The Port Orchard Independent has won the top award for General Excellence in the 2015 Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Better Newspaper Contest.

The Independent won the award in the weekly newspapers division with more than 12,500 circulation.

Judges wrote of the Independent: “This paper had a lot of really good content, was designed well and held my interest throughout.”

The awards were announced at the association’s 128th annual convention Oct. 9 in Everett.

As a group, Sound Publishing’s newspapers in Kitsap County — the Bainbridge Island Review, Bremerton Patriot, Central Kitsap Reporter, Port Orchard Independent and the North Kitsap Herald — won 40 awards. The Bainbridge Island Review won Ad of the Year. Discover Kitsap, edited by Special Publication Editor Leslie Kelly, won Best Tourism Guide.

All told, 58 newspapers competed in this year’s contest, which consisted of work produced between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015. There were 373 advertising entries, 160 special sections entries, 1,076 news entries, 349 photography entries, 31 web entries, and 45 general excellence entries. The entries were judged by members of the Kansas Press Association.

The Independent also won first place in the following categories:

— Tourism/Community Guide: Bryon Kempf and staff, “Discover Kitsap.”

— Best Front Page Design: Dannie Oliveaux.

— Spot News Photo: Dannie Oliveaux, “Four injured in multi-vehicle crash.”

— Dannie Oliveaux, “Freshman wins state championship.”

Second Place:

— Use of Clip Art in Advertising: Kelsey Thomas and Billi Jean Gurnsey, “Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Join Us for a Wee Bit of Fun.”

— Best Special Section Cover: Vanessa Calverley, Donna Etchey and Lori Maxim, “Best of South Kitsap.”

— Best Education Story: Chris Chancellor, “Burley-Glenwood Elementary students slicing into Space immersion.”

Third Place:

— Multiple Advertiser Ad: Staff, “Proud to support the Seahawks!”

— Topical/Non-Tourism Special Sections: Staff, “Tis the Season / Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide.”

— Best Sports Personality Profile: Jennifer Chancellor, “The Dylan Macabitas Show.”

Lori Maxim, publisher and a vice president of Sound Publishing, said, “I am tremendously proud of our team for winning so many coveted awards. It’s a tribute to the exceptionally talented staff we have working for our company. Our team shares these awards with our readers and advertisers in the community. Without their stories, this wouldn’t have been possible.”

“These awards are validation of their very hard work,” said Richard Walker, the group’s managing editor.The Port Orchard Independent has won the top award for General Excellence in the 2015 Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Better Newspaper Contest.