The McClatchy Company today announced the winners of 10 McClatchy President’s Awards in the community newspaper division, an annual competition designed to recognize the best journalism at McClatchy’s non-daily papers.

Eight newspapers collected the 10 awards, which honor work published in 2011. The Chapel Hill News won two President's Awards, sweeping the features category with first- and second-place finishes.

First Place: The Chapel Hill News (North Carolina)
Exonerated Man
Dave Hart
Associate Editor Dave Hart delivered his readers a spellbinding account of William Michael Dillon’s odyssey through 28 years of imprisonment in some of Florida’s harshest prisons and his 2008 release based on DNA evidence, which exonerated him of the murder for which he was convicted. But the narrative, which Hart crafted so well, takes us to a point of rebirth for the wronged man who survived the injustice of those years through a journey into the sweetness of music. He has now released a CD, “Black Robes and Lawyers,” which is the poetic testimony of the prison experience, made possible through the persistence of Jim Tullio, a Grammy Award winning producer. The “Exonerated Man” is a worthy winner.

Second Place: The Chapel Hill News (North Carolina)
House Is Home
Mark Schultz
This is a compassionate telling of the latest evolution in the long history of AIDS in the world, told so well by Editor Mark Schultz, who takes his readers on the road that Raymond McDaniel has traveled to these lingering days in a home for people with AIDS in Carrboro, N.C. For 15 years he has seen his friends die, and then has seen the little plaques placed in the dirt behind the back patio with the simple dates of their birth and death. But McDaniel, who thought for years that his plaque would have been placed in those ranks, has survived far beyond his expectations. To some, the plaques came to be painful reminders of those who had passed away. “House Is Home” helps readers realize that those with AIDS are living with their disease, not dying from it, and that the residence in Carrboro is helping them to survive

Here's a look at today's local headlines:

COLONIAL INN UPDATE: Owner Francis Henry could get the OK tonight to raze a portion of the King Street inn he and a state expert say is not historic. Tammy Grubb has our preview.

SHELTON STATION DELAYED: The project proposed for North Greensboro Street in Carrboro is challenging the Board of Aldermen to balance the need for economic development and town character. Read why Jacquie Gist is taking a different tack than some of her colleagues.

BUDDHIST TEMPLE TO OPEN: The late John Hartley had a reverance for nature amd sought to bring the outdoor into the buildings he designed. The architect's last big project opens this weekend. Dave Hart went to take a look.

Katelyn Ferral has a report on the county commissioners meeting last night here. I'll be heading out later to the Department on Aging public meeting today, and you can weight in again on the future of Chapel Hill at tomorrow night's 2020 visioning session. Busy week.

Thanks for reading, and remember you can follow me and the Chapel Hill News on Facebook now. Friend us!

Mark       

Here's a look at today's local headlines. (Remember, for the latest on Hurricane Irene, see today's News & Observer and www.newsobserver.com)

BOY SCOUTS FIND NEW HOME: A local Scout troop will begin meeting at the American Legion Post next month after the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA broke ties over the Scouts ban on gay leaders and members.

COUNTY RESTARTS LIBRARY SEARCH: The Orange County commissioners may consider a site farther down on Hillsborough Road after rejecting the one close to downtown because of increasing costs.

LOVE IT OR HATE IT: We asked you what you think of "The Help," the come from behind story of black maids and more during the Jim Crow South and your letters are still coming in (got one already this morning). Read Carlton Koonce's story and our special commentary section today.

Lucas Selvidge starts a fire, Michelle Brooke kicks up a storm and associate editor Dave Hart takes on judgment calls in today's editorial about recent letters on the Scouts situation. We appreciate your feedback. Thanks for reading,

Mark