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The Independent & Free Press captured its second major newspaper award of the year Saturday night when it placed first place in the Ontario Community Newspapers Association general excellence category. The Independent & Free Press, which has a circulation of 21,200, won Class 5 for newspapers with a circulation between 12,500 and 24,999. A total of 18 newspapers were entered in the class. The Northumberland News placed second and Clarington This Week was third at the OCNA's 2005 awards ceremony held at the Toronto Airport Renaissance Hotel. According to the judges, The Independent & Free Press offered "well thought out presentation, good newshole and consistently good layout throughout. Excellent use of colour by both editorial and advertising". The class was judged by an editor of a community paper in Calgary, a journalism professor at Miramichi College in New Brunswick and a community newspaper editor in southwestern Ontario. Earlier this year The Independent & Free Press won a Suburban Newspapers of America award for best special section for its Spring 2005 edition of Sideroads