The residents of Nacogdoches County now have the floor ...

Page 4A of The Daily Sentinel has a podium just for you, and lately few have stepped up to the microphone to have their say.

I am a firm believer in letters to the editor and the reader interaction that occurs on the editorial page of newspapers across the country.

Other content on the page — the views of the newspaper, the insight of local and national columnists and the wit of political cartoons — is important to provide a variety of positions on topics of interest. However, individual voices gain additional power when they state their cases in print.

Only you can tell us how you feel about health care reform, when a company goes above and beyond to satisfy you as a customer, when you like or dislike a story in The Daily Sentinel or when a lesser known organization needs a helping hand.

We are making letters to the editor a priority her at The Daily Sentinel. In fact, we are now running them every day, not just on Sundays, which will allow letters to appear in a more timely manner.

If you have something on your mind that you'd like to share, there many ways to get it to us. Letters can be e-mailed to me directly at rschmid@dailysentinel.com, sent from a link at www.dailysentinel.com, faxed to 560-4267 or dropped by or mailed to 4920 Colonial Dr., Nacogdoches, TX 75963.

There are just a few guidelines that we ask you to follow:

•Letters should be 300 words or less;

•Please make sure any handwriting is legible. We want your letter to appear as you intended;

•Please include your name, address and phone number for verification. Only your name and the community in which you live will appear;

• Be mindful of others when writing, avoid personal attacks and send letters that are of public interest.

If you have any questions about the letter policy or another matter, please call me at 558-3200.

I look forward to hearing from more of you and learning about the issues you deem important.

Don't let the podium remain empty for too long.

Rayanne Schmid is editor and publisher of The Daily Sentinel.