If you haven't been to www.jordannews.com, you might be the only one on your block.

More than 12,000 unique visitors a month head to the Web site for your local newspaper, according to the latest numbers tallied by the Jordan Independent's newspaper group, Shakopee-based Southwest Newspapers. Even the newspaper staff is impressed by that number, which represents real people who care about Jordan and want news or conversation about the town.

One year and three months ago, Southwest Newspapers' Web designer Steve Delmont went public with a redesigned Web site.

The JI and six other newspapers, generally following both sides of the Minnesota River between Jordan and Eden Prairie, changed their philosophies from being companies that deal solely in newspapers to being companies that sell information. That information comes through more than one avenue, and although the newspapers are as vital as ever, the Internet is increasingly important to the field of journalism.

In addition to the JI, a staple since the 1850s and in years to come, Southwest Newspapers prides itself in producing the Southwest Saturday shopper, www.jordannews.com, and many more Web sites.

The Web site for your local newspaper is an entirely different information source from the others produced by Southwest Newspapers. Its content often consists of: breaking news; timely updates of the news appearing in the JI; local opinions about regional, state, national, or international issues; blogs by residents and workers of Jordan; entertaining talk among residents; the most timely funeral notices available; and more.

Listening to your feedback about the Web site has been helpful during the past 1-1/4 years. Delmont has dilligently kept notes of what needed to be improved, and a newly redesigned Web site launched early this week.

In responding to your comments, the Web site has added:

- online recipes sharing;

- more online photographs;

- e-mail editions by which the newspaper sends news directly to you;

- easier-to-use tools to navigate the Web site;

- easy-to-find forms to send in news tips, press releases, events, announcements, and letters to the editor;

- expanded Web pages that ask you personal questions you might want to share with other users of the site;

- maps by which you can locate news occurring in your neighborhood;

- polls that ask you to rank answers in order of best to worst;

- and up-to-date weather coverage.

The Web site for your local newspaper has stimulated a lot of serious and not-so-serious discussion on all kinds of topics. It's brought you both informative breaking news and knee-slapping blog posts.

You could help improve the Web site by:

- submitting your events to the online calendar;

- writing your own blog;

- starting an online group focused on a topic about which you want to blog;

- opening up forum about subjects on which you are opinionated;

- posting a recipe online;

- or sending more feedback on how you use the Web site.

The Web site for your local newspaper has been largely a success, thanks to you. It's fascinating to see how involved can be the people who care about Jordan.

Keep talking.