I have just returned from a meeting of some of the best publishers, ad directors and circulation directors in the country and we are all ready to take on 2005.

The newspaper business is doing quite well, thank you.

The good news is people are reading newspapers. The better news is the percentage of people reading and subscribing to the Bee is outpacing the national average.

The Bee's circulation increased nearly 4 percent last year and that is on top of four years in a row with each of those years gaining at least 4 percent.

On the national level, the larger the paper, the larger the drop in circulation. The exception is USA Today. The Nation's Newspaper prints nearly 2.3 million copies a day at nearly 50 different locations.

Closer to home, the Spokane Spokesman-Review has lost more than 20 percent of its circulation in Bonner County during the past year and its overall circulation is down 8 percent. That's a loss of a lot of readers for a paper that is just a bit short of 100,000 subscribers. This is the first in more than 15 years, the Review has been under 100,000, I was told.

Another trend is the advancement of the Internet. With more than two billion Web sites out there catering to every need or desire, people don't always trust what they find on the Internet.

That's where the mix on in print and online comes in. Several speakers reminded relieved publishers that the Internet is actually helping disseminate the news.

"People look to the local newspapers for information about their community," one speaker said. "They also look to the newspapers online to find information about individual communities. It is not a stretch — the newspaper is THE community's news gatherer whether it is in print or online."

The bottom line is people have learned to trust their local newspapers and that trust follows the paper online.

Newspaper Web sites are by far the number one visited sites in communities. The Bee's site at bonnercountydailybee.com is no exception. I hear from more and more people how they like our site — especially since it is updated throughout the day and that we don't charge for content.

As far as the old-fashioned, in print newspaper goes, there are a few changes in the wind. Porch delivery is the buzzword. The Bee is going to seriously consider porch delivery of the paper where it is feasible.

I'm told that 90 percent of Sandpoint already receives a porch-delivered Bee. Bee Circulation Director Chris Watkins will be experimenting with other areas this year, he said

At least one paper has had success with guaranteed porch delivery and the circulation director stated he would never go back.

I came out of the meeting reinvigorated about the future of news gathering, advertising and circulation. I was also pleased to return home to a portion of this country where most publishers can only dream of living.

Make sure you save your copy of the Sandpoint Magazine that featured Marianne Love's interview with part-time resident Viggo Mortensen. A "mint and unread" copy of the Winter 2005 edition sold for $26 on eBay. Nostalgiawarehouse was the seller and spikemejames was the winning bidder. I wonder how much the magazine would have gone for if the seller had mentioned that this publisher's picture and a short story were also featured in the same issue. $26.50 … tops.

After every publisher at the above-mentioned meeting asked about the USA Today story on Sandpoint, it finally dawned on me why we are getting this national publicity. People can pronounce Sandpoint. It's that simple.

Coeur d'Alene? Other than a French major and locals, who can get that right?

Pend Oreille? The same people who can't pronounce Coeur d'Alene, have absolutely no shot at this. Pend d' Oray, Lake Pond O Raleay.

Athol? OK, everyone can pronounce Athol but can you really say it with a straight face? I thought not.

It's a good feeling knowing Sens. Shawn Keough and Joyce Broadsword and Rep. George Eskridge are down in Boise defending our water rights, pushing for cleaner air and water, better schools and hopefully pushing for the repeal of the 1-cent "temporary" sales tax.

Stop by the Bee and pick up a Value Poll. The 32-question poll is being used by members of the Gem Community Planning team to help measure what we value as county residents.

With meetings and such, I haven't had a chance to ski Schweitzer yet. Most of those folks with an opinion, rank the conditions as excellent. It was touch and go there for awhile with a too-early opening.

I have one friend with cracked ribs and another with a broken leg because they wanted to be the first up the hill this season. New Slogan for Schweitzer: "The Northwest's best January through March skiing!"

I can't wait, probably Saturday.

Good luck to Ray Smith and family on their purchase of the Athlete's Choice.

Smith knows his sports.

He has helped Sandpoint become the premier soccer town in Idaho. During his four years at the helm of the Sandpoint Soccer Association, the Strikers, SSA and our high school programs have had unbelievable success.

Every kid here plays soccer. Period. It is almost a law. Just try to find an empty field around here in the spring without kids kicking balls back and forth.

Even more importantly, the local soccer organization has had 23 players go on to the college level.

SSA received 57 applications for Smith's job and has winnowed it down to two finalists who will be interviewed in February.

Have a ball, Ray, Cindy, Lane and Ahslyn.

David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His column runs weekly.