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Press-Telegram Best-in-the-West honorees Tim Grobaty, Jeff Gritchen, Scott Smeltzer.

LONG BEACH, Calif. --The Press-Telegram won three awards in a newswriting, photography and multimedia contest that recognizes journalistic excellence in the Western United States.

Two current staffers and one former member of the P-T newsroom staff won first- and second-place awards in the annual Best of the West contest, which recognizes print and online media outlets in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. About 2,000 entries produced in 2008 competed.

Columnist Tim Grobaty took first place in column writing for what the judges called "laugh-out-loud columns full of telling observations and wonderfully expressive language."

Jeff Gritchen's multi-media storytelling followed the triumphant story of little Davik Teng, from Cambodia to Long Beach to successful surgery in Los Angeles and back to her homeland. (Jeff Gritchen / Press-Telegram)

Grobaty won for a body of work that included five columns, including one in which he walked from his Eastside home to the downtown Press-

Telegram building after Long Beach was ranked one of the most "walkable" cities in the country.

"Grobaty displays a sure hand that invites the reader to follow along with his fevered train of thought and he possesses a commendable commitment to sacrificing shoe leather in the service of a good yarn," the judges wrote.

In reference to Grobaty's walk-through-the-city piece, one judge wrote, "He had me at, `Don't go where the hookers go."'

Staff photographer Jeff Gritchen took second place in the category for multimedia storytelling for his visual and electronic work on the series, "Davik's Heart," which followed a young girl who traveled from a poor village in Cambodia to Los Angeles for heart surgery.

"This project offers a compelling portrait of a little girl who is being given a chance at life and her heart-wrenching journey to take it," the judges wrote. "The video component of this project is particularly gripping."

In the news photography category, former P-T photographer Scott Smeltzer won second place for his image of a grief-stricken

Scott Smeltzer captured the pain of Mary Ann Nevel, leaning against the coffin of her son Jonathan Muse, 17, during his funeral services at Forest Lawn Mortuary. Muse was shot by an unknown assailant while riding his bike near the 91 freeway. (Scott Smeltzer / Press-Telegram)

mother leaning against the casket of her 17-year-old son, who was shot to death by unknown assailants.

"The image of a melancholy woman sitting in the grass and leaning against a white, flower-laden coffin at a sunny cemetery captured the moment simply and nicely," the judges wrote. "Clean and simple, with nothing to pull you way from the emotion. Private, yet dignified."

Executive Editor Rich Archbold said the three winners "underscore the Press-Telegram's commitment to covering local news in the greater Long Beach area."

"Tim Grobaty has been entertaining Press-Telegram readers for years with his humor and unique literary style," Archbold said. "It's gratifying to see his talent recognized by his peers.

"Jeff Gritchen and Scott Smeltzer also produced quality journalism in this prestigious competition."

john.canalis@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1273