The Andalusia Star-News was among the winners in the 2012 Alabama Press Association Alabama Press Association Better Newspaper Contest announced Saturday night.

Seventy-six newspapers submitted 2,477 entries in the annual contest. Nebraska Press Association judged the entries.

In the small daily division of the contest, The Star-News won:

• Second place in best use of photographs category.

• Third place in the best editorial category for “Why didn’t board, parents show up?” by Michele Gerlach.

• Third place in the best humorous column category for “Small girl, plus tin foil, equals ER” by Stephanie Nelson.

• Third place in the best commentary column for “Death was too kind for killer” by Gerlach.

• Third place in the best news photo category for “ Red Level mourns” by Nelson.

• Third place in the best headline category for “iThink it may be iLove” by Gerlach.

The Star-News also won three advertising awards. There were 764 entries in the advertising categories.

• Third place in the best single ad smaller than a half page for the Andalusia Ballet 5K. The ad was designed by Robert Evers for the Ballet.

• First place for the best single ad over a half page for a Sav-A-Life of Covington County advertisement designed by Erin Johnson and Jan White.

• Second place in the best use of humor in an ad category for a Professional Hearing Aid Center advertisement.

“We are pleased to have our work recognized by our peers,” Gerlach said. “But that recognition pales in comparison to the support we receive from those who read our stories every day.”