We reserve the right to express our viewpoints in this space as you reserve the right to express yours, even if we don't agree with you.

We have a standing offer for any community leader or reader to write a guest column expressing their thoughts on any item concerning our community, state or nation.

You may also write a letter to the editor responding to any column, editorial or letter you read on this page.

We run syndicated columnists, but we'd really like to publish content generated by local people.

The purpose of our editorial page is to create an open dialogue about how to make our community a better place to work, live and play.

We try our best to be straight forward, concise and conversational with our editorials. Our editorial board consists of county residents just like you

A sign that an opinion page is serving its purpose is when letters to the editor from local residents arrive, expressing different viewpoints on a myriad of subjects.

Recently we have had a great deal of letters to the editor either sparked by our stories or national events; we are more than pleased to see this.

This week we ran a letter from Maurice Carter; it was articulate and to-the-point and it took us to task. We didn't mind that at all - it actually made us think about something we hadn't considered, just like we ask you to do while reading our thoughts.

We encourage you to take a few minutes to write your thoughts down on national or local issues affecting this community. You can send your signed letter with an address and a phone number to news@covnews.com or mail to 1166 Usher St, Covington, Ga. 30014, attention Jennifer T. Long, Editor.

Thanks, Maurice, and to all the rest of you who care enough to share your opinions on how to make our county, state and country better places to live.