Staff members of PineStraw magazine were hard at work on their newest product when they received the good news by phone.

The Magazine Association of the Southeast presented PineStraw with four 2010 GAMMA awards during its 22nd Annual MAGS conference in Atlanta.

"We were working on the new magazine (O.Henry) when the awards ceremony happened," said Jim Dodson, editor of both publications. "We just forgot about the date."

The GAMMA awards are judged by professionals from across the U.S. The awards ceremony was held May 5.

PineStraw is a free monthly publication that celebrates the art and soul of the Sand-hills. It received a silver award for Best Essay, a bronze for Best Single Issue (published three times a year) and two honorable mentions.

"This is an affirmation that our peers recognize how different our magazine is from all the city and regional magazines out there," Dodson said. "Our competition is some of the nicest and best magazines in the nation, and this is a wonderful statement about how good life in the Sandhills is."

David Woronoff, publisher of The Pilot and PineStraw, said he was overwhelmed by the community support for PineStraw

"That means more to us than awards," he said, "though it's great to be recognized by our peers."

Dodson's essay "Summer's End" in the September 2010 issue earned the Silver Award. The Bronze went to the Home & Garden issue published in the fall of 2010. The piece "Best in Show," published in July 2010, earned honorable mention for Best Series. PineStraw also earned an honorable mention for Best Design for its August 2010 issue.

This is the first year staff has submitted GAMMA entries. The magazine competed in the Consumer/Free (revenues less than $1 million) category.

PineStraw's Creative Director Andie Rose said the awards were a credit to the talented, hard-working staff at PineStraw.

"We have a really good staff," she said. "Kathryn (Galloway) and Ashley (Wahl) and all our other contributors are key to allowing us to do the kind of things we want to do."

PineStraw currently has a distribution of 15,000. The publication will celebrate its sixth anniversary this year. It has grown steadily since its inception, and Dodson believes its growth and success will continue.

"This is a real exciting time for PineStraw magazine," he said. "At a time when most magazines are struggling, we are continuing to thrive, and that I think we will continue to do so."

Contact Tom Embrey at tembrey@thepilot.com.