FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Three community newspapers in the Gulf Coast Newspapers chain will be among the award recipients at the 137th summer convention of the Alabama Press Association tonight at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach.

The awards are for entries in the 2008 Alabama Press Association Better Newspaper Contest. This year 71 Alabama newspapers submitted 2,856 entries in the annual contest, which was judged by the Arkansas Press Association.

Mike Odom, staff reporter for the Fairhope Courier, won Best Feature Story, Division D, for an article on a local couple who “discover the joy of being the Clauses.”

Curt Chapman, Eastern Shore features writer and Arts & Entertainment coordinator, took second place in Division D, Best Business Story, for an article on “Compass (bank) points in a new direction.”

The Bulletin in Daphne won Best Local News Coverage for Division D; and editor Thomas Boni took first place, Division D, for Best Use of Graphics or Illustrations for “Understanding Holiday Blues.”

Veteran staff reporter at the Foley Onlooker, Bob Morgan, won first place, Division C, for Best Editorial titled “120 and 140,” about commercial gill net legislation; first place for Best Human Interest column for “Shoulder stars and arm patches;” and second place for Best News Feature Story for an article titled “Unsolved Mystery,” about Danny Barter, a nearly-4-year-child who disappeared on the beach in Lillian in 1959 while on a family vacation.

Around the state, the 2008 General Excellence winners are: Division A, The Birmingham News; Division B, The Opelika-Auburn News; Division C, the Shelby County Reporter; and Division D, (the Citronelle) Call News.

Best Public Service award winners are: Division A, The Huntsville Times for Alabama Medicaid Agency lobbyist hiring coverage by Bob Lowry; Division B, The (Talladega) Daily Home for “What If? Building blocks for change” series by newsroom staff; Division C, The Eufaula Tribune for local elementary schools’ consolidation coverage by staff; and Division D, Sumter County Record-Journal (Livingston) for continued coverage of church arson recovery by staff.

Freedom of Information-First Amendment award winners are: Division A, The Decatur Daily for investigating the community corrections director’s travel funds by Sheryl Marsh; Division B, The (Talladega) Daily Home for coverage of lead contamination in Lincoln by David Atchison; Division C, The Prattville Progress for coverage of Elmore Town Council by Layne Holley and Jess Nicholas; and Division D, (the Citronelle) Call News for coverage of back room city council pre-meetings by Chris Henley.