(Editor's note: Thank you for your patience as we work on the launch of our new web site.)

by Richard Ward, Executive Publisher

A year ago in our annual Progress Edition, I penned a column titled “Newspapers Foresee Year of Growth.”  I’m proud to say I was right, and at age 65, it’s comforting to still be right once in a while.

You are holding in your hands the proof of our optimism and confidence in the economic future of Wyandotte County. This dynamic part of the Greater Kansas City metro continues to grow and we’re proud to be a part of that success.

We’re increasing our news coverage by adding daily news online. We’ll have more timely news and photos, but our print edition will continue to be weekly, just as it’s been since Murrel and Carol Bland founded the newspaper over 40 years ago.

We needed a new name that reflects our growth. And so, with this issue, the Wyandotte West becomes WyandotteDailyNews.com.

You may also notice that we have enlarged our print format, added more color and moved from a magazine-style layout to a more traditional tabloid newspaper look and feel.
2009 has been one of dynamic change for our company in more than appearance. In January, we began management of the Wyandotte West, Piper Press and KC Ease and on June 1 acquired them from Kansas Colloquies Inc.

Later in the year, we expanded the West’s coverage by combining it with the Piper Press. We concurrently launched WyCoCHAMPS!, a new newspaper designed to celebrate the achievements of Wyandotte County youth.  Mike Fitzgerald, a veteran sports editor for the Kansas City Star, was named managing editor and the publication publishes its 22nd issue this week.

We’ve had other editorial successes in 2009, highlighted by Mary Rupert’s gold award by the KC Press Club for her investigative story about lobbying by casinos.
Elsewhere in this issue, you will meet our newest employee, Marcy Manion, former managing director of The Dot.

As Wyandotte County continues to progress, we’re planning our growth for 2010.  A new newspaper, the Wyandotte Shopper, will be available free county-wide within a few weeks.

One thing we’ve changed that Wyandotte County businesses have started to notice: we’ve stopped selling advertising! OK, that’s probably a bit misleading. What we have done is begin a program of offering Business Solutions focused on only two objectives: helping retain and grow existing customers and how to attract new ones.

Our approach includes finding the best mix of print, online, e-mail, mobile, coupons, text, social media, newsletters and other custom programs. We know that businesses don’t want to buy ads---they just want the results of ads and promotions. That’s our 2010 objective too!

You’ll also be introduced to several new Web sites, with new features and lots of improved functions.

We will also expand our search for community correspondents across the county.  If you’d like to become a certified community correspondent and receive a scholarship to our training classes, we want to hear from you.

Our primary mission is to keep our readers informed about the important news and events that affect their lives. We pride ourselves on timely and accurate reporting. Wyandotte County continues to be a dynamic and growing place to live and work. We believe there are new opportunities in the local marketplace, even while the nation deals with a struggling economy.

We pledge to help bring consumers and businesses together for their mutual benefit and to continue to be community boosters. We’re your voice and we welcome your comments, ideas and your criticisms.

We’re proud of the progress we’ve made together and invite you to join us in our continuing adventure. Thank you for your continued support!