From staff reports

The Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library has announced the winners of its 2008 Creative Writing Awards contest.

The students were honored at a banquet Tuesday night. The ceremony was part of activities planned to celebrate National Library Week.

About 250 students participated this year, “more than last year, which is good,” said assistant library director Jennifer Smith.

The entries were screened by a panel of six judges — teachers, retired teachers and community members — and 26 first, second and honorable mention winners were named.

“We really are inspired by the creativity of our students,” Smith said. “They have a lot to say about what’s going on in the world today.”

First- and second-place winners will be given a cash prize. Certificates will also be given, and a booklet of the winning entries is being compiled, Smith said. A few will be available to the public at the library.

The winnersCategory I (fifth-and sixth-grade prose)First — Picture Perfect Crime Busters by Allen Dulaney, sixth grade, homeschoolSecond — Showdown at Core Rock Hill by Chase Chouccoli, sixth grade, Vicksburg IntermediateHonorable Mention — Hadie and the Thieves by Quinshayla Jones, sixth grade, Vicksburg IntermediateCategory II (seventh-ninth-grade prose)First — Stage Fright by Mary Heath, eighth grade, Warren Central Junior HighSecond — Life by Cortni Cooper, ninth grade, Vicksburg HighHonorable Mention — Second Chance by Keaton Jones, ninth grade, Vicksburg High; I Am… by Gabrielle Cheeks, ninth grade, Vicksburg High; I Am a Crayon in Kindergarten by Samantha Ables, seventh grade, Vicksburg Montessori ChristianCategory III (10th-12th-grade prose)First — The Best Filling Station in the World by Christine Breazeale, 11th grade, Vicksburg HighSecond — Lost by Alicia Rodriquez, 11th grade, Vicksburg HighHonorable Mention — On Abortion by Donald Brown, 10th grade, Vicksburg HighCategory IV (fifth-and sixth-grade poetry)First — “What Am I?” by Robbie “Trey” Love, fifth grade, Warrenton ElementarySecond — “My Best Friend” by Courtney Whitehead, fifth grade, Warrenton ElementaryHonorable Mention — “The Book” by Nicole Price, sixth grade, Vicksburg Montessori Christian; “Best Friend” by Sam Andrews, sixth grade, St. Francis Xavier; “The Beach” by Grace Franco, sixth grade, St. Francis Xavier Category V (seventh-ninth-grade poetry)First — “The Leech” by Hunter Lynch, ninth grade, Vicksburg HighSecond — “I Am Powerful!” by Stephanie Pendleton, ninth grade, Vicksburg HighHonorable Mention — “Katrina” by Tabitha Hayden, seventh grade, Vicksburg Junior High; “Our American Soldiers” by Sheambree James, ninth grade, Vicksburg High; “Peter’s Anguish” by Jessica Dulaney, seventh grade, homeschool; “Lovrs” by Kristy Williams, ninth grade, Vicksburg High; “All I Need” by Zac Johnson, ninth grade, Vicksburg HighCategory VI (10th-12th-grade poetry)First — “My Book” by Mahran Saleh, 10th grade, Vicksburg HighSecond — “Warped and Twisted” by Sarah Smith, 10th grade, Vicksburg HighHonorable Mention — “Number 8” by Katie Davis, 12th grade, Warren Central High