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The Charlotte Gazette received eight awards during a virtual presentation of the 2020 Virginia Press Association News and Advertising Contest Thursday.

The Gazette received six advertising awards and was named the top advertising team in Division 1 for non-daily newspapers.

Advertising Director Jackie Newman and Marketing Consultant Debbie Evans received first-place awards in the categories of automotive, professional services and small group ads. Second place awards were garnered in professional services and real estate. Third place honors were won in the categories of home and garden.

The two news awards were third place awards. Staff Writer Crystal Vandegrift won a third-place award in the category of Public Safety Writing. “Good use of comments and inclusion on both sides of the issue,” the judge said of Vandegrift’s work.

Former Sports Editor Titus Mohler won the second third-place award in the Sports Writing Portfolio category. The story that caught the judge’s attention from Mohler was his story about Charlotte County native Joe Reed being drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers.

“It is very rewarding to see this team recognized by their peers for excellence in both advertising and news,” Gazette Publisher Betty Ramsey said.