BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The Dothan Eagle won the news cooperation award and Kelly Kazek, managing editor of The News Courier in Athens, was named president of the Alabama Associated Press Managing Editors Association at the state newspaper group’s meeting Saturday.

The Dothan Eagle won the Ron Autry Award, named in memory of the late AP chief of bureau in Atlanta, for its consistent efforts to provide member AP newspapers with stories and photos of news events with state and national interest, including the south Alabama shooting spree in which 10 people were killed in 2009.

Kazek will serve as president for the next year. Other new officers are Bob Davis, editor of The Anniston Star, president-elect; Curtis Coghlan, managing editor of The Huntsville Times, treasurer; and board members Michele Gerlach, publisher and editor of The Star News in Andalusia; J.D. Davidson, publisher and editor of The Times-Journal in Fort Payne; Wanda Lloyd, executive editor of the Montgomery Advertiser; Virginia Martin, state editor of The Birmingham News; Mike Goens, managing editor of the TimesDaily in Florence; and Bruce McLellan, managing editor of The Decatur Daily.

Winners of awards in the Alabama APME contest were announced earlier this year.