By Scott Schmeltzer, publisher

Editor&8217;s note: The following is a special message from Scott Schmeltzer, publisher of the Tribune.

I&8217;m excited!

In less than a month from now, the Albert Lea Tribune will be launching its updated Web site.

&8220;Updated&8221; is not a good choice of a word for what the new Web site will offer.

To say you updated your bathroom when actually you put in a Jacuzzi, all new heated ceramic flooring, a deck, three sinks, a shower with 12 massaging showerheads, his and her toilets with separate towel racks, and finally a surround-sound stereo and TV with his and her remotes would be shortchanging your remodeling project.

A good word would be fantastic! You would say my bathroom looks fantastic!

So I will say that our new site looks fantastic! It is so fantastic that I will also use the words unbelievable as well as stunning. This will be the online community for people connected to Albert Lea and surrounding areas &8212; a place to come together.

Our new Web site, which is slated to launch in the first part of June, is for you. It is because of you and your quest for more information, more photos, more video and more interactive choices. You have spoken and we stepped up to provide online news, sports and entertainment 24 hours a day and seven days a week for not only Freeborn County but the world.

We will offer customer comments on our daily stories, blogs from familiar faces in town, a photo program that is called Spotted, which allows our readers a chance to use the photos they take and share them with everyone. The Spotted system will take on the Extra Tribune name.

The new site helps you be the journalist and take part in all that affects you. It will have the same address: www.albertleatribune.com.

As we look forward to our launch, if you have any questions or want to know more about why I am so excited about this new site, feel free to e-mail me at scott.schmeltzer@albertleatribune.com.