THUMBS UP

When families and children in Enid need help, they can turn to Youth and Family Services of North Central Oklahoma.

Since 1974, the group has been providing therapeutic foster care placement, counseling and other family centered services to children and families.

In a few months, the organization will be equipped to offer even more help.

By Christmas, YFS hopes to be in its new, 12,100-square-foot youth shelter and counseling center, called the Thelma Gungoll Youth and Family Center.

Thumbs up to Youth and Family Services for all its great work, and for the exciting progress on the new Gungoll Center.



THUMBS DOWN

This past week, in airports all over the country, American Airlines passengers spent more time in line than in the air.

American canceled thousands of flights because it had put off safety inspections of its fleet of MD-80 jets, one of the airline’s workhorses.

In September 2006, American and other airlines were notified by the Federal Aviation Administration they needed to check wiring bundles in the wheel wells of their aircraft. By putting off the work until this week, the airlines have inconvenienced thousands of travelers (250,000 have been affected by the American cancellations alone) and have had a negative impact on an already shaky U.S. economy.

Thumbs down to these airlines for putting off the inspections. They have no one to blame but themselves.



THUMBS UP

A measure before the Oklahoma State Legislature allowing some college students to carry guns on campus died earlier in the session.

Now, an attempt by state Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, to revive the measure has met a similar fate.

Sykes attached an amendment reviving the campus gun question to a measure that would expand the state’s “peeping Tom” law to close a loophole.

But Thursday, Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, advanced the bill without the amendment. The bill passed and is heading to the governor’s desk, meaning the campus gun question is dead again.

Thumbs up to Anderson for his move to kill the campus gun measure. There is too much wrong with the proposal.



THUMBS UP

A state House committee approved legislation that would expand Oklahoma’s back-to-school sales tax holiday.

The bill would exempt school supplies, school art supplies and school instructional materials from state and local taxes the first weekend in August. It’s estimated the bill would save state parents about $17 million per year.

Thumbs up to the measure. We are in favor of anything that saves people money.



THUMBS UP

Great food and music was the order of the day this weekend during the annual Roberts Ranch Smokin’ Red Dirt BBQ and Music Festival.

The event, which combined the Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned contest with music, vendor booths and other entertainment, attracted entrants from around the region and was a great event for local residents and visitors alike.

Thumbs up to this festival, which has become a great spring event for Enid.