The Effingham Herald will be returning to its roots, in a manner of speaking.

The Herald will suspend the publication of its Sunday issue and will return to a twice-a-week print schedule. Beginning July 8, the Effingham Herald will be published on Tuesdays and Fridays.

In the meantime, the Herald is further enhancing its Web site, www.EffinghamHerald.net. The pending additions and improvements to the Web site — to roll out in August — will make www.EffinghamHerald.net the leading source for up-to-the-minute, breaking news on Effingham County.

But the Sunday edition isn’t going away forever. Herald management is putting together long-range plans that include returning to the third edition of the week.  

“We knew we were pushing the envelope a little by adding the third day to our print cycle in late 2006,” said Karen Tanksley, publisher of the Herald, “but this is the 100th birthday of the Effingham Herald and we wanted to publish this third day for our readers.  

“Unfortunately, the economy has hit a small skid so we are backing off the enhanced print schedule and returning to twice per week. Our ability to deliver breaking news and sports through our new Web site is making this decision a lot easier,” Tanksley added.

“It took a while for our Sunday edition to gain some traction with our readers, but in time, I think they began to accept it and expect the same quality newspaper they were used to twice a week,” Herald Editor Pat Donahue said. “When we do get ready to resume that third edition of the week, we anticipate putting out the strongest product possible for our readers.

“As our community continues to grow and with the expected additions in the business and commercial sectors, that day may come sooner rather than later.”