First there was me and my cheap…well, free…Wordpress blog – snarking it up to other local bloggers and eventually Parker Cross.  Then there were other commenters.  And then some discussion.  And then a lot of discussion.

Then Lampe-Farley created a DM logo and we threw it onto a whole new website.  Then we tried classifieds.  Then we gave up on classifieds.  Then we started accepting advertising.  Then we added the events calendar, Free-For-All Fridays and Eye on the Street.

“Evolve or die” has always been my motto.  (Actually it’s never been my motto.  I don’t think I have a motto.)

Regardless, I’m excited to announce the next big step in the evolution of this local online monster known as Decatur Metro: more voices!

In an effort to include more news, viewpoints and opinions in our posts (not to mention avoid my total burnout), Decatur Metro will soon feature posts by three new contributors.  And we didn’t just pull these people off the sidewalks – though I’m pretty sure that at least two of them already have an unhealthy love of sidewalks – these are DM commenters who you already know and (maybe even) love!  They are (in alphabetical order)…

• Andisheh Nouraee – Former Creative Loafing staff writer, syndicated columnist and current purposely vague FFAF grouch and Eye on the Street literalist.
• “Scott” – long-time, well-respected DM commenter with an urban planning background, who has been known to write a thing or two on community development issues.
• Daren Wang – Founder of the Decatur Book Festival and self-proclaimed creator of “hare-brained schemes” (like $2,000+ beers!)

(FYI: All contributors were given the option to call themselves whatever they’d like.)

So what does this mean in terms of your day-to-day DM consumption?  Well, you’ll still get all my usual stuff, but now it’ll be accented with these other regular voices.  All three of these fellas have been contributing informally to DM in a lot of ways for a long time, and I’m thrilled they’ve all agreed to give this a go.

In addition to our new contributors, I’m also now formally accepting “Letters to the Editor”.

This is a smart move that Decatur News Online made back in its heyday and I’d like to continue it here in an attempt to further expand DM’s viewpoints,  perspectives, and knowledge base.  Kyle Williams’ TAD commentary from October 2010 is a great example.  To be a bit clearer, these letters aren’t the place for an unhinged rant (ex. “Cars are for jerks!  Sidewalks are for morons!”), but if you’ve got a thorn in your craw or a cause to promote and also the info to back it up, send ‘er in!

I will continue to retain full editorial control over all posts, so DM should remain the online place for thoughtful, lively, local discussion it has long been.

Anyway, that’s the long and short of it.  Hope you enjoy!