Thumbs up, down from the Yuma Sun

• A very special thumbs up and thank you from the Editorial Board to the Yuma Sun reporting team. These last few weeks have been incredibly busy, between the teacher walkouts, school closures, E.coli coverage, county and city budget discussions and more, and our team has worked long days and late nights to cover it all. Their hard work is appreciated!

• Thumbs up to those who opened their homes and businesses to children who were out of school due to the teacher walkouts, as well as to the businesses who were flexible with employees who had sudden childcare challenges.

• Thumbs up to Mitch and Barry, two canine officers with the Yuma Police Department who recently retired from the Yuma Police Department. Thank you for your service!

• Thumbs up to the city of Yuma, for asking the 2018 Neighborhood Leadership Academy class for recommendations on the budget.

• Thumbs up to Cibola sophomore pitcher Kelly Katalbas, who pitched a perfect game in the first round of the 6A state softball tournament!

• Thumbs up to the Yuma Elementary District One school board members, who held a meeting this week to weigh their options for making up time missed due to the teacher walkouts. Officials recognize there are a variety of pieces to consider, and are carefully examining those pieces before taking the next step.

• Thumbs up to the University of Arizona’s Yuma County Cooperative Extension, which is holding a public forum today to discuss the E. coli outbreak, and address questions and concerns by residents. The effort to inform and educate is appreciated!

• Thumbs down to the wildfire in north-central Arizona that has destroyed 30 homes and 17 other buildings. The Associated Press reports the blaze, which was started April 27 by an illegal, abandoned campfire, is only 12 percent contained.

• Thumbs down to this yo-yo weather Yuma’s about to experience. The high Thursday was only expected to be in the mid-80s, but by Saturday? An excessive heat watch is in effect as temperatures soar to 102. Get your air conditioners ready, readers … summer is coming!

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.

Unsigned editorials represent the viewpoint of this newspaper rather than an individual. Columns and letters to the editor represent the viewpoints of the persons writing them and do not necessarily represent the views of the Yuma Sun.