The Cooperstown Crier received three awards last week during the New York Press Association convention in Saratoga Springs.

The Crier earned first place honors in the categories of coverage of local government, editorials and humor column.

For coverage of local government, the judges focused on a long article about the Fly Creek Fire District, "Fire board meeting fails to resolve issues," written by Casey Campbell for the issue of June 16.

"Big Story! Your description of these heated meetings manages to be informative without bias as well as comment and crowd reaction," the judges commented.

"Wow, what an honor," Campbell said. "I've worked hard to be fair, accurate and thorough with my coverage of this complex situation and it's reassuring to see an independent observer determine I've done exactly that."

The winning editorials were written about the Cooperstown Central School's capital project, a secret meeting of the mayor and board of trustees with Jane Forbes Clark at the Otesaga Hotel and the lawsuit filed by the Otsego County Conservation Association against the Hartwick town and planning boards and the Cooperstown Dreams Park.

"These editorials display a strong opinion, clear writing and well-reasoned arguments. Each provides enough background and facts so that any reader can follow the discussion...but not so much as to make the eyes glaze over. Bravo!" the judges said.

The third award went to Crier columnist Jim Atwell, who has a long history of producing winning entries. His popular column, "From Fly Creek," has received almost a dozen of the annual awards presented by the press association.

"Local, amusing, seasonal - nice rhythm and flow to writing; friendly tone that stays on the comfortable side - no 'inside joke' feeling to these columns," the judges said.

"The judges reaffirm, on an almost annual basis, what we have know for a long time - Jim Atwell is great writer," said Crier editor Jim Austin.

"It's great to be praised by professionals, but more important is what comes from the Crier's readers. They're my friends and neighbors," Atwell said.

A book of Atwell's columns, " From Fly Creek-Celebrating Life in

Leatherstocking Country," was published last September by North Country Books.