Today's mail brought a welcome surprise — two national awards from the annual APEX Awards for Publication Excellence.

WordSouth earned an Award of Excellence in the News Writing category for a story entitled "The Cost of Power is Rising." The article was written for WordSouth client Wiregrass Electric Cooperative, of Hartford, Ala., and appeared in their March 2009 issue of Alabama Living magazine. WordSouth founder and president Stephen V. Smith wrote the article.

The second Award of Excellence came in the Design & Layout category. The winning entry was a direct mail piece entitled "We're Moving In," designed for WordSouth client Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative, of Rainsville, Ala. It was created by WordSouth graphic designer Michele Smith.

"Our focus in on helping our clients communicate clearly and effectively with their customers," said Stephen V. Smith. "But it's nice to win awards like these, because it acknowledges the hard work of our staff and the outstanding clients we serve."