ARLINGTON For the ninth consecutive year, The Arlington Times has been named one of the best non-daily newspapers, for its circulation size, in the state by the Washington Newspapers Publishers Association in its annual Better Newspaper Contest.
The Times received the first-place General Excellence award in circulation Group I (for newspapers with circulations up to 2,600), Oct. 6, at the WNPAs 2006 annual conference in Kennewick. The Times sister publication, The Marysville Globe, brought home the second-place General Excellence award for circulation Group I. Staff members of The Times also received three news writing awards as well as an award for advertising.
Receiving the General Excellence award, along with the other awards, serves as an example of the long-standing commitment to excellence embraced by the entire staff at The Arlington Times, said Managing Editor Scott Frank. Judges for the General Excellence Award critique all aspects of the newspaper including news writing, editorial pages, photography, graphics, design, advertising and printing. We compete against a number of very good newspapers so it takes a total team effort from staff members in all departments to earn this prestigious award.
Sarah Arney received a first-place award for Best Overall Feature Page or Section (Group I) and was named as a finalist in the Best Feature Writer Portfolio Award category.
News reporter Kirk Boxleitner received the first-place award for Best Environmental Story (Group I) for his story Logs dropped like lawn darts.
Working together to capture the third-place award for Special Sections: Tourism/Community Guide (Group I) for the Arlington Festival and Fly-In special section were Sue Stevenson, Beth Opel, Connie McKinsey, Margi Hartnett and Myke Folger.
I want to personally congratulate each and every staff member for winning these awards, said Frank. I know how much time and effort they put into producing the newspaper each week and these awards are well deserved.

Washington Newspapers Publishers Associations Better Newspaper Contests General Excellence Award is given annually to the best newspapers in each of the four circulation groups. The Arlington Times competes in Circulation
Group I, for papers with circulations up to 2,600.


A History of Excellence for The Arlington Times
General Excellence Award

2006 First Place (Group I)
2005 Second Place (Group I)
2004 First Place (Group I)
2003 First Place Tie with Marysville Globe (Group I)
2002 First Place Tie with Marysville Globe (Group I)
2001 Second Place (Group I)
2000 Second Place (Group I)
1999 First Place (Group I)
1998 Second Place (Group I)

Arlington Times Awards

News
Kirk Boxleitner
Best Environmental Story (Group 1)
First Place Logs dropped like lawn darts

Sarah Arney
Best Overall Feature Page or Section (Groups I & II)
First Place Arts & Leisure

Feature Writer Portfolio Award (Groups I & II)
Finalist

Staff Award
General Excellence (Group I)
First Place

Advertising
Special Sections: Tourism/Community Guide (Group I)
Third Place Arlington Festival and Fly-In
Sue Stevenson
Beth Opel
Connie McKinsey
Margi Hartnett
Myke Folger