RICHMOND, Va. – It was a big day for WBTM and WAKG as the stations received 12 plaques at the Virginias’ Associated Press Broadcasters awards ceremony.

WBTM/WAKG News Director Jack Garrett captured the AP’s Robert Gallimore Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service in the Public Interest.

Named after the AP Chief of Bureau in Richmond between 1967 and 1985, the award honors a Virginia broadcaster for outstanding service in the public interest; a broadcaster who exemplifies a commitment to journalism and reflects honorably on the news profession.

Jack Garrett has been on the front lines of news coverage in Southside Virginia for 41 years. He started his career in 1979 as a reporter for WDVA 1250 AM and moved to WBTM/WAKG in 1981. He worked as the afternoon news anchor and news director before joining WSET-TV 13 as Southside Bureau Chief in 1997. Garrett returned to WBTM in 2000 and has earned numerous AP and VAB awards over the past 20 years, including Best News Anchor, Best Reporter and Best Newscast. WBTM was named Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias in 2019.

WAKG’s Jon Talbott also received a first place award for the Best Station Promo, “You Can Have It All;” with another first place honor going to Talbott, Ginyah Woodson and Josh Lineberry in the Best News Promo category.

The WBTM Sports Department received two AP awards. Austin Bunn, Brandon Burnette and Josh Lineberry received first place honors for Outstanding Sports Operation of the Virginias for the second year in a row; and Austin Bunn won a first place award for Best Sports Play-by-Play for “GW Eagle Football.”

The WBTM/WAKG News Department received seven additional Associated Press awards:

Best Continuing News –1st Place

Best Light Feature – 1st Place

Outstanding News Operation of the Virginias – 2nd Place

Best Newscast – 2nd Place

Best Spot News – 2nd Place

Best Serious Feature – 2nd Place

Best Reporter honors for Josh Lineberry – 2nd Place