silver in sports photo for a September shot of Lincoln University football player Morris Henderson recovering a fumble.
And Kelley McCall picked up the bronze in sports photo for capturing the emotion of the Helias Catholic High School football team's loss in postseason.
The news team coverage by Jeff Haldiman, Gerry Tritz and Rosa Ruiz on the question of the city administrator's involvement in a hit-and-run accident from February, March and June of 2010 took the gold award in investigative reporting.
"A thorough examination of a high-profile case involving politics, the law and questions of favoritism," judges said.
A third gold award for the News Tribune came from Michelle Brooks' feature on the local synchronized skating team.
"The writer uses good details and descriptions to introduce readers to a local synchronized skating team that wins awards with style and precision. The article also includes information about the skaters' parents, who are a very important component of youth sports teams," the sports writing category judges said.
Haldiman and Tritz teamed up again for solid coverage of the Callaway County shootings in October, earning a bronze in deadline reporting.
Tritz also took the bronze award in investigative reporting for a look at emergency bills. And he won bronze the entertainment category for a February preview story of performer Justin Kredible.
Opinion Editor Richard McGonegal collected the bronze award for his February editorial urging city officials to be investigated.
Stephen Brooks also picked up the bronze award in the feature photo category for a sunset photo of motocross at the Cole County Fair. And he earned an honorable mention in the breaking news photo category for capturing firefighters at work during a November house fire.
Angie Hutschreider received an honorable mention in the public service category for her coverage of the Central Missouri Honor Flight.
And teamwork paid off again, as the Hutschreider, Haldiman and Ben Yarnell earned an honorable mention in public service for a series look at youth violence.