Thumbs up to caregivers
Thumbs up to the many caregivers in Minnesota. They play a valuable role in our society and should be recognized, which is encouraged through the proclamation of National Family Caregivers’ Month in November.

Thumbs up to explanations
Thumbs up to the person who explained the lineman situation in International Falls in Tuesday's letter to the editor. Last week there was concern about emergency power repair when linemen had to come from Chisholm for a localized outage. Because of an earlier thumbs down, someone cared enough to share the correct status of service personnel in our community. There are three local lineman who can be called upon in times of service outage. And thumbs up to them for the work they do in all kinds of weather — we do appreciate it.

Thumbs up to Lifeline
Thumbs up to the volunteers of Koochiching County’s Lifeline Emergency Response Program, as well as to the responders, Sheriff Brian Youso and Police Chief Chris Raboin, and their staffs, who make the program viable in Koochiching County. Without their commitment to making “help available at the push of a button,” many elderly and chronically ill people would be less safe in their homes.

Thumbs up to local women
Thumbs up to the local women who organized and attended United Way’s “Power of the Purse” event last Friday, raising over $16,000 for local charities. Bravo also to other contributors for the event.
That’s an impressive amount of money. And the occasion also enriches as well as celebrates the unity of women and their power to make a difference.

Thumbs up to veterans
Thumbs up to men and women who have served in the United States military. And also thumbs up to their families who go without their loved ones being near for months. It means sons, daughters, mothers and fathers are missing from the dinner table, from family gatherings and daily family life. The sacrifice does not go unnoticed by Americans.

Thumbs up to L-BF
Thumbs up to teachers at the Littlefork-Big Falls elementary school in trying something new and innovative. The school has begun using a new math curriculum that is different than the traditional way of doing things. It strives to teach children math in a fun way and allows them to learn in a way that is best for them. The program is expected to raise the district’s math scores on Minnesota’s yearly standardized test.

Thumbs up to events
Thumbs up to both sides of the border for putting together Veterans Day and Remembrance Day activities that brought together all areas of the community to honor men and women that have served their countries in all capacities both past and present.

Thumbs up to state elections
Thumbs up to the Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and all the county election offices that have showcased the state as a model. With the national spotlight on the U.S. Senate recount and as accusations and alarming comments fly, the process has so far shown that despite the changes in numbers, that no wrong doing or malfunctions of the type that has plagued other states has occurred.