COLUMBUS — Several members of the Herald-Star staff were recognized Sunday during the annual Ohio Associated Press Media Editors meeting and awards banquet.

Sport Editor Andrew Grimm and the sports staff at the paper earned a second-place finish in the Best Special Sports Section category, and the paper finished third in the Best Sports Enterprise category.

Former staff writer Christopher Dacanay finished second in the Best Business Writer category.

“Our goal every day is to put out a quality product, one we can be proud of and, more important, one that our readers look forward to receiving,” said Ross Gallabrese, executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times. “We’re facing challenges, just like many local newspapers across the country. That’s why it’s good to know that members of our staff continue to produce first-rate journalism that makes an impact on the lives of our readers.”

“High School Football 2024,” our annual football preview edition, was second in Best Special Section, while “Football Xtra,” our weekly preview of the area’s high school football action, finished third in the Best Sports Enterprise category.

The paper competes in Division I, which includes publications with newsrooms of nine or fewer employees. The top three finishers in each category were announced earlier this year, with the order of placement revealed during the luncheon held at the Villa Milano Banquet and Conference Center in Columbus.

“Congratulations to members of our staff,” said John Hale, publisher of the newspapers. “We know our newsroom works hard every to tell the stories of the residents of the area.”

Four journalists were inducted into the OAPME Hall of Fame during the event. Earning those honors were Colleen Marshall and Ben Gelber, both of WCMH-TV in Columbus; Rob Powers of WEWS-TV in Cleveland; and Paul Kwapich of WTOL-TV in Toledo.

Recipients of the Rising Star awards were Erin Glynn of the Cincinnati Enquirer and Claire Mitchell of WTVG-TV in Toledo. The Akron Beacon Journal won the First Amendment Award.