Speaking Personally: NEW FEATURE- Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down quick takes

In our continuing efforts to engage our readers in meaningful and productive conversations, we are launching a new mini opinion-sharing feature. Have you ever had a quick, insignificant gripe? Or a minor attaboy? Just a little opinion that wouldn’t hold up to a full letter to the editor? Send them to us, and we’ll publish them. 

 

We’re calling it Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down, and it’s a meant to be a not-very-serious space to share quick hints, tips, and thoughts with your neighbors. It’s an idea we are borrowing from the Ojai Valley News in California. 

 

Here are the rules:

1. Your Thumbs must be local.

2. Maximum of two sentences. 

3. No personal attacks or allegations. Opinions on elected officials are acceptable. 

4. One Thumb Up and One Thumb down per person, per week. 

5. You may sign your name to your Thumbs, but it’s not required.

 

Sound fun? I think so.

 

Without further ado, here is the inaugural collection of Thumbs.

 

Thumbs up to the Friends of Ferals. Their efforts to trap/neuter/release the stray population has made a huge difference in the presence of feral cats downtown.

 

Thumbs down to the closure of the Willow Springs License Office. 

 

Thumbs up to the community’s enthusiastic and generous response to the benefit for Christy Carr. 

 

Thumbs down to the recent spike in gun violence in West Plains and nearby. There have been three stories lately about guns fired into or from moving vehicles in the last month, and that is too many for comfort. 

 

Thumbs up to the recent addition of Tryton Henley to the Willow Bears football coaching staff. Henley is one of the best student athletes I have covered, and a sweet, sincere young man who is sure to do well for the new bear Nation. 

 

Submit your Thumbs to editor@howellcountynews.com or stop by the news office to fill in a Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down card.