The ShowMe Times is proud to announce the introduction of yet another feature on the online local news journal.

As of this week, the ShowMe Times will host “Letters To The Editor” under its Blogs menu. This new feature will be another way in which local residents may express opinions on news and events of general interest in our region.

“The general rules are simple: The ShowMe Times reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and general readability,” said ShowMe Times Editor Annabeth Miller. Letters must be signed and provide a telephone number and an active e-mail address for verification purposes; the writer’s name and e-mail address will be published.

Paid Election Letters will also be featured, Miller said. Political letters of endorsement will be published as Paid Election Letters and will be subject to a fee of $25 for a letter of up to 100 words; an additional fee of 50 cents per word will be assessed beyond 100 words. To ensure publication, Paid Election Letters must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday one week before an election.

“Of course, the ShowMe Times encourages writers to remain positive, and to follow the Golden Rule,” Miller said. “We will not publish letters that are hateful and spiteful against an individual, family or group. Letters to the Editor are intended to encourage positive discussion on issues in the community, to offer opinions on issues and events, and to highlight what is good and positive in our area.”

The news journal will retain the right to refuse publication of a letter for its content. In addition, letters must be signed to be published.

“My father, the late Barney Miller, always said that unsigned comments and letters were a chicken’s way to express an opinion or to be negative. We will follow his time-honored philosophy,” Miller said.

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STAY IN TOUCH

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: The maximum length is 250 words. We edit for clarity, accuracy, punctuation and spelling. The letter must be signed. Please include your name, street address, city and a phone number where you can be reached between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

PAID ELECTION LETTERS: All letters of endorsement of candidates or ballot issues will be published as Paid Election Letters and are subject to a fee of $25 for up to 100 words, plus an additional 50 cents per word beyond 100. To ensure publication, Paid Election Letters must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday one week before an election.

SEND LETTERS TO: Letters may be emailed to letters@showmetimes.com or faxed to (toll-free) 1-866-515-6828.