Thumbs up to voters in Jefferson County, who demonstrated once again the importance of every single ballot that is cast.

The county's Sheriff's Department will receive a four-year, 15-mill levy, giving it an extra $393,497 annually, after the voters approved the measure by one vote, 3,117 to 3,116.

Thumbs down to the grade of "D" given Montana for its rate of premature births. The grade was given by the March of Dimes, which also gave the nation as a whole a "D." In 2005, the last year for which data is available, Montana had a premature birth rate of 11.4 percent of all live births.

Thumbs up to Missoula-area ranch owner Mark Reiling, who has agreed to open a section of the property to waterfowl hunting by people with disabilities. Two wheelchair-accessible duck blinds have been installed for people who hold special permits from the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Thumbs down to deficiencies found during a recent nuclear inspection at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls. An official said the public was not at risk, but when it comes to nuclear weapons, we'd just as soon see inspections come up clean.