The extra effort is noticed and appreciated

We want to extend appreciation and thanks to the Newcastle City Council for their efforts to set up and run a Zoom link for the council meeting on April 5, at the request of the News Letter Journal. 
During the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic, several boards switched to online avenues for meetings, providing easy access for those wishing to stay up to date on local government. This access was especially appreciated by us at the newspaper and the continued use of the online options by other boards, including Weston County School District No. 1, Weston County Health Services and the Local Emergency Planning Committee, does not go unnoticed. 
Having the ability to listen to those meetings and provide the most up-to-date information to the public as quickly as possible is essential in the transparency of not only local but state government as well. As technology changes and grows, the ability to provide these options only gets easier and we are happy to see Newcastle and Weston County boards embracing the advances. 
We know there is extra effort and planning associated with hosting meetings via Zoom and it is cruicial that you understand that we notice and appreciate it.