YAKIMA, Wash. — The Yakima Herald-Republic took eight awards in the 2008 Society of Professional Journalists Northwest Excellence in Journalism contest.

Four of them were for first place.

The paper participates in the annual contest in the 25,000-65,000 circulation division, judged by SPJ chapters In Minnesota, Utah, California and Mississippi.

Reporter Leah Beth Ward took first place for investigative reporting for "Hidden Wells, Dirty Water," a series that exposed a long-running problem with nitrate pollution in unregulated private wells in the Lower Valley.

The package led to an effort by local, state, federal and tribal agencies to address the problem.

Reporter Adriana Janovich took first in the short feature category for "Happily, It's Over," her coverage of Wapato's Miss America pageant contestant, Elyse Umemoto.

Janovich also took second place in the lifestyles division for "Soul Food," a story about the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church monthly potluck.

Reporter Mai Hoang took first place in the business column category for her column "Shop Talk."

Sportswriter Scott Sandsberry took first in the sports feature category for "Hoosiers '08," a piece about a small school varsity basketball team.

Reporter Chris Bristol won two second-place awards. He shared the honor with reporter Phil Ferolito for "Joe Morrier's Ramp" in the government division. "Sealed Records" earned Bristol a second place in the watchdog category.

Copy editor Bill Epperheimer was given an honorable mention for news page design.