Times News Composing Room foreman David Helmer was honored by the Pennsylvania Press Club, having been named the winner of three first place awards statewide in the newspaper layout category.

Helmer’s winning features included a double page spread on the Last of the Panther Valley Deep Coal Miners, a reverse print page on Facing Death and a page of stories about Today’s Fathers.

Judges commended Helmer for his “excellent use of graphics to call readers’ attention to a story.”

A 1972 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, Helmer has been employed by the newspaper for the last 14 years.