Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs up: To Lapel Elementary School for being one of 179 schools statewide, and the only one in Madison County, to receive a 2007 Four Star School Award from the Indiana Department of Education. The school met all criteria including performing in the top 25 percent of all Indiana schools in student attendance and ISTEP scores in math, language arts and combined performance. Kudos to the teachers, administrators and the students for stepping up to the assignments.

Thumbs up: For the 14th annual Kids Day America at New Horizons United Methodist Church in Anderson to benefit the Exchange Club’s Family Resource Center. Activities were dedicated to children’s health, safety and environmental awareness.

Thumbs up: To the winning jockeys, trainers and owners in the Indiana Oaks and the Derby over the weekend. Anderson was in the limelight across the nation again as the state’s top thoroughbred races were run Friday and Saturday at Hoosier Park.

Thumbs up: To the several hundred motorcyclists and other supporters who participated in two recent rides that raised nearly $11,000 for scholarship funds, according to two letters to the editor from the organizers of the events. The families and friends of homicide victims Jessica Lyons and Lynsey Schildmeier and traffic victim Hubie King put a lot of effort into organizing these annual events in memory of their loved ones. (On Monday, organizers said the amount has reached $17,000.)

Thumbs down: To the factors that are driving up the cost of road salt for the winter. Anderson Street Commissioner Todd Leever said that last year’s price of $53.25 per ton has nearly doubled at $99. City officials say they expect the 2,400 tons to be adequate for a normal winter.

Thumbs up: To the Madison County Health Department and other local health organizations that are being pro-active in getting flu shots and flu mist nasal spray ready as flu and pneumonia season approaches. National health officials say they expect no shortages in vaccine this year so there is no need for anyone to hold back. Upcoming inoculation sites include: Head Start, 2010 Brentwood Drive, Anderson, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 14; Lapel Library, 610 Main St., 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 17; Elwood Library, 1600 Main St., 9 to 10:30 a.m. Oct. 20; Anderson Christian Center, 625 Main St., 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 23; and Frankton Library, 102 N. Church St., 1:30 to 3 p.m. Nov. 17.

Thumbs down: To anyone who tries to take advantage of kind-hearted individuals and local charitable organizations by falsely claiming hardship as the economy tightens. A recent letter to the editor from Mary Jo Lee, CEO of Alternatives, called attention to a call to the crisis line from a woman who does not live here. The problem, Lee said, is that the woman’s story that would “tug at most hearts” is untrue. Lee’s advice: Don’t give money to an individual without checking with a charitable organization to verify the story.

Thumbs up: To the third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at Forest Hills Elementary School in Anderson for their innovative ways to raise money for community groups. One of their appreciative recipients of $100 was the Madison County Literacy Coalition.

Thumbs up: To Anderson First Church of the Nazarene, which is observing its 100th anniversary this month. It has been at 23rd and Jackson streets for 93 years, and built its current building in 1985.

Thumbs up: To Greenfield for paying its annual homage to the Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley (who spent a short time in Anderson in the 1870s before writing his children’s classics such as “Little Orphant Annie” and “The Raggedy Man”).

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