The Sentinel-Tribune’s Raul Ascunce has placed third in the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors best columnist competition.

Results were announced Sunday at the awards banquet in Columbus.

“These columns are so much fun. Some good information in each one, along with a heaping helping of humor,” wrote the judges.

Ascunce first contributed his Relatively Speaking column in December 1990, when then Editor David C. Miller agreed to a trial run.

Ascunce said his goal in writing a humor column is to provide something positive for people to read.

“Be it family situations, travel experiences, everyday mundane stuff, I am inspired to turn it into something funny people can relate to. Humor truly is the best medicine,” he said.

This year’s Associated Press award is his ninth in the category of best columnist. He said it got filed in a box with the other awards.

“They are just paper. My joy comes from comments I hear from my community. I sincerely appreciate their support,” he said.

This year, five divisions competed in more than 25 categories. The Sentinel-Tribune is in Division I for newspapers with circulation below 7,999. There are 41 newspapers in this division.

The competition honors the best print and broadcast journalism throughout the state. The contest featured news and sports stories, features, editorials, columns, graphics and photos from 2023.