Today’s edition marks the end of The Natchez Democrat as we know it.

For more than 135 years The Democrat has published a daily newspaper dedicated to covering the news of Natchez, Adams County and Concordia Parish.

On Saturday, your newspaper changes.

Beginning July 1, we will publish two editions of each day’s Democrat: a Louisiana edition, tailored to meet the needs and interests of readers in Concordia and surrounding parishes, and a Mississippi edition, tailored to meet the news and interests of readers in Natchez, Adams County and the Southwest Mississippi region that we serve.

It’s an ambitious undertaking for an 11,600 circulation community newspaper … so ambitious, in fact, that it’s remained on publishers’ long-term goals lists for nearly 20 years now.

And, as an editor, I can easily understand why. Trying to organize and write a plan on how to produce two editions of each day’s newspaper – from outlining content minimums for each page to juggling deadlines and delivery concerns – is daunting.

As someone said when we were discussing this proposal several months ago, you can drive yourself crazy trying to put the plan on paper.

That person was right, and we’ve had many head shaking sessions along the way as we tried to plan for producing zoned editions of our newspaper.

But, as editor, I realize how much these two editions are needed, as does our publisher, Todd Carpenter.

And our belief – shared with the department managers from George Alles in circulation to Gerry Meraz in advertising to Johnnie Griffin in production and even Kevin Cooper, who oversees our new media efforts – is that the Concordia Parish readers deserve a daily newspaper, and it’s our responsibility to provide one – regardless of how daunting the task may seem on paper.

Concordia Parish has long been served by a good community weekly newspaper, and we have been blessed with a long, respectful and cooperative working relationship with Sam Hanna and the staff at the Concordia Sentinel.

And we believe the example of commitment and community concern set in the Sentinel each week can be complemented by The Democrat each day in our Louisiana edition. We believe residents in Concordia Parish deserve an equally committed, equally community minded, equally informative daily news source.

And that’s what The Democrat is.

Beginning with Saturday’s inaugural Louisiana edition, we will produce a daily edition for Concordia and surrounding parishes that offers readers even more Louisiana news – more local features, more regional and state news, as well as the biggest news of the day from Natchez and Adams County.

The Mississippi edition, distributed on the eastern side of the river, will offer enhanced state and regional news, as well as the biggest news of the day from Concordia Parish and Louisiana.

And, of course, both editions will share much in common, from the critically important obituary listings and Tracings information to the editorial page to coverage of national, international and other issues. Readers of both editions will receive complete Style and Business information; the same classified advertising sections; the same special sections and packages; even the same television book, The Clicker.

In short, as a reader on either side of the Mississippi you lose nothing. Yet, you gain more news about your community and your state each day.

And the goal of providing that service and information is much clearer to understand, much less daunting, than trying to organize production on a spreadsheet.

Something else was said during that &uot;one day we really ought to produce a Louisiana edition&uot; discussion worth remembering: Sometimes, it’s best simply to do it.

On Saturday, we will.

Stacy Graning is editor of The Democrat. She can be reached at (601) 445-3539 or stacy.graning@natchezdemocrat.com.