There are several recently-added features to StarJournalNOW.com, the official website of the Star Journal and Hodag Buyers’ Guide, that make navigating the site much easier.

New to the site is the “Community Watch” a feature similar to the “NewsWatch” area of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s website, JSOnline, that allows Star Journal staff to post updates on the site in real time. The feature allows users to see all the newest updates on the site, regardless of what area they appear in.

“The Community Watch gives readers an extremely easy place to find all of our newest content on the site,” said Star Journal Editor Craig Mandli. “It truly gives us the opportunity to inform the community of breaking news in the Northwoods. It’s exciting.”

Not only will the “Community Watch” section feature the newest community news, but also newly updated obituaries, local sports updates, township and school board meeting minutes and agenda and even the site’s latest blog posts.

“It’s great for content such as obituaries because we can get them up on the site as soon as we receive them in the office,” said Mandli. “That’s very important for family and friends looking for service information. Providing up-to-date service information is something we had trouble doing before with the newspaper, and that’s what’s great about the site. It’s a whole new avenue to get the word out to people.”

Among the other features of the site are several fresh new blogs. Posts have been updated recently by Rhinelander City Council President Joe Salzer, Eric Hanson from Hanson’s Garden Village, Star Journal Associate Editor Mary Ann Doyle and by Mandli.

“We’re having a lot of fun with it,” said Mandli of the blogging feature on the site. “The blogs are a different perspective on the community, and give readers the chance to get to know us a little better.”

Also included on the site’s home page is a feature inviting readers to find the Star Journal on Facebook. Readers can “like” the Star Journal Facebook page, and receive a feed of breaking news, photos and other Northwoods information right to their Facebook newsfeeds.

“We are striving to use Facebook to post the most pertinent, up-to-date info on what’s happening in the Northwoods,” said Mandli. “It is also a great way for us to interact with readers. It’s another way for us to be open to the community.”