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Ups and Downs 6/29

Saturday, June 30, 2007 1:58 AM CDT

THUMBS UP -  to the kids and parents of the Carbondale Alternative Sports Initiative in their quest to build a professional skateboard park in the city. One has to hand it to CASI for showing youths how to work with municipal government. Since the skaters aren't allowed on city streets, they've gone to the city council and Carbondale Park District seeking advice on how everyone can co-exist in harmony.

THUMBS UP -  to organizers of the Perry County Fair, who once again provided wholesome entertainment for the family. This year marked the 151st edition of the fair. Saturday was Kids Day at the fairgrounds with many of the kids getting free tickets for rides as long as the supply lasted. Special kudos go to all of the volunteers and sponsor (First National Bank of Pinckneyville) for photographing, fingerprinting and IDing about 180 children. The Freemasons, and local chapter Mitchell Lodge 85, oversaw the Saturday identification effort.

THUMBS UP - to Carbondale city and tourism officials for taking seriously a need to build more hotels for visitors to the region. Carbondale Convention and Tourism Bureau Board President Sam Goldman says the city doesn't have enough hotel rooms to accommodate tourists during some of the major events held throughout the year. When people have to leave Southern Illinois to find a room, so does the money they would have spent locally. Here's to a successful initiative to put more "heads in beds," as Goldman says.

THUMBS DOWN - to the thoughtless thieves who have been stripping aluminum siding from vacant trailers at Crab Orchard Estates, located about three miles west of Carterville. The siding is then sold to scrap metal dealers for financial profit. Dealers are paying about 65 cents a pound for sheet metal.

THUMBS UP -  to SIUC, which ranked 42nd in a Top 100 list when it comes to awarding undergraduate degrees to African-American students. Awarding degrees to all worthy students is an important goal, but educating minority students has been a major priority of SIUC since its inception. We applaud their efforts and wish them an even higher slot next year.

THUMBS UP -  to the spirit and caring that Linda Austin brings to her job as director of court operations in Jackson County. Austin spearheads a new program called Kids in the Courts, which lets youngsters shadow judges, court reporters, bailiffs and security guards. It's designed to give kids an early look at legal professions in real court settings, and in a good way.

THUMBS DOWN -  to our recent weather, which has alternated between stifling mugginess and thunderous downpours. Let's hope the weekend predictions offering more temperate, less volatile conditions prove to be accurate.

THUMBS UP -  to the new scholarship program for graduates of the Illinois Youth Center in Murphysboro. The new scholarships will allow these teens an opportunity to go to college, which may not have been possible before. It also shows them there are people who care about them and their well being. Even if it only helps two to four people a year, it is making a difference.

THUMBS UP - to the sixth annual De Soto Daze Car Show Saturday, which drew 113 entries. Kudos to organizers of the event, who provided a trophy to each participant, as well as multiple door prizes. Car enthusiasts from throughout the region showed off their pride and joy and many said they would be back for next year's show.

THUMBS UP -  to recent Pinckneyville High School graduate Thad Hawkins, who was honored with a Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year award at Disney World last weekend. Hawkins was one of 25 graduates nationwide to receive a $7,500 scholarship. He will attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on a baseball scholarship in the fall. Hawkins was picked based on an essay he wrote about a broken neck he suffered while playing football his junior year.