Changing with the times

In 2004, the Lays added a full-time reporter/photographer to the staff. Changes to the production process began to take place. The sending of pasted-up pages to the press in Melville became a thing of the past, as pages were sent electronically via SWNA’s hot-line. A new digital camera was purchased in the fall of 2004, improving the quality of photos. Long-time Watrous Manitou employee Theresa Beavers retired after 41 years of witnessing changes in the business. Theresa first operated the paper folder and later the press. When Gordon and Roberta took over the paper, Theresa began doing more of the bookwork, costing out advertising for invoices and addressing the papers using the Elliott addresser. When computers moved into the office, Theresa found herself at the keyboard of a Mac computer inputting and maintaining the mailing list as well as mastering the PC bookkeeping computer. These jobs became Robin’s responsibility following Theresa’s retirement.
The first issue of 2005 marked another change for the paper. It was the last paper to have a black and white front page. Colour front pages were the exception instead of the rule until that time. Robin and Nicole decided the time had come for weekly colour front pages, which are now a staple. To better serve their customers, the addition of payment by debit or credit cards was added in April.