Morton Site Launches
By Nathan Domenighini
Morton Times-News
Wed Jul 03, 2008, 2:51 PM CDT

Morton, Ill. -

What is up with all this new technology the village is using?

Since the village’s comprehensive plan suggested improvements in technology, several areas of the village bought into the idea.

Now, others in town are getting into the mix — starting with the Morton Business Association.

The organization sponsored the creation of a new Web site that members said they hope will add a whole new level of communication to residents.

Morton Magnet is the name, and informing residents is the game. Simply enter www.mortonmagnet.com into an Internet browser and click away.

Susan Pyles, president of the Morton Business Association, wears several hats in town — the other being village tourism director.

It may be no surprise to others that Pyles wants to improve Morton.

One way that could be done is by bettering communication among residents in town, she said.

Morton Magnet has many of the amenities to make that happen, and it is only going to get better, she added.

“Morton Magnet is going to become a portal for Morton people to connect with what’s happening in our community,” Pyles said. “It’s one click to all the different activities in town. It fills that social niche and community gap.”

The Web site currently provides visitors with information regarding different programs in Morton. It also includes contact information for many of the village’s necessities, such as government, public works and churches.

The Web site also links to other organizations in town. Featured on the main page are stories from the Morton Times-News Web site, www.mortontimesnews .com, weather reports, an upcoming events calendar, community announcements and more.

Another feature that adds some interactivity for visitors is the photo of the month, which displays the top photo submitted by visitors. Pyles said she hopes residents take advantage of the photo feature.

“Right now, there are thousands of pictures (Relayers took) from this year’s Relay For Life,” she said. “It would be wonderful if we can get these photos on the site.”

Pyles said the site will be a boost to many of the local businesses and organizations.

“(Morton Magnet) also connects businesses to the community,” Pyles said. “It’s also a great place for not-for-profit organizations to publicize their information.”

“There’s a lot of stuff on there,” she said. “But, we’ve barely scratched the surface.”

The Web site is still in its infancy, she said, but it is already very functional and user-friendly.

“We want to know what the citizens think,” Pyles said. “This Web site belongs to the residents.”

Morton Business Association members are keeping their hands full. Outside of technology, members have also been keeping busy outdoor.

The Adopt-A-Pot program has been a big success and the downtown keeps getting better and better, Pyles said.

The Morton Business Association is also responsible for the new banners on Main and Jefferson streets and the flower baskets hanging from street lamps.

Currently, 42 businesses are part of the Morton Business Association

Web Site All About Morton
By Steve Stein
of the Journal Star
Wed Jun 25, 2008, 12:39 AM

Morton, Ill. -

A new Web site for all things Morton made its debut Tuesday.Visitors to www.MortonMagnet.com can find everything from a community calendar to links to the Morton Park District and Morton District 709 Web sites to lists of village businesses to important phone numbers and a photo of the month.

Morton police, fire and other village departments can place emergency information on the Web site.

The Morton Business Association [partnered with] SkyConceptsOnline, a business run by 21-year-old entrepreneurs Tim Amstutz and Alex Camp, to develop it. Amstutz is a student at University of Illinois and Camp is an Illinois State University student. Both are Morton High School graduates.

"Morton has really needed something like this, and we're happy to be the ones to do it," Camp said during a Web site launch party Tuesday at V Gallery. MBA President Susan Pyles says the Web site fills a niche.

"It fills in gaps between the village of Morton's Web site, which has governmental information, and the Morton Chamber of Commerce's Web site, which is geared for businesses," Pyles said.

A Web site like MortonMagnet.com was suggested by respondents to a survey distributed at an MBA event in April 2007. "And it's been suggested during the village's comprehensive plan process," said Morton Mayor Norm Durflinger.

"The site is fantastic. It gives everyone easy access to what's going on in town.

"Even though the Web site is up and running after eight months of planning, it's far from a finished product."It's definitely a work in progress," Pyles said. "We want lots of feedback."