The Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association has cited a former Coaldale man for excellence in editorial writing.

Robert Urban, editor of the Pottstown Mercury, received the award for an editorial titled “Free to Burn,” which was judged best in the state among newspapers with circulations under 50,000.

The editorial was critical of a judge’s decision to allow a juvenile arsonist to go free despite a previous record of arson incidents in which he was involved.

Urban, 34, formerly was sports editor of The Evening Courier, Tamaqua. He is married to the former Mary Sweeney of Lansford and they have two sons, Michael and Jimmy.