Thumbs up to Vikings
Thumbs up to the Minnesota Vikings organization for their involvement in Minnesota charities. The Vikings Children's Fund was established in 1978 and has since raised nearly $8 million to give back to those in need. Thumbs up, also, to the players and coaches who routinely get involved and pitch in to serve others in Minnesota.

Thumbs down to some fans
Thumbs down to the lousy fans whose bad behavior at games has caused the NFL to impliment a new code of fan conduct. Thumbs down, also, to some of the fans at training camp who are down right obnoxious in their efforts to gain the attention of their favorite players for autographs.

Thumbs up to Congress
Thumbs up to the U.S. Congress for partially funding Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory’s request to begin construction late this year on a neutrino detector laboratory at Ash River. This “Far Detector” is part of project NOvA, in conjunction with the University of Minnesota, and will explore neutrinos and Dark Matter, and may shed light on the origins of the universe.

Thumbs up to Ranier
Thumbs up to the Ranier City Council for bringing Arrowhead Regional Development Commission trainers to help interested residents begin developing goals for a community vision plan that will be the course for the future of their community. In this way, the community will take ownership of development, transportation, economics, recreation, and intergovernmental relationships.

Thumbs down to officer
Thumbs down to the State Patrol Officer who drove around a blown tire in the south-bound lane on Highway 53 last week.
The tire could have posed a hazard to other drivers.

Thumbs up to health initiative
Thumbs up to Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who last week began an initiative to address the need for consumer control of personal health care information together with the online technology that can make it possible. Though this initiative involves mostly state workers and some components may be debatable; this visionary plan uses Internet technology to grant individual control of a portfolio, with instant access to health records, and at the same time offers the state health department greater ability to gather essential health data for public health studies.

Thumbs down to the Twins
Thumbs down to the Minnesota Twins for not making a move at the trade deadline

Thumbs down to some residents
Thumbs down to International Falls residents who continue to leave items in their yards after they have received blight notices.

Thumbs up to Saxhaug
Thumbs up to Sen. Tom Saxhaug for investigating whether an increase in revenue from trust land is possible. Trust land is comprised of about 2.5 million acres located mostly in northern Minnesota and generate about $16 million a year for public schools. About one third of the land, or about 854,136 acres, is located in Koochiching County. Four companies are currently considering mineral deposits on the trust land, which could produce an additional $1.4 million for the school trust fund.