Here are the award-winning Journal-News photos and stories that earned recent honors

First-places honors in Division III were earned by Rick McCrabb as best feature writer and best columnist, Nick Graham for best feature photo and the staff for best digital project. Second-places honors went to Michael D. Pitman for best news writer and Graham for best photographer and best sports photo. Graham also earned a third-place honor in best news photo.

Here’s a look at the work that earned the staff this recognition:

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

But on this summer evening in 1975, Hall, the oldest of four children, heard his mother being dragged down one flight of stairs, from her bedroom to the living room. She was screaming, as she had done countless times before when they lived in a trailer.

One can only imagine the atmosphere when Kaylie’s classmates, the Class of 2018, graduate on the morning of May 19 at Princeton Pike Church of God. There probably will be an empty chair, and there won’t be a dry eye in the place when her name — Kaylie Elizabeth Jackson — is read.

If anyone should understand the void of diversity in police departments, it’s Nelson, an African-American who was promoted to sergeant in the Middletown Division of Police Department, the highest ranking officer in the city’s history, said Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw.

What could have been the last chapter in her obituary became the opening sentence in her new life. The 35-year-old decided she was done. She was tired of being high, depending on her next fix to get her through what she called “the bad times.”

The experience has led to reflection for the one-time controversial politician, who served longer in the Statehouse than any other Butler County lawmaker and was also a former county commissioner — and who also later served four years in prison for wire fraud and filing a false tax return.

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones wants to see the federal government raid businesses in Butler County just as immigration officers arrested more than 100 workers at a northern Ohio gardening and greenhouse company on Tuesday.

Many experience the opioid epidemic from what they can see. But Dr. Janet Everhard, of New Richmond, calls the epidemic “quite invisible” said said the aftermath of overdoses — whether it’s someone clinging to life following an overdose or the family trying to answer questions after a loved one dies — is what is visible and has a tremendous ‘ripple effect.’

More than 120 ballots have gone uncounted in Butler County elections this year because the United States Post Office did not stamp a post office mark on the envelopes received after Election Day.

The way Lynn Weber maneuvers his motorized wheelchair around the Otterbein Senior Life campus, stopping just long enough to greet every resident and staff member, you get the feeling he’s right at home.

While the world around them has changed — from the city to Roosevelt Boulevard to the shopping center — life seems to have stood still inside the Squire Barber Shop. No one ever walked in and said: “I like what you guys have done with this place.”

He’s half the man he used to be. That is, if you judge Kent Keller II solely by his weight. But as the Middletown man has learned — and has preached to anyone who will listen — his 200-pound weight loss has turned him into twice the man he was before.

Lisa Laws could tell by the tone of the voice on the phone that something had happened to her son. It was 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 1 when Laws picked up her cell phone and recognized the voice of Brittany Lumpkin, one of her son’s close high school friends. Lumpkin didn’t sound like herself.

The Journal-News’ coverage of the transformation of the former Americana Amusement Park in multiple digital elements led by reporter Ed Richter earned recognition.

• Monroe gets first look at plans for new park at former Americana site

• Americana tour bittersweet: Good memories of park now in poor condition

• WATCH: A $10M plan is set for the former Americana Amusement Park. Take an aerial tour.

• PHOTOS: See what LeSourdsville Lake / Americana looks like now

• FROM THE ARCHIVES: LeSourdsville Lake/Americana