BAR HARBOR -- The Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel were second- and third-place finishers in the 'General Excellence Weekend' catagory in the Maine Press Association's annual contest.

The Sun Journal of Lewiston has won daily and weekend Newspapers of the Year awards in the annual contest, while The Ellsworth American and the Houlton Pioneer Times were named the state's best weekly papers.

The winners were announced Saturday night during the MPA's annual fall conference at The Atlantic Oakes Resort in Bar Harbor.

In all, the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel won a total of 24 awards in this year's contest.

Other notable winners were Sentinel photographer Jeff Pouland for his first place finish in the 'Sports Photo Daily/Weekend' category, editorial-page editor Naomi Schalit who was a two-time winner, as was columnist and theater critic J.P. Devine. Reporter Amy Calder of the Morning Sentinel took a second-place award in the 'News Story Daily/Weekend' category.

The Sun Journal's Sunday edition was named newspaper of the year for the fourth year in a row. Second place in the general excellence competition for weekend papers went to the Morning Sentinel of Waterville and third place went to the Kennebec Journal of Augusta.

In the daily division, the Sun Journal was followed by the Bangor Daily News in second place and the Journal Tribune of Biddeford in third.

All contest winners from the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel follow:

Scenic Photo Daily/Weekend 2. Andy Molloy, Kennebec Journal

Illustration Daily/Weekend 3. Ben Sturtevant and Sharon Wood, Kennebec Journal

Feature Photo Daily/Weekend 3. Jeff Pouland, Morning Sentinel

Sports Photo Daily/Weekend 1. Jeff Pouland, Morning Sentinel

Local Ad Black and White Daily/Weekend 1. Paulina Walker, Kennebec Journal

Campaign or Series Daily/Weekend 2. Renee Paradis and Ron Robbins, Morning Sentinel

Advertising Layout Daily/Weekend 1. Creative and Sales Staffs, Kennebec Journal

Supplement/Special Section Daily/Weekend 1. Cindy Stevens, Denise Vear, Sales and Creative Staffs, Morning Sentinel

Best Supplement Cover Daily/Weekend 3. Michael French, Morning Sentinel

Self-Promotion Weekly Daily/Weekend 3. Denise Vear and Cindy Stevens, Kennebec Journal

Best New Idea Weekly 3. Cindy Stevens, Kennebec Journal

Sponsorship Page Daily/Weekend 2. Jarred Bailey and Joan Hallee, Morning Sentinel

General Excellence Weekend 2. Morning Sentinel 3. Kennebec Journal

Editorial Page Weekend 3. Naomi Schalit, Morning Sentinel

Sports Section Weekend 2. Staff, Morning Sentinel

Web Site Daily/Weekend 3. Staff, KennebecJournal.com and MorningSentinel.com

News Story Daily/Weekend 2. Amy Calder, Morning Sentinel

Analysis Daily/Weekend 2. Susan Cover, Kennebec Journal

Continuing Story Daily/Weekend 3. Staff, Kennebec Journal

Local Column Daily/Weekend 3. J.P. Devine, Kennebec Journal

Critic's Award Daily/Weekend 2. J.P. Devine, Kennebec Journal

Editorial Weekly Daily/Weekend 3. Naomi Schalit, Kennebec Journal

Opinion Column Daily/Weekend 3. George Smith, Kennebec Journal