BY RECORD STAFF

The South Whidbey Record has won three awards for reporting, photography and page design in a national newspaper competition.

Winners in the 2007 Suburban Newspapers of America contest were announced last week.

The Record received a first-place award for “best front page design.”

The newspaper also won a first-place award for “best news photo,” for a picture Brian Kelly took of sailors carrying the casket of Chief Petty Officer Patrick Wade to a hearse at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The sailor was brought home from the war in Iraq in July.

Record reporter Michaela Marx Wheatley won a second-place award for “best in-depth reporting” for her coverage of the controversy surrounding Fairgrounds Road.

“The Record newsroom continues to push for better journalism and it’s showing with the recognition we’ve just received on the national level,” said Record Publisher Sherry Mays. “I’m proud of our team.”

“I appreciate the leadership Brian brings to the editorial content on a daily basis,” she added. “No one has to ask him to dig for answers or capture poignant moments. He or one of the reporters just happens to be there.”

Approximately 3,000 entries were submitted in this year’s contest from newspapers across the U.S. and Canada.