Altamont Enterprise editor Melissa Hale-Spencer has won two first-place awards in this year’s National Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest.

Hale-Spencer and The Enterprise won first place in its circulation category (daily or nondaily, 3,000 to 5,999) for Best Editorial. The editorial, called “Preventing harassment can be a matter of life or death,” examined the anguish of a 12-year-old Berne girl who felt like she wanted to kill herself because of bullying she faced. It ran in the Feb. 4, 2016, edition, along with a front-page story.

The other first place was for Best Health Story (daily or nondaily, circulation less than 6,000). The story, called “Anaplasmosis: Little-known tick disease on the rise,” explained the second-most common tick-borne illness in New York. It ran in the Sept. 1, 2016, edition, with an editorial on the topic.

The Enterprise’s coverage of anaplasmosis, which is potentially fatal, and blood transfusions continued in the Oct. 13 edition with two stories and an editorial.

After getting a call from Martha Cieszynski, who had read the Sept. 1 coverage, Hale-Spencer investigated and learned that blood transfusions are not screened for anaplasmosis.

Cieszynski’s husband, Walter, a cancer patient, had fallen ill after a transfusion and was then diagnosed with anaplasmosis. He and his family believed there was a connection.

He died on Nov. 29, 2016, and Hale-Spencer wrote his obituary.

On the harassment editorial, the judges’ comments were: “Very well written editorial addressing a critical issue in our schools. Personalizing the editorial with the young girl's comments gives it a powerful impact. Well researched for facts.”

The judges’ comments on the anaplasmosis story were: “Well written and researched story about a growing health threat to the community. By raising awareness the newspaper is helping prevent future heartache as it informs readers on what to look for.”

The National Newspaper Association said this year’s Better Newspaper Contest for journalism received 1,433 entries across different categories and circulation divisions. This is the first time The Enterprise entered the competition.

The NNA is giving 475 awards to 117 member newspapers in 33 states.

A list of winners is posted at http://www.nnaweb.org/better-newspaper-contest. NNA also announced separate awards in advertising categories.

The NNA, established in 1885, is one of the largest newspaper associations in the country.

Judging was done “primarily by active community newspaper editors and publishers, as well as retired university journalism professors and retired or former newspaper professionals,” according to the NNA.

Winners will be recognized at NNA’s annual convention and trade show in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Oct. 6.