The Columbia Paper is reporting it was named the recipient of four statewide journalism awards presented the New York Press Association early this month. Photographer David Lee won a first place award in the Spot News Photos category, publisher Parry Teasdale received a second place award for editorials and Associate Editor Diane Valden received two awards -- third place for feature story writing, and an honorable mention for Spot News coverage. Overall 177 newspapers submitted more than 2,800 entries in the Better Newspaper Contest. The entries were judged by members of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. The Columbia Paper competed in Division 1, which includes papers from around the state with a circulation of up to 5,000 copies weekly. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.