Editions prove area Progress is still impressive

This year, the McCook Daily Gazette began a new way of distributing the Progress Edition for Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas. Instead of putting all sections together in one massive edition, the Gazette inserted one section a day throughout the week, starting Monday and concluding today.

There were two reasons for giving the new distribution method a try. First, it allowed the Gazette to print more full color pages, which is increasing in demand among both readers and advertisers. And, second, the section inserts gave readers a more compact product to read on a daily basis.

Based on early reports, the new distribution was a success. "My husband has read every Progress section from cover-to-cover," one lady reported. "He loves the way you are doing it this year."

However, there were also regrets. Previously, it was impressive to place all the Progress sections in one issue, creating a massive size paper which, packed together, illustrated the magnitude of the Progress taking place in the Golden Plains.

As evidence, consider the following Progress Edition statistics for this year's five-day presentation. During the week, the Gazette presented five sections containing a total of 64 pages. Those pages featured 353 pictures and 192 advertisements.

If you add all the pages together and multiply times the number of subscribers, the Gazette printed 384,000 Progress pages with a total weight of close to a quarter of a million pounds.

As you might imagine, a project of this scope took a lot of commitment and cooperation by the staff and by businesses and communities throughout the area.

But it was worth the effort. There are more than 1,500 businesses in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas, who strive daily to meet the needs of the region's 35,000 residents with close-to-home quality, service and integrity. Their efforts to improve are the basis for the annual Progress Edition. As shown by this week's picture-filled Progress pages, they are succeeding in impressive style.