Staff members of the three Columbiana County newspapers are finalists in the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Contest.

The awards were based on circulation classes and the actual order of finish in each division — first, second and third places — will be announced May 4 during the annual Ohio APME annual awards banquet in Columbus.

Recognized from the Morning Journal are staff writer Katie White, Best Enterprise Reporting, coverage of the Columbiana basketball controversy; staff photographer Patti Schaeffer, nominated twice in Best News Photo for fire coverage in Lisbon and East Liverpool; and, sports editor Ron Firth, assistant sports editor Michael Burich and sports staffer Chris Rambo, best daily sports section.

The sports staff members also teamed for a nod for Best Special Sports Section for the East Liverpool Review football preview edition.

Salem News staff reporter Mary Ann Greier is nominated for her coverage of the ICE raid of the Fresh Mark Salem plant.

J.D. Creer, executive editor of the Salem News, Morning Journal and East Liverpool, is nominated as Best Editorial Writer for multiple opinions. Among those were columns on the Urban Meyer controversy, on downtown Salem of yore, and on the revelry surrounding the Super Bowl.

The three county newspapers are members of the Ogden Newspapers Group.