One of the best ways to get your opinion out in public is to write a letter to the editor. I always appreciate reading what you, the readers of your local newspaper, have to say.

And it's especially rewarding when the letters touch on serious topics of importance in the world today.

This week's letters to the editor were exceptional:

- Dana Shutrop of Spring Lake Township wrote about mental health and a bill passed by the U.S. Congress to preserve funding for programs to help people suffering from mental illnesses.

- Cassie Bartz of Jordan wrote about homelessness, that it exists in Jordan, and that we should work to eliminate homelessness not only here but also statewide.

- Michelle Guscette, a community service officer with the Jordan Police Department, wrote what was intended to be a letter to the editor. It was about kindergarten students learning how to be safe, and it was too long for a letter to the editor, but it made a great guest commentary.

Read these letters on pages 4 and 5 of this week's Jordan Independent.

Then, write your own.

Keep it to 250 words please, and feel free to submit it online (under the Contact Us button above), by e-mail (editor@jordannews.com), by fax (952-492-2231), or by mail (109 Rice St. S., Jordan, MN 55352). I also like it when letter writers stop by the office to drop off their letters -- we're open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

There are a few other guidelines to follow when writing a letter to the editor. Those are published on the bottom of page 4 of each week's print edition.

But beyond those policies, I am open to publishing your opinions about most any topic, if appropriate and if space is available. Public discussion is important, because knowledge is power in this day and age. Readers of your local newspaper are often the engaged citizens in schools, churches, city and county politics, nonprofits, businesses, and the Jordan area in general.

We all have our niche. And that's good -- we should all be engaged in Jordan. It's our town. Let's talk about it.