Mountain Times Publications is going national--at least for a new weekend supplement.

Three of the company’s local newspapers will carry USA Weekend, a weekly insert focusing on entertainment and lifestyle content. It currently reaches one in every five households across America.

“We are very excited to welcome USA Weekend to our publications,” said circulation manager Tim Robinson. “I believe our readers will enjoy the vast amount of interesting and helpful topics provided in ‘USA Weekend.’”
Beginning this week, USA Weekend will be inserted into the Ashe and Watauga Mountain Times on Thursdays and the Watauga Democrat Weekender on Fridays.

USA Weekend is carried by more than 600 newspapers. With a circulation of 23.4 million, it reaches 49 million readers every weekend. It also has an online version at usaweekend.com, carrying weekly articles, additional interviews, contests and other features.

Upcoming features include “Make A Difference Day Awards,” a Summer Movie Preview, a preview on the new “Star Trek” movie, a summer guide to pets, and “Summer Travel Report: Land of the Freebie.”

The magazine insert also features health tips, “ThinkSmart” advice on consumer topics, recipes, celebrity features, relationship and etiquette guides, and word games. It also features exclusive posters and other special content.

“Current subscribers will be excited and we can offer non-subscribers even more value,” said Mountain Times Publications sales director Charlie Price.

Readers can visit online at usaweekend.com, which includes polls, surveys and quizzes that supplement the print magazine.

This week’s issue will include:

•Cover: Star Trek’s new villain; The dark side of Aussie actor Eric Bana.

•No more exercise excuses: How positive thinking can get you moving.

•Vegetarian kids, beyond PB&J: Meatless options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.