Thumbs up, down from the Yuma Sun
• Thumbs up to the Arizona State Transportation Board and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, which both recently held meetings in Yuma. Thanks for coming down and discussing Yumans’ concerns!
• Thumbs up to Arthur Nye, who recently donated antique medical instruments and supplies to the Yuma Territorial Prison. The equipment came from the estate of Nye’s uncle, Henri Apjohn, who was once a doctor at the prison. • Thumbs up to the city of Somerton, which recently had a positive financial audit, with growing revenues and a surplus in the general fund at the end of 2016-17. Well done, Somerton!
• Thumbs up to those who competed in the Caballeros de Yuma Bull of the Desert competition last weekend! What an amazing event!
• Thumbs up to the Gadsden Elementary School District, which is launching after-school programs and summer instruction focused on arts, science and technology, funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Education. What a terrific way to help students grow!
• Thumbs up to the Yuma-area high school baseball and softball players, who kicked off their seasons this week! Best of luck to you!
• Thumbs up to HB 2166, a bill recently passed by the state House that would levy a new fee on all vehicles to finance the $120 million annual cost of operating the Highway Patrol, and in turn protect the Highway User Revenue Fund, sending money back to counties for road repairs. The bill is needed, but it remains to be seen whether Arizonans will support it.
• Thumbs down to people who leave their shopping carts all over the parking lot, instead of putting them in the designated cart spot. Please, take a few minutes, and put your cart away.
• And once again, major thumbs down to both Spectrum and Northwest Broadcasting, for still not resolving the dispute over CBS, NBC and Estrella. How is it possible that this dispute is still ongoing weeks later?
Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down are compiled by the Yuma Sun editorial board, based on recent events, happenings and activities around Yuma County and the nation, and will appear on Fridays in the Yuma Sun.