To our readers:

A little over three years ago, in the fall of 1996, my computer guru son, working from a spare bedroom at my home, uploaded the first edition of The Citizen Online — the very first of what was to become, with some fits and restarts, our continuing electronic edition of your local newspaper.

It didn't look like much, but it was ground zero for our entry into what is unmistakably a large part of the future of publishing.

Now, fast-forward to a new year with three zeroes, and here is a headline I write with pleasure:

“New for 2000 — Fayette County's first online daily newspaper, The Daily Citizen Online!”

Now you may visit our website, the citizennews.com, each morning and find a quick-read summary of the latest local news in Fayette and Coweta counties, including local sports, accessible at your convenience.

Last night's big zoning hearing — it'll be there, online. Previews of upcoming meetings. Sports. School news. Community events. Yours at a glance on Fayette County's pace-setting local news and information site — the citizennews.com.

And we invite you to play a big role in informing our citizenry of news they need to know. There's a click-through button on our online front page for you to submit news, sports, church items, calendar events, letters to the editor and feedback to our staff. Please consider that click-through your always-open door into your local newspaper, available to you, day or night, seven days a week.

Additionally, you will note that part of our staff bylines has changed — from “Staff Writer” to the e-mail address of the reporter or writer of the article. Feel free to contact all Citizen staff members via their e-mail addresses. We invite your comments — and your criticisms — of our printed edition and our new daily online edition. We are here to serve you. Thank you for reading Fayette's only locally owned newspaper and for browsing our new — and Fayette's only — online daily publication.

CAL BEVERLY
publisher@thecitizennews.com