Pocahontas Times editorial and advertising staffs won awards at the annual West Virginia Press Association convention, held this year at Stonewall Resort in Roanoke.

Former Times staff writer Geoff Hamill won a first place for Best Sports Writing for his coverage of the Pocahontas County High School baseball team. Editor Pamela Pritt won a second place award for “Who owns the property rights to our common ground?” in the Best Single Editorial category. Third place for Best Special Section went to The Mountain Times, the quarterly tourism supplement.

In advertising, Sunny Given won first place for Best Theme Pages, Retail, for the annual Holiday Gift Guide. Second place for Best Classified Display Ad went to Kim Totten for Mitchell Chevrolet. Given also won a third place award for Best Process Color Advertisement Under 1/2 Page.

Pritt received a plaque for her service to the WVPA board of directors.

The former director of the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace, David Corcoran, will now lead the Press Association as its president. Corcoran is the publisher of the Glenville Democrat and Pathfinder.