A simple error in math nearly cost The Arlington Times one of the top awards in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest. But once the error had been discovered, it was announced that The Arlington Times had tied for second place with the Ritzville Adams County Journal for the General Excellence Award in circulation group 1.

As part of the Better Newspaper Contest, the state’s non-daily newspapers are divided into four categories based on their circulations and the top newspapers in each category are presented General Excellence Awards. When the awards were announced Oct. 3 in Yakima, The Times was not one of the three papers in circulation group 1 to receive an award.

As part of the General Excellence Award competition, the newspapers are given scores in five areas — design, advertising, thoroughness of local coverage, photographs and graphics, and opinion.

When the judges’ evaluation form for The Times was reviewed on Oct. 6, it was discovered that scores for only four of the areas had been included in the total used to determine placement for the awards. When the score for the fifth area was added in, The Times had tied for second place in category 1 with the Ritzville Adams County Journal. The Times’ sister publication, The Marysville Globe, brought home the first place General Excellence Award in circulation category 1.

The 2008 second-place General Excellence Award continues a history of excellence for The Arlington Times which has received either a first- or second-place General Excellence Award every year since 1998.