NEWSPAPER WELCOMES THE REGION SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

Good morning, Southeast Missouri.

Today ushers in a new era for the Southeast Missourian newspaper. It marks the start of our new Saturday newspaper.

The newspaper began in 1904 publishing six days a week. It wasn't until 1974 that we offered a seven-day a week publication. The Missourian added a Sunday edition on May 5 of that year. But on March 27, 1976, we went back to a six-day-a-week publication, dropping the Saturday edition.

It wasn't until last fall that the newspaper experimented with seven days again. We offered the Saturday paper for five weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The response was overwhelming, and the questions keep popping up: When will it return?

We've been wanting to expand to seven days for some time. Our news department has been frustrated that Friday news has had to wait two days for publication. No longer. Scores and news will be fresher.

Our Saturday edition will focus on Friday night sports. It will also offer a brand new Health page and a Finance page, complete with an expanded stock listing.

These recent weeks have been filled with changes at the Southeast Missourian. We've listened to reader input and have tried to make changes to suit your needs. We've also listened to your call for a Saturday newspaper. Now, the Southeast Missourian newspaper will say "Good Morning" seven days a week.