Thumbs up, once again, to the anonymous benefactor who has dropped a gold coin worth hundreds of dollars into a Salvation Army kettle.

The donor, whoever it is, has given the Salvation Army similar coins over the past few years.

Thumbs down to still more Montana State University athletes getting into trouble with the law. Three present or former football players were arrested this week on charges of selling cocaine to an undercover officer. This and other instances of alleged criminal behavior raise eyebrows because the school evaluates young athletes as part of its recruitment process.

Thumbs up to friends and neighbors of the Ken and Jodi Gardner family, which lost its home on Strawberry Lookout Road to fire last week. Volunteers plan a four-day build-a-thon this weekend to replace the house from scratch.

Thumbs down to Jonah Micah Warr, a 19-year-old Florence man who pleaded guilty this week to nine counts of arson for setting a series of forest fires that kept fire crews busy in the Bitterroot for much of this year's fire season. The man faces up to 45 years in prison and a fine of $2.25 million.