Local newspaper wins statewide honors

Our hometown newspaper, the weekly Anacortes American, made the front page this week with news of 21 awards from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association (WNPA). Among its awards were eight first place entries. In addition, reporter Richard Walker was named No. 1 Newspaper Writer of the Year. Winning news stories ranged in subject matter from “Families meet through glass at hospital” (Briana Alzola) to “Final days for old Anacortes fish plant” (Richard Walker). Also acknowledged was a seasonal tourism section titled “Explore Anacortes.” The American is owned by Skagit Publishing, publisher of the daily Skagit Valley Herald and numerous other publications.