THUMBS UP

The annual Mennonite Relief Sale, held in Enid last weekend, helps combat hunger in more ways than one.

The money it raises, $124,650 this year alone, goes to stop hunger worldwide by promoting better farming practices and building better water wells through the Mennonite Central Committee.

Part of that money was raised from Friday night’s pork dinner, Saturday’s breakfast and the sale of homemade ice cream, pie, kettle corn, apple butter, New Year’s cookies and other food items that quelled the hunger of hundreds of sale-goers.

Thumbs up to the annual Mennonite Relief Sale, a great event for Enid and a much-needed fundraiser for the world’s needy people.

THUMBS UP

Lew Ward is an active and altruistic member of the Enid community who is involved in everything from Rotary Club to Enid Public School Foundation, as well as being a pillar of the business community.

And now he is a Trailblazer, as well.

The University of Oklahoma recently bestowed the Trailblazer Award on Ward. The annual award, established in 2003, honors exceptional individuals in the energy industry who blaze a trail for others to follow.

Ward is chairman of the board of Ward Petroleum Corp. Over the years he formed and operated other energy-related companies.

Thumbs up to Lew Ward, a true Trailblazer in every sense of the word.

THUMBS DOWN

Among the unsung heroes of the newspaper business are the men and women who deliver the papers in the dark of night.

Tuesday morning, more than 400 copies of this newspaper were delivered to an Ampride store in Alva. They subsequently were stolen, hosed down in a car wash and scattered on the street.

This was an act of theft, pure and simple.

The newspaper’s circulation staff scrambled to find another 400 copies to send to Alva for delivery to our customers.

This act didn’t hurt our company as much as it hurt the carriers, independent contractors, all who deliver the paper to Alva readers every morning.

Thumbs down to the perpetrators of this senseless act and we hope you get what is coming to you.

THUMBS UP

It is playoff time in high school football and northwest Oklahoma was well-represented in week one of the postseason.

Enid High, Oklahoma Bible Academy, Hennessey, Garber, Covington-Douglas, Watonga, Okeene, Pond Creek-Hunter, Canton, Timberlake, Deer Creek-Lamont, Seiling, Waynoka and Kingfisher all qualified for the playoffs, which is, in itself, an indication of a successful season. Many likely will progress through the playoffs and contend for a state title.

Thumbs up to all northwest Oklahoma football teams that qualified for this year’s state playoffs, and congratulations.