Thursday, May 31, 2012
New blog replaces this one
I've moved over to a new blog spot called "reWrite" See you on the other side.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Free Press goes multimedia
It’s no secret that newsrooms around the country are seeing tectonic shifts in how they deliver the news and how it is consumed. When I first started in this business, we were still setting type with hot lead and reporters used typewriters.
The press ran one time and readers had a summary of everything happening in one edition.
Today, with our online news site, we have multiple deadlines bringing you locally breaking news as soon as we can. When the recent snowstorms hit, we presented you with the latest traffic news, forecasts, photos of the storm and warnings. And we kept at it all day. No waiting until the next morning.
We’ve also added the E-Edition, which provides subscribers not only with an archive of all the stories we’ve published in the last 30 days, but email alerts when topics of interest are published.
Now, as people change the way they get their information, we have responded again. Starting today, smart phone users can see the latest news and sports on our new mobile Web site. No need for a special URL; just use www.mankatofreepress.com and it will redirect to the mobile standard.
We’ve found that Android is strong in this area, not surprising given the presence of Verizon. But we have found people with iPads are finding their way to our site. Well, those people who are also subscribers can retrieve the E-Edition replica of the print edition from our mobile site too. The link is found at the bottom of the page.
We soon will have free apps available for your iPhone, Droid, Blackberry and the iPad.
The Free Press has come a long way since those hot metal days. We need to respond faster to differing ways people enjoy getting their information. Our website is the leader in online traffic for regional news in the Valley. Our two magazines — The Mankato Magazine and the MN Valley Business Magazine — continue to gain popularity and appreciation. And our agricultural publication, The Land, continues to deliver its special appeal to our Minnesota and Iowa communities.
But the digital arena is where we continue to push the boundaries — establishing social media networks with Facebook and Twitter. We also are in a partnership to bring you events on www.greatermankatoevents.com And recently we unveiled a new service called VisitMankato.com for your shopping needs. We have so many various offerings we had to change our name to The Free Press Media. We do this so we can remain the largest and best media source for news, information and advertising in the region.
Our mobile site, just like our website, will be supported by advertisers, as is our print edition. As we deliver news to you, we grow and our advertisers receive the best place to bring their message to you.
As we continue to point out in our print advertisements, we urge you to support these advertisers.
Newspapers cannot exist on subscriptions or newsstand charges alone.
Our award-winning news team is transforming and working harder to bring you the news faster and in various options — including photos and video. And now straight to your smart phone.
We are committed to remaining the best source for news, information and advertising. That means we will continue to address the various ways you want to find those sources. We thank you for continuing to support The Free Press and watch for more changes that are bound to come.
The press ran one time and readers had a summary of everything happening in one edition.
Today, with our online news site, we have multiple deadlines bringing you locally breaking news as soon as we can. When the recent snowstorms hit, we presented you with the latest traffic news, forecasts, photos of the storm and warnings. And we kept at it all day. No waiting until the next morning.
We’ve also added the E-Edition, which provides subscribers not only with an archive of all the stories we’ve published in the last 30 days, but email alerts when topics of interest are published.
Now, as people change the way they get their information, we have responded again. Starting today, smart phone users can see the latest news and sports on our new mobile Web site. No need for a special URL; just use www.mankatofreepress.com and it will redirect to the mobile standard.
We’ve found that Android is strong in this area, not surprising given the presence of Verizon. But we have found people with iPads are finding their way to our site. Well, those people who are also subscribers can retrieve the E-Edition replica of the print edition from our mobile site too. The link is found at the bottom of the page.
We soon will have free apps available for your iPhone, Droid, Blackberry and the iPad.
The Free Press has come a long way since those hot metal days. We need to respond faster to differing ways people enjoy getting their information. Our website is the leader in online traffic for regional news in the Valley. Our two magazines — The Mankato Magazine and the MN Valley Business Magazine — continue to gain popularity and appreciation. And our agricultural publication, The Land, continues to deliver its special appeal to our Minnesota and Iowa communities.
But the digital arena is where we continue to push the boundaries — establishing social media networks with Facebook and Twitter. We also are in a partnership to bring you events on www.greatermankatoevents.com And recently we unveiled a new service called VisitMankato.com for your shopping needs. We have so many various offerings we had to change our name to The Free Press Media. We do this so we can remain the largest and best media source for news, information and advertising in the region.
Our mobile site, just like our website, will be supported by advertisers, as is our print edition. As we deliver news to you, we grow and our advertisers receive the best place to bring their message to you.
As we continue to point out in our print advertisements, we urge you to support these advertisers.
Newspapers cannot exist on subscriptions or newsstand charges alone.
Our award-winning news team is transforming and working harder to bring you the news faster and in various options — including photos and video. And now straight to your smart phone.
We are committed to remaining the best source for news, information and advertising. That means we will continue to address the various ways you want to find those sources. We thank you for continuing to support The Free Press and watch for more changes that are bound to come.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
North Mankato displays its changes
On Monday night, Mayor Gary Zellmer held his annual tour to show several areas of recent construction and "other sites of interest" to a bus load of community businesspeople, civic leaders and the curious.
He had a lot to show off.
There were 36 areas in the 11/2-hour tour some of the highlights of which I'd like to touch on:
View Mayor's tour in a larger map
A. Gold Cross Ambulance will be siting at the #2 Fire Station on Howard & Lor Ray cutting down the response time for upper North Mankato.
B. Energy efficient lights will be replaced at Caswell Park and the old ones donated to Loyola.
C. Capstone, corner of Howard & Lookout Drive, is adding 24,000 sq ft to its present 45,000 sq ft facility
D. New construction underway on Howard Drive West (expansion of the industrial park area) includes Timpte Inc with five acres for sales & service, and Minnesota Truck & Tractor, both for sales and service.
E. They are butting up against the future expansion of the Highway 14 intersection and extension of County 41 that will cover over 14 and link north with County 6 (Timms Road)
F. The new Beans Plus Daycare on Carlson Drive & Rolling Green Lane has a capacity of 197 children and it is hoped will serve the growing industrial base on that side of town.
G. Mike Drummer has two subdivisions being constructed on Timms Road and Rolling Green Lane. On the Rolling Green side, is Cottages at Benson which butts up against Benson Park. It will have 40 single townhomes and three will be constructed first.
H. Across Timms on the same corner will be Parks Edge Subdivision. These 70 acres will have 173 "tight" lots (meaning no variances) and construction will feature the first 21 lots.
I. Benson Park will be undergoing extensive work to bring its 70 acres to a natural park and play setting. The city commissioned Hoisington Koegler Group to draft a five-year plan. The first step will be some underground piping and infrastructure work. Also, Mike Drummer has donated 25 "good-sized" oak trees for the savannah of this project.
J. The 40-acre site of the future elementary school on Carlson Drive and Lor Ray Drive will include eight soccer fields. These will complement the four soccer fields on the north end of Dakota Meadows Middle School and will be tournament quality.
K. That new construction underway at Commerce is the new Commerce Drive Dental Clinic. Still to come to the west of that is a 3-acre site for Mankato Mortuary.
L. The Thompson Fishing Pier was detailed in a recent Free Press article here.
M. The Taylor Library expansion project is adding about 60% more space including a basement for seasonal storage. They hope to complete it by the end of the year.
N. A loan program whereby up to 2-for-1 grants are available for local businesses have helped improve the Bonito Guadalajara Mexican restaurant and Circle Inn on Belgrade Avenue. There is hope that other businesses will take advantage in an effort to revitalize the 200 block.
O. The west side of Lee Boulevard Hill will feature a bike path to relieve some of the high-speed conflicts with walkers on the east side sidewalk.
He had a lot to show off.
There were 36 areas in the 11/2-hour tour some of the highlights of which I'd like to touch on:
View Mayor's tour in a larger map
A. Gold Cross Ambulance will be siting at the #2 Fire Station on Howard & Lor Ray cutting down the response time for upper North Mankato.
B. Energy efficient lights will be replaced at Caswell Park and the old ones donated to Loyola.
C. Capstone, corner of Howard & Lookout Drive, is adding 24,000 sq ft to its present 45,000 sq ft facility
D. New construction underway on Howard Drive West (expansion of the industrial park area) includes Timpte Inc with five acres for sales & service, and Minnesota Truck & Tractor, both for sales and service.
E. They are butting up against the future expansion of the Highway 14 intersection and extension of County 41 that will cover over 14 and link north with County 6 (Timms Road)
F. The new Beans Plus Daycare on Carlson Drive & Rolling Green Lane has a capacity of 197 children and it is hoped will serve the growing industrial base on that side of town.
G. Mike Drummer has two subdivisions being constructed on Timms Road and Rolling Green Lane. On the Rolling Green side, is Cottages at Benson which butts up against Benson Park. It will have 40 single townhomes and three will be constructed first.
H. Across Timms on the same corner will be Parks Edge Subdivision. These 70 acres will have 173 "tight" lots (meaning no variances) and construction will feature the first 21 lots.
I. Benson Park will be undergoing extensive work to bring its 70 acres to a natural park and play setting. The city commissioned Hoisington Koegler Group to draft a five-year plan. The first step will be some underground piping and infrastructure work. Also, Mike Drummer has donated 25 "good-sized" oak trees for the savannah of this project.
J. The 40-acre site of the future elementary school on Carlson Drive and Lor Ray Drive will include eight soccer fields. These will complement the four soccer fields on the north end of Dakota Meadows Middle School and will be tournament quality.
K. That new construction underway at Commerce is the new Commerce Drive Dental Clinic. Still to come to the west of that is a 3-acre site for Mankato Mortuary.
L. The Thompson Fishing Pier was detailed in a recent Free Press article here.
M. The Taylor Library expansion project is adding about 60% more space including a basement for seasonal storage. They hope to complete it by the end of the year.
N. A loan program whereby up to 2-for-1 grants are available for local businesses have helped improve the Bonito Guadalajara Mexican restaurant and Circle Inn on Belgrade Avenue. There is hope that other businesses will take advantage in an effort to revitalize the 200 block.
O. The west side of Lee Boulevard Hill will feature a bike path to relieve some of the high-speed conflicts with walkers on the east side sidewalk.
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