Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Your article last week about the Putnam County Sheriff's Department providing live-scan technology to the Kent Police Department gives the impression that Sheriff Don Smith is keeping Putnam's law enforcement current on technology. Unfortunately for Sheriff Smith and the residents of Putnam, nothing could be further from the truth.

The live-scan unit that was given to the Kent Police is identical to the unit which has been gathering dust at the Sheriff's office for several years. Now that it is campaign season, Sheriff Smith, a career politician, is rushing to train department staff on the technology so he can use it as talking point on the campaign trail. Unlike the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, other neighboring counties have been using this and other innovative technologies for several years. Because of Smith's lack of leadership, Putnam County is now several years behind the times.

With general crime rising in Putnam County by 26 percent, Don Smith should have been using every tool to fight our rising crime rate. Too little, too late. Time for a new Sheriff.

Douglas Graham Brewster, NY

Dear Editor:

That is all I can say. Thank you for taking over the Putnam paper! I just moved into the area about a year ago and loved the "local" paper I found at the local Bagel shop.

I would take a ride to the bagel shop in Carmel every Thursday just so I could get this local paper. One day I went and read the article stating it was the last one.

I was shocked. I felt like I lost a relative. I hoped that someone would buy the paper and help the Putnam economy and help us all keep in the know about OUR area. Not Westchester or Dutchess Counties.

I am not one to buy the paper every day. It usually had a little that would apply to me. Now, I plan on getting a subscription now that it is back.

Ruth Murphy

Brewster

Dear Editor:

Kudos to the Ailes Family for not only reviving the Courier,but for also giving the reader an improved format!

Hopefully,the newspaper will continue to provide "fair and balanced" articles, in the mode of the misson of Fox News!

Thel Simon Carmel