Thumbs up to ExplorationWorks, the interactive science museum holding its grand opening Saturday.

The non-profit museum, at the north end of the Great Northern Center, is the result of seven or eight years of fund raising and hard work. It looks as though that effort has really paid off.

Thumbs down to the irony of a firefighter's home lost to fire. The quickly spreading blaze, caused by the disconnection of a propane hose leading to a barbecue grill, destroyed the house in the Blue Cloud Estate subdivision owned by Helena Fire Department Battalion Chief Brad Hampton.

Thumbs up to two Helena law enforcement officers honored this week by the Helena Family Violence Council as Peace Officers of the Year. Helena Police Department Corporal Lynette Flink was honored along with Lewis and Clark County sheriff's deputy Will Kussman.

Thumbs up to a pair of Capital High School teachers who have earned statewide awards. Helen Bosch, a biology and chemistry teacher, received the 2007 Montana Outstanding Biology Teacher Award, and English teacher Joni Chenoweth received the Montana Association of Teachers of English and Language Arts Distinguished Educator Award.