The Shelby County Reporter released its newly re-designed and expanded website today, hoping the fresh look will provide its readers with easier access to all the content included in the paper’s weekly publication.

&8220;Our website is, in many ways, simply another method for communicating news and information to our community,&8221; Reporter publisher Tim Prince said.

&8220;Re-designing the newspaper’s website was done with the sole purpose of making that communication easier and more compelling for those that visit the site; we expect visitors will feel we have accomplished just that.&8221;

The updated website includes a number of state-of-the-art features, setting the Reporter’s web presence apart from other Alabama newspaper websites.

Some of these new features include expanded online coverage that will allow every article published in the print edition to be seen online. Obituaries, law enforcement incident reports and all public records such as city council minutes and restaurant ratings are now available to the public online.

Readers have access to weather reports, community calendars and all classified advertisements published in the paper.

In addition to the added content, readers are able to access the entire paper each week in a PDF format.

The site offers regularly updated photo galleries covering local events such as parades, community get-togethers and high school football games.

Visitors to the site will have the chance to post their opinions and comments in response to news articles and opinions editorials published in the paper.

The site also offers a sports ticker that will provide up-to-the-minute scores, statistics and top performers immediately following sporting events from across Shelby County.

&8220;Combining the news gathering elements of a newspaper with the immediacy of Internet updates gives visitors to the site an easier method for finding what they want, when they want it,&8221; Prince said.

The website also provides Shelby County Reporter readers with forms to submit social announcements as well as an order form for photos found in both the print and online editions of the paper.

Readers looking to find out where they can purchase the Shelby County Reporter can access a comprehensive list of all distribution locations and find out information about deadlines and requirements for submitting news to the paper.

For comments or concerns regarding the new Shelby County Reporter website, send an e-mail to mailto:webmaster@shelbycountyreporter.com