Regular visitors to the Clay County Democrat's website may have noticed a few changes this past week. As of May 1, www.claycountydemocrat.com officially launched on a new, expanded platform. Of course, readers will still be able to stay up-to-date on each week's news and sports information, but take a closer look and you'll find a number of additional features as well.

We know that news doesn't come from a notepad or a keyboard, but from the people who make it happen. To that end, the new site is designed to be more interactive and encourage synergy between our staff and readers. Several new features are intended to be a catalyst to enhance communication within our community. Now you literally can 'join the conversation' by commenting on the stories that matter to you most. Also, readers can keep up with the news as it happens with up-to-the-minute weather, daily email updates, syndicated content feeds (RSS) and Associated Press news and video feeds from around the globe. User searchable archives from as far back as April, 2001 will help keep our history alive. Blogs by area writers will provide local commentary on subjects of interest to Rector and the surrounding community. User submitted stories and pictures, local video and a community calendar are all coming very soon, too, to help make valuable reader input a reality.

Perhaps the most exciting feature will be our new e-edition. Soon, subscribers will be able to read each week's newspaper in its entirety completely online. The e-edition will appear exactly as it does in print, making it more familiar to those accustomed to the easy navigation of the weekly format. Readers from far away will enjoy the added advantage of being able to read the news without waiting for their subscription to arrive in the mail.

The Democrat's goal always has been to supplement the voice of our community by providing the best possible coverage of events from around our region and by providing a forum for our town to communicate. With so much potential, this new website promises to do just that. Be sure to check back often as we add breaking news and daily headline updates, and as we continue to roll out new features and add content. And, by all means, please, join in the conversation.