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As you have already noticed, The Winona Times and The Conservative are sporting new looks this week, and our staff is very excited about the change.

Like many other newspapers across the globe, we have gone to the Berliner format. Our reasons for the change are simple: our readers and our advertisers.

The Berliner format is more convenient for the reader. It is easier to handle, turn pages, and fold. Less bulky than our previous format, the Berliner allows readers to comfortably read the news without all the lifting and bending.

However, don't let the size fool you. Each edition will contain the same ratio of news articles, and your favorite features will remain. With the shorter length, more pages will be added to ensure all the community news you look forward to reading is there each and every week.

Readers will also notice an improvement in the print quality with the Berliner. Photos and advertisements will be of the best quality possible.

On an advertising front, ads now have a more prominent presence on the page with minimal stacking of advertisements on top of each other.

In addition to the newspaper's new look, our website, found at www.winonatimes.com and www.carrollconservative.com, is getting a makeover as well.

Get up-to-date with breaking news stories, sports, opinion, and community happenings by visiting us online. Readers can also place classified advertisements and renew subscriptions with the push of a button. Submitting a wedding announcement, birth announcement, or community news is a snap as well using the website.

With new and modern features, the website has something for everyone. An interactive feature will allow readers to establish "home pages" to publish blogs, photographs, and happenings. This is ideal for civic groups, sports teams, and local businesses where a web presence is not feasible.

Also, members of the community can chime in on popular discussions around town with our new forum feature - all the talk, in one central location.

A community calendar of events is also available to help keep you abreast of all the happenings in the Crossroads.

I hope you enjoy our new format - in print and on the web. We look forward to giving you the same great news in a better, improved format.

Amanda Sexton is the editor and publisher of The Winona Times and The Conservative newspapers. She can be reached by email at publisher@winonatimes.com.