Staff at The County, Aroostook’s weekly newspaper and website owned by the Bangor Daily News, won four first-place awards from the Maine Press Association over the weekend.
The association presented its annual Better Newspaper Contest awards at the 2026 fall conference, held Oct. 17 in South Portland.
The MPA, whose board members hail from Presque Isle to Portland, represents daily and weekly newspapers throughout Maine. Formed in 1864, it’s one of the country’s oldest organizations for news and media professionals.
This year’s contest featured a notable change. Weekly newspapers competed in a single division, rather than in two divisions based on circulation.
Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli, who covers the southern Aroostook area for The County and the Bangor Daily News, won first place in the inaugural Judith Meyer Freedom of Access and Information Award in the weekly division.
The Freedom of Access prize was renamed this year to honor Maine journalist Judith Meyer’s dedication to the First Amendment, her work with the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition and the Right to Know Advisory Committee, and her many hours testifying on press-related legislative issues, according to the MPA.
Phalen Tomaselli earned recognition for her work involving Houlton’s controversial surveillance cameras, which have sparked lawsuits and public outcry. She filed more than 22 Freedom of Information Act requests for public documents related to the cameras, attended town council meetings and court proceedings, and interviewed public officials and residents for a series of stories that chronicled the cameras and their effects on the town.
“Excellent research-based, explanatory journalism here,” judges wrote. “Yes, it is time-consuming to file open records requests, but they are vital in revealing governmental actions regarding such topics.”
Aroostook Editor Paula Brewer took first place in the weekly spot news category for a story on the demolition of the Van Buren Yacht Club, a popular bar and restaurant decades ago in a building that once served as the town’s post office. When the more than 100-year-old structure came down, onlookers gathered to remember and look toward the future.
“Nice forward-facing approach to spot news coverage,” judges said. “Good regular people voices included here reminiscing on the history of the space.”
In the photography division, former reporter Cameron Levasseur, who recently moved away, earned first place for a photo taken at the 2025 Crown of Maine Balloon Fest, which featured a colorful, swirling interior view of the balloon Hemisphere Dancer.
“Being able to recognize beauty in commonly unseen places is a rarity. Being quick enough to capture them into a photograph for others to enjoy is even more rare,” judges wrote. “Kuddos to you for tackling both in this stunning photograph. The colors, the artistry, the depth…everything is outstanding.”
Former reporter Chris Bouchard captured first place for his story on the economic impact of the Can-Am International Sled Dog Races, which transform Fort Kent into a boomtown every winter.
“Strong writing by Chris Bouchard moved this story to the top in a very competitive category. Good lead and strong use of quotes — particularly from local merchants who benefit the most from crowds attending the race,” judges said. “The final quote ties the story all together, completing a well-written and informative piece.”
The County launched in January 2025, consolidating the region’s four previous weeklies: The Houlton Pioneer Times, the Star-Herald, Aroostook Republican & News and St. John Valley Times.
The BDN’s other weekly newspaper, the Piscataquis Observer of Dover-Foxcroft, earned second place in general excellence for print. Observer reporter Stuart Hedstrom won third place for a story on Foxcroft Academy’s field hockey championship.
In the daily newspaper division, the BDN won third place in general excellence and reporter and editor Callie Ferguson was named Maine Journalist of the Year. See the BDN’s other awards here.
The yearly contest allows news teams to enter their best work in multiple writing, photography, design and advertising categories. Maine partners with a different state’s organization every year to judge each other’s contest entries. This year, the MPA worked with the Tennessee Press Association.
The conference included sessions on the MPA’s legislative work, AI in the newsroom, the Maine Community News Hub and a coffee chat which paired students with working journalists.
The annual auction, which featured items from across the state, will provide scholarships to journalism students. Last year the MPA presented three $2,500 scholarships.
Longtime journalists Mike Lowe, Tux Turkel and the late Andy Molloy were inducted into the MPA Hall of Fame.
For more information, visit www.mainepressassociation.org.
