You've heard of "shaggy dog stories." This is a "Ropp Triplett story."

It turns out that Ropp Triplett is campaigning - not running for public office - simply campaigning.

To his way of thinking Bluffton doesn't have a "downtown," it has an "uptown." His initial campaign speech on the merits of an uptown versus a downtown were given at the June 8 chamber breakfast.

After the rousing applause he received, it appears that popular sentiment is now in his camp.

(Actually, I believe it was, yes, it was a chamber newsletter mentioning an event in "downtown" Bluffton that set things in motion. The director of the chamber, on June 8, still not convinced about the terminology debate, let it ride.)

Wouldn't you know, Connie Kruse of Town and Country Flowers, 121 S. Main St., thought Ropp's idea was fantastic. So fantastic, that she posted a sign in front of the shop, which reads: "Proud to be your "up" town florist."

Okay, here's the deal. We'll buy into the "uptown" word, but we need Icon viewers' help. Whenever any Icon viewer reads "downtown Bluffton" or anything close to that, please give us a gentle nudge on the comment portion of our stories.

We will eventually come around to it and Bluffton will truly have an "uptown."

One more thought. This story reminds us that Jeff Boehr suggested "uptown" rather than "*&^%town" - you nearly caught me saying it - when he introducted the Main Street streetscape project several years ago.

He termed it the uptown streetscape.

So, thank you, Ropp Triplett. And thank you Connie Kruse of Town and Country Flowers. Ropp, it appears as if it's catching on.