The Jefferson City News Tribune reporting staff brought home a dozen awards from the 2012 Heart of America Awards presented by the Kansas City Press Club on Saturday.
A gold award went to Stephen Brooks for his sports photo of a Vienna hurdler "at the perfect moment to show the lead runner's winning form and extension," the judge's comments said.
Brooks also earned silver and honorable mention awards in sports photography, for a Jays second baseman making a diving catch and for a Helias basketball battle for a loose ball, respectively.
And Brooks brought home one more award with a bronze in the feature photo category of icicles forming during a freezing rain on the statue of York at the Capitol grounds.
Gerry Tritz earned a gold award for his public service entry "Fallen through the cracks - For some, personal choices make homelessness the only option." Tritz also received a bronze award in entertainment coverage for a preview of David Cassidy's performance at the Isle of Capri.
Michelle Brooks received two bronze awards - one in business reporting for "Rehab on the menu - Old Tremain café gets new use with old name" and the other for faith-based, beat reporting.
Jeff Haldiman received both bronze and honorable mention awards in deadline reporting for code violations regarding fire hazards and "Navy seahawk crashes here."
Madeleine Leroux accepted her first award for work with the News Tribune with a bronze public service project entry, "Is annexation a money maker?" Judges said, "good, clean news writing on an issue many people tend to overlook."
Richard McGonegal's editorial "City sales tax extension stumbles at the gate" also earned a bronze award.