Thumbs up to 1st Sgt. Monte Herrin of Helena, a member of the Montana National Guard who received a Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement at a ceremony at Fort Harrison last week.

Herrin was honored for his work in Iraq recovering and repairing battle-damaged combat vehicles, often under enemy fire.

Thumbs up to Jason Rigsby of the Helena Fire Department for being named Firefighter of the Year by the Exchange Club of Helena. He was nominated by Battalion Chief Brad Hampton because of his attitude and the way he is able to motivate the rest of his crew.

Thumbs down to rates of pay so low at the Montana State Crime Laboratory in Missoula that practically all the staff went elsewhere in recent years, leaving the agency too understaffed to handle its duties. The situation left Lewis and Clark County to foot the bill for tens of thousands of dollars worth of out-of-state lab work.

Thumbs up to the news that trout have returned to parts of Silver Bow Creek, for more than 100 years the poster child for streams killed by mining pollution. It's a hopeful indication that reclamation efforts are working.