The Grant County Beat, one of its freelancers, and its owner and editor took several awards in the latest New Mexico Press Women contest.

Freelance photographer and writer, Shirin McArthur, received two honorable mentions in the highly competitive Photography categories. As photographer-writer, her 2014 CLAY Festival Deconstruction, as published in The Grant County Beat, took an honorable mention. She also received an honorable mention for her photo essay of Central Elementary School Parades against Drugs. In addition, she entered her personal blog, Shirin McArthur: Prayerful Pondering Blog, under her company name Communication Clarified and won third place in that competitive category.

Mary Alice Murphy, owner/editor/reporter/photographer of grantcountybeat.com, took four awards. For the category, the Web site edited or managed by entrant-Corporate or for profit, grantcountybeat.com took third. For the category-editorial/opinion, Murphy received a third place award for How Can AWSA Benefit All of Us?  Murphy also garnered a first place award for Writing for the Web for the About GCB page, as well as a first place for Personality profile - 500 words or fewer: A determined and dedicated 4-Her does not let injury deter her.