With today’s edition, the Bee-Picayune is taking a fond look back at this community’s past and simultaneously taking a bold step into the future.

In this Oct. 1 issue, our readers will discover the fall & winter 2008 Visitors Guide, which is almost entirely based on the upcoming Bee County Sesquicentennial Celebration.

A historical re-enactment is planned Oct. 16 as part of the county’s 150th anniversary observance, featuring portrayals of many of the county’s most famous historical figures such as Patrick Burke, Mary Hamilton, Thomas Welder and Capt. A.C. Jones.

In addition, the 44-page special section includes historical markers, along with many old photos, as well as upcoming events, performances and celebrations in our four-county region (Bee, Live Oak & McMullen and Refugio, as well as Goliad).

At the same time we are launching mySouTex.com, our new, improved web site for all three of our publications.

We wanted to create a web site that provides all of the communities we serve an interactive place for community news and events.

It is definitely more user friendly, more interactive and has many more interesting features, including videos, community calendars and feedback.

In addition to updates daily on breaking news, the site also allows anyone to comment on stories, post upcoming events through our calendars or write a blog.

News from all three papers will post on the home page. But, if you want specific stories for each county, tabs at the top of the page will take you to the top news of each paper.

We encourage our readers, and advertisers, to take a look at mySouTex.com. Create your user profile and start a blog, or take a few minutes to add your comments, view videos and slideshows or even peruse some national news stories.

We know this is a work in progress, there will be some kinks to straighten out, but we think this will be a marked improvement to your No. 1 community news source, and the marketplace of ideas in this vital part of South Texas.