The Macleod Gazette was named the best newspaper of its size in Alberta for the fourth year in a row.

The Gazette received five other provincial awards and two honourable mentions in the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association’s annual Better Newspaper competition.

The awards were presented Friday during an on-line ceremony.

The Gazette placed first for best overall newspaper in Class A, which includes papers with a circulation under 1,100 copies.

Pincher Creek’s Shootin’ the Breeze placed second, followed by Inuvik Drum.

The Gazette also received a second-place award for Best Editorial Page and third-place awards for Best Front Page and Best Sports Pages in the same category.

Editor Frank McTighe received a first-place award for Education Writing for his story on animated Blackfoot videos created by Grade 9 students at F.P. Walshe school.

McTighe also received a third-place award in the Best Feature Story competition for his piece on former Fort Macleod resident Colin Walmsley’s experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic in France.

A photo of Diane Friesen hugging 25-year-old horse Maddie during a visit to Pioneer Lodge during the pandemic earned McTighe an honourable mention for Best Human Interest Photo.

McTighe also received an honourable mention for Best Feature Column.