Call Newspapers captured several awards — including a second-place honor for general excellence — in the 2003 Better Newspaper Contest conducted by the Missouri Press Foundation.

This was the fifth consecutive year that the Call has been honored by its peers in this annual statewide competition.

This year’s contest was judged by the Colorado Press Association and judges awarded the Green Park Call second place in the general excellence category for Class 1 weekly newspapers. The Green Park Call last year received an honorable mention for general excellence.

Among the criteria the judges considered were depth and breadth of news coverage, quality of writing, headline language, use of pictures and artwork, craftsmanship in printing, editorial page, front page, sports coverage and advertising — display and classified.

Photographer Bill Milligan, who also serves as general manager, and graphic artist Paul LaCroix were awarded second place for a photo illustration about the Lindbergh Flyers football team. Milligan and graphic artist Robert Gamache won honorable mention in the same category.

Milligan also won honorable mentions for community service and his newspaper columns.

“It’s nice to win awards, especially the one for general excellence,” Milligan said. “For years, readers have been telling us we have a great newspaper. It’s nice to know our peers see the same thing in our product.

“Every newspaper that keeps its public informed in an accurate, objective manner deserves a community service award,” Milligan said. “Sometimes our job at the newspaper brings us into contact with people and events that need a little extra attention and we help when we can. I’d like to thank Marty Hendin and the St. Louis Cardinals for helping us help area little league organizations and Bill Nottelmann for his persistence on the history book. This is their award, too.”