In a milestone year for both the Illinois Press Association and the Republic-Times, the local newspaper took home five first place awards and several other honors Friday during the IPA’s 150th anniversary awards luncheon in Bloomington.

The Republic-Times, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary as a weekly newspaper covering Monroe County and surrounding areas, won first place plaques for Best Website (www.republictimes.net) and Best Feature Photo on the editorial side and Best Small Ad, Best Marketing Campaign and Best Classified Promotion on the advertising side.

This is the third straight year the Republic-Times has won first place for Best Website at the state level in its division. It is also the fifth straight year that the newspaper has received at least one first place award from the IPA.

“We try our best as a team to put together a respectable news product each and every week, so it is very rewarding to be recognized by the Illinois Press Association for all of our hard work,” Republic-Times editor Corey Saathoff said.

The paper won four first place awards last year, including two first place plaques in advertising. The R-T won first place for Best Sports Section in 2010 and 2011, first place for Best Spot News Photo in 2011, and first place for Best Website in 2012.

Other awards earned at this year’s state luncheon include second place for both Spot News Photo and Business/Economic Reporting; third place for Best Sports Feature, Spot News Photo and Best Single News Story; and honorable mentions for Sports News Story, Business/Economic Reporting and Division B General Excellence on the editorial side.

In the advertising contest, other awards included second place for both Best House Ad and Best Full Page Ad; third place for Best Holiday Ad, Best Classified Section, Best Full Color Ad and Division G General Excellence; and honorable mention for Best Annual Special Section.