PHASE ONE OF REDESIGN UNVEILED

How would you like to be able to quickly check what entertainment events are taking place in the area? Movie times and movie reviews? The full TV schedule?

You can at semissourian. com's new Arts & Entertainment site.

This week we are unveiling phase one of a redesign of the entertainment area of semissourian.com. Changes include a more colorful design, daily calendar of entertainment events, quick link to your full TV schedule, restaurant reviews, feature stories on local cultural events, a guide to area nightlife, a quick guide to the online community calendar and several new forums.

Among the forums are an area where you are invited to write your own movie review. Or read the movie and video reviews of other semissourian.com users. You can do the same with book and music reviews.

The site was created by JoAnne Boettcher, Angie Stanfield and James Baughn, who all work with semissourian. com. And they are eager to hear feedback from users. Already, some movie reviews have been received.

Meanwhile, in the near future, the A&E site will begin a new trivia game with prizes for those who participate. My suggestion is to keep checking the site to follow the progress of this exciting new area of semissourian.com.

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A good Internet site should never stop experimenting and improving. At semissourian. com, we try to unveil a new feature each week.

One of the best indicators that these changes are well-received is that we continue to see an explosion of traffic on the site. Page views continue to be up by more than 300 percent each month compared to last year.

Another way we know our changes have an impact is that more and more advertisers are signing contracts to appear throughout semissourian.com. Simply, more merchants are learning that Internet users represent an important market for them. And no local Internet site compares with semissourian.com. Among the site's new advertisers is Tri-State Swimming Pools Inc. If you visit semissourian.com and click on the Tri-State ad, it will take you to an informative site where you can learn about Tri-State's swimming pool and billiards products.

Another way we chart the site's progress is through direct feedback. I receive several e-mails a day with comments about semissourian. com. We also receive comments on the site's guestbook. Here are a few recent comments. For a more complete list, visit the site:

"When I heard police officers were shot, I knew where to look for details. Thanks. My prayers go to Keith May and Brad Moore and their families, friends and fellow officers." -- Nancy Pew, Kirkwood, Mo.

"Very nice site and a great community service. Thank you, Southeast Missourian!" -- Scott Stephens, Cape Girardeau

"Very well arranged site." -- Ann Futral, Panama City, Fla.

"I have been reading the paper, mostly online, for a year now and am impressed with the professional and personal touches, especially your caring coverage of local issues. I think your calendar site is awesome. Our daughter has found her home at SEMO, and we promote Cape and the region whenever possible! It is neat to see the changes around town each time we visit and we are impressed with the economic growth." -- Kay McCullough, Casper, Wyo.

"I really like how this page is set up!" -- Meg Alberternst, Cape Girardeau

"It's great to read about what's going on at home. Keep up the good work." -- Gerald Pickering, Yokusuka, Japan

"I grew up in Cairo, Ill. It sure is refreshing to read news from the homeland. I tried also to find the Cairo Evening Citizen newspaper online but had no luck. Thank you for being there when someone wants to know what's going on back home. Truly yours." -- Steven Harp, Sedro Woolley, Wash.

"I enjoy keeping up with all of the news from Southeast Missouri. You do a great job. Thanks." -- Jim Thornsberry, Sullivan, Mo.

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In other Web site news, the semissourian.com sports poll resulted in a record number of responses last week. More than 980 votes were registered in the question: "Who is the best high school basketball player in the region?" Check out the site to see who won.

Among the questions this week is "What best sums up your thoughts about the XFL?"

Jon K. Rust is director of the semissourian.com MediaLab and vice president of Rust Communications. He can be e-mailed at jrust@semissourian.com.