With the death today of George Steinbrenner, we're putting together local coverage of his Lorain area years and local ties. Please share your personal memories if you wish by commenting below.

Click here to see the July 4 Ben Franklin Project version of The Morning Journal's regular website. This Journal Register Company initiative to produce a newspaper and website with reader collaboration, using only freely available tools on the Internet is making a big splash in the struggling world of newspaper journalism because it points a new way to a thriving future. We had fun producing it, and we think you'll enjoy reading it, in print and online. Thanks to everyone who helped in its creation, and stay tuned, we're just getting started.

This Sunday, July 4, is a national holiday celebrating our nation's independence. But it's also The Morning Journal's day of "independence" from the old-style ways of reporting and making newspapers. It's our Ben Franklin Project edition, and we think you'll like what you see.

As I've mentioned earlier, this project involving all Journal Register Company newspapers under the guidance of CEO John Paton is in the spirit of Ben Franklin, founding father, printer, experimenter and revolutionary.

Sunday's paper and website are being reported in collaboration with readers from start to finish and produced using software tools that are freely available to anyone on the Internet. The goal is to demonstrate that quality newspaper journalism that can be produced in communities more economically, more effectively and more in touch with the readers in print and online.

Using our printed pages, our website www.MorningJournal.com plus social media tools Facebook and Twitter we solicited story ideas from readers, then collaborated with them in gathering facts and quotes, pictures and videos to tell the stories that you will see on Sunday, in the newspaper and online.

Those major non-breaking news stories are finished and have been edited. They are now being fashioned together with photos to create pages that will go to press Saturday night, including late-breaking news.

And on Sunday morning, July 4, 2010, you'll be able to go on our special website or pick up the paper and read what is really a revolutionary newspaper on holiday that celebrates the revolutionary creation of the United States of America on July 4, 1776.

Here's a message for you from Jennifer Bracken, our online manager, about a way to have fun, get exercise and help two worthy causes that benefit local children:
-- Tom Skoch

The Morning Journal in conjunction with sponsors Lorain National Bank and Community Health Partners is excited to announce the inaugural Journal Jog 5K run, 3K walk Sunday, August 8! The event starts at 9 a.m. at the beautiful Black River Landing in Lorain. The Journal Jog course tours Lorain’s downtown businesses and continues to State Route 6 along pristine Lake Erie. The flat, fast course turns through scenic Lakeview Park and finishes at Black River Landing.

All the proceeds of the Journal Jog benefit The Morning Journal’s Newspapers in Education and Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-A-Child programs.

Participants who register by July 30 can enter the run for $15 and $10 for the walk. Race day registration is $20 for runners and $15 for walkers.  Cash prizes will be awarded to the overall first, second and third place runners. Plaques will be given to the top three finishers, male and female, in each age bracket.

To register fill out the attached form and return it to The Morning Journal or register online at www.MorningJournal.com/journaljog.

Please join us Sunday, August 8 and be a part of an event that showcases some of Lorain’s beautiful landmarks! Your support of this event and these worthy charities is appreciated!

Entry form below can be printed out and mailed.

MJ Jog Entry Form