“We welcome signed letters from our readers” is a message that appears each week in the lower left-hand corner of the Independent Reporter. The reason that I mention this is that I have noticed a decided decline in letters from local residents appearing on the page. One can find opinion pieces from the Kansas Reflector, Insight, Specials to the I-R and Ms. Bonar, the editor, but where are the letters from local readers? I recall them being quite common. That does not seem to be the case in recent months.

One of the reasons for subscribing to a local newspaper is to read what local residents think regarding issues of local, state and national significance. Of the past 15 issues, dating from Sept. 1, there were five issues with letters from local residents. One issue had three letters. Have readers become reluctant to express their views?

I certainly hope that is not the case, and that what I am witnessing is merely a temporary slump. Or, maybe I am wrong regarding frequency of local letters to the editor, and I am remembering something that did not exist.

Regardless, the main point is that if readers believe that they have a point to make, please take the time to share it with readers of the Independent-Reporter. Do not feel like you must be a professional writer to share your views in a local newspaper. Input from local readers makes for a much better local newspaper.

Jerry L. Marsh Ellsworth