SUBSCRIPTION    SUBMIT RELEASES    ADVERTISE    ARCHIVES    CONTACT                                  THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2009
— EDITOR'S NOTE
In observance of the Independence Day holiday, we will not be publishing editions on Friday, July 3. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday weekend.

— BIRDING
With bald eagles nesting in forty nine Pennsylvania counties, Game Commission officials encourage caution because human disturbances can cause adult eagles to abandon their nests and young. Also, anyone charged with disturbing a bald eagle nest can be charged by federal and state wildlife officials. | For More...

— EDUCATION
The Food Protein Research and Development Center of Texas A&M University is offering a hands-on short course on water issues and technologies at the College Station campus from August 2-4, 2009. | For More...

— EVENTS
On Friday, July 24, the Calvert Marine Museum will have a Behind-the-Scenes Family Overnight stay. Families will take part in a variety of activities, watch "Night at the Museum" then camp throughout the museum. | For More...

— GEAR
The experts at Pro'is Hunting Apparel introduce their Xtreme pants, super heavyweight pants designed to stand up to extremely cold conditions. | For More...

— HABITAT
Several partners including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation have completed a 2,675-acre first phase of a three-year project to protect wildlife habitat and public access in the Cascade Mountains near the Naches River in Washington. | For More...

— HUNTING
Ohio's summary for their 2009-09 deer season is now available online. The ODNR will not distribute hard copies this year. | For More...

— NOTICES
Preliminary flood hazard maps for Vanderburgh County, Indiana have been released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). When final, the maps will show flood risk throughout the county and determine whether property owners with a federal or federally insured loan, are required to carry flood insurance. | For More...

With the bald eagle breeding season drawing to an end for 2009, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and its partners are lifting most of the closures at lakes and rivers statewide. The closures at Woods Canyon Lake and Crescent Lake will remain in effect until August 31 because bald eagle breeding activities are still continuing in those areas. | For More...

— ORGANIZATIONS
Safari Club International (SCI) and Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) announce that Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania resident Larry Rudolph has become the organizations' thirty-second president, replacing Merle Shepard. | For More...

— WATERFOWL
A public hearing regarding waterfowl hunting seasons will be conducted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners at its July 17 meeting at the Commission's Lincoln headquarters. | For More...

FEATURE
An Independence Day Story
Yesterday, I told you that I would be shopping for a new American flag to fly this weekend.

When we moved, I realized that the old flag, pole and mount had all seen better days. I took down the flag and disposed of it properly, tossed the flagpole into the trash and left the mount there for the new owners. Taking it off would have meant wood putty and trim paint - not something I wanted to do. Especially when faced with the 10,432 other little things associated with moving.

Having been inspired by my buddy Jim Scoutten's exhortation to fly my flag -proudly- and all the time, I hopped up early yesterday morning to pick the location for my new flagpole. No, not one of those that has a Napoleon cannon at the bottom of it for the evening gun, a sensible sized one that would not be out of proportion with the building.

It's a good thing I got up early, because I had to do some serious shopping to find a flag that wasn't either made in another country, plastic, or included in the design of a cooler, beach chair, umbrella or ridiculous Dr. Seuss-style hat.

In other words, the flag of our country - and the symbol of Independence Day was hard to find. Stores that were once covered up with American Flags no longer had them, except in the "hippy, happy holiday" motifs that really don't do much to show respect for the flag or the people who defend it, past, present and (hopefully) future.

In two hours of searching, I found and rejected about a half dozen so-called flags made (if you want to call printing on cheap fabric manufacturing) in other countries, two that were the size of a small cocktail napkin, and one that looked large enough to serve as a canopy for a convention hall.

But I did find one - finally. When I walked up to the checkout line, the thoroughly bored looking young clerk looked at the flag, pole and mount and asked "why are you buying a flag?"

Before I could erupt, she continued. "We have a flag flying all the time at our house."

Embarrassed, I told her that I was buying one to replace the flagpole that had been at our old house.

"That's nice," she said, "my brother's in Afghanistan, and I send him emails all the time to tell him we've not forgotten about him. Sometimes, he sounds pretty down about where he is and everything."

At that point, I realized that it wasn't enough for me to fly a flag for some sort of symbolic gesture.

Today, my flag is flying in front of my house, and it will continue to fly there until it's disheveled enough looking that I need to replace it.

And I will. Not just because it symbolizes my thankfulness at being here. It will be flying because I want to thank young men and women for not being here on all our behalf.

Have a great holiday weekend. God bless our troops, and God bless America.

--Jim Shepherd
Jul 4
Statewide
Jul 4
Jul 15-17
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida
Jul 23-26
Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, Louisville, Kentucky
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