THUMBS DOWN: To all those complaining about the Tift County Division of Family and Children Services and its efforts to find a home for three brothers. These three boys have been in the system for several years and desperately want to find a permanent, loving home so all of them can stay together. What is so wrong with Tift County officials doing whatever it takes to help them make that dream a reality, even if it means stepping outside the box? Don't these brothers deserve every opportunity to find a family who wants and cares for them? Not everyone is born to a nurturing family. Some have to find one or build one as they go along.
THUMBS UP: To Stan and Sue Cox for being named the recipients of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce's Big Thinker Award. The duo owns both 306 North and Covington's Dining & Catering, which are located in Downtown Valdosta. They have also invested in a home and another business, prompting the further development of the Historic Downtown Valdosta area.
THUMBS UP: To the Valdosta Police Department for the quick response to an armed robbery at Rite Aid on North Oak Street Extension on Monday. A suspect was taken into custody within minutes of the incident and charged with armed robbery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony. She reportedly used a knife to obtain an undisclosed number of OxyContontin pills from the pharmacy. Although not exactly of this nature, robberies seem to be on an increase in the area as the economy struggles, people lose their jobs and prices rise. It's nice to know that law enforcement officers are doing their best to stay on their toes and to keep the bad guys off the streets and other residents as safe as possible.
THUMBS UP: To Georgia Military College's Bonnie Tindall for teaching her students the art of giving back. As part of an American Government project, the students collected donations of food and money for Valdosta's Community Soup Kitchen, which, like so many nonprofit organizations these days, has been tasked with doing more with less.
THUMBS DOWN: To those people who have been ranting about club owners throwing them out at closing time. First, it's closing time, time for the club owner and staff to clean up, prepare for the next day and then go home. Second, if some patrons are that concerned about fights, stabbings and shootings after closing in the parking lot, then maybe that's not the best place for them to be spending their free time.
