The Natchez Democrat won eight awards, including two first-place awards, in the annual news contest Saturday at the Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press Managing Editors Association meeting in Lafayette, La.

&uot;We’re always proud receive praise from our peers,&uot; said

Kerry Whipple

, editor. &uot;These awards recognize the hard work our staff does covering local news in the Miss-Lou.&uot;

Awards The Democrat won in its division, Division II, including:

First place in business story for Community Editor

Joan Gandy

for &uot;On the Rise.&uot;

First place for in portrait-personality for Visual Editor

Ben Hillyer

for &uot;Joyful Noise.&uot;

Second place in feature photo for Hillyer for &uot;Having a Blast.&uot;

Second place in general news photo for photographer Molly Dempsey for &uot;Bull Pull.&uot;

Third place in spot news for Whipple, &uot;Fire Destroys Landmark.&uot;

Third place in editorial for Whipple.

Third place in spot news photo for Hillyer for &uot;Fire Rescue.&uot;

Third place in illustration for Hillyer for &uot;Dem Bones.&uot;