Text The Times.

In reply to the problem I had with the E-Edition, I came by and Ms. Lancaster helped me with it. She was very helpful and courteous. Really appreciated her help. [Editor’s Note: As someone who also appreciates her help on a regular basis (she is our technology guru and we would probably be dead in the water without her), I am happy to pass along the kudos. As we are forced by the wave of progress to embrace the tech side of our operations more and more, we are happy to do whatever we can to grow, maintain and help our digitial readership. I know it has been hard for all newspapers to adapt to the internet age, but we’re trying to keep up with it, so I’m glad she was able to help]

*** Well… I’m still waiting for OUR American flag to be hoisted up that flag pole at the Crawfordsville post office. Granted it’s only open for several hours each day, but I sure miss it every time I pull up and nope no flag flying yet. I just shake my head in disgust. It just looks naked and disrespectful to our country. It’s been at least six months since I inquired and was told the worker had a long list of things to do when they got there and just seemed to be forgetting to fly the flag. HUH? Write yourself a note and post on back door. PUT UP FLAG-TAKE DOWN FLAG. NOW YOU CAN GO TO WORK OR TIME TO LEAVE. If they don’t have the funds just let me know I’ll buy it. Just saying! [Editor’s Note: You know, for a lot of folks, this might seem like a very insignificant thing. For a lot of people, the flag is just a red, white and blue sheet of cloth that hangs on a pole outside of the school or the city hall, or in your case, the post office. But for many people, clearly yourself included, it really means a lot… and it means different things for different people. For veterans, it might mean remembering a fallen comrade or the blood, sweat and tears shed in defense of our country. The flag might remind someone of a loved one lost in that same service. The flag is a symbol of our freedom and on the recent anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, I’ll bet several folks might have enjoyed driving by the Crawfordsville post office and seeing the flag at half-staff like it was in many other places in Crittenden County. Americans across the country look to the flag as a symbol of our freedom, and flying it should not be taken lightly. My own personal relationship with flying the flag goes back to when I was a young fifth-grader at Phelix Elementary School. My buddy Robert and I were selected for a six-weeks grading period to be on “flag duty.” That meant getting to school a little early each day and staying a little late each day to raise and lower the U.S. and Arkansas flags that flew out in front of the school. Robert was a Boy Scout (and eventually went on to be an Eagle Scout) so he took it very seriously, and as his friend (who only did about a half a year of Webelos) I did my best to follow his lead. I can still do the official fold, make a triangle, fold, flip, flip, flip, tuck routine if ever called upon. I do remember one time, he dropped the flag. He was almost in tears as he explained that we had to burn it now. We even told the principal about it, but he applied some sort of flag version of the “five second rule” and we were off the hook. I later found out that burning the flag if it touches the ground is only invoked if it gets damaged or is too dirty to display “in a dignified manner.” It’s also, according to U.S. Flag Code, to have the flag dry-cleaned]

*** Where is all of this millage money going to come from? [Editor’s Note: Umm… I guess the short answer is “from the millage.” If you’re asking what that is exactly, it’s an annual tax levied against personal property (like your home). It’s based on the mill (one thousandth of a dollar), and your millage is the millage rate multiplied by the value of your home. It’s not just the school that gets your millage dollars. There are itemized millage rates for police, fire, roads, capital improvements, the hospital, the community college, municipal bond repayments and all sorts of things. You should get an itemized list on your property tax bill every year… unless you don’t own property (like you rent your home), then it doesn’t affect you at all]

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