Hoch Publishing received exciting news this week: an announcement from Kansas Press Association that we won 12 major statewide awards for journalism in 2012.

Most gratifying was first place for community service — something that is our sole reason for existence. It is the second time in three years we won in that category — strong testament to the work of news editor Adam Stewart and his superb staff.

We also won both first and second place in feature photography, first place in column writing (tremendous recognition for reporter Jennifer Stultz), first place in story/photo package, first place in news photography and first place in advertising design (for an ad for The Lumberyard).

In addition, we won second place in the state for news and writing excellence, best editorial pages, and best photo package (thanks, in part, to a unique tornado photo taken by Goessel resident Anita Goertzen). We also won both second and third place statewide for coverage of youths.

All in all, we’ve won an unprecedented 43 statewide awards in the past three years. The latest honorees, in addition to Jennifer (who also had a second award), include Ben Kleine (twice), Janet Post, and Melvin Honeyfield.

— ERIC MEYER