Published: August 14, 2009 05:10 pm      

Thumbs - Saturday, August 15, 2009

Thumbs up ... to George Brooks, the umpiring chief for West Virginia Little League’s District 4. Brooks has been chosen to umpire in the annual Little League World Series Aug. 21-30 in Williamsport, Pa.



Thumbs up ... to the 80th anniversary of the Lilly Family Reunion at Flat Top. This year’s event may have set a Guinness Book of World Records mark when between 2,500 and 3,000 members of the Lilly family attended the get-together.



Thumbs down ... to West Virginia’s per capita export rate of guns used in crimes being higher than any state except Mississippi. ATF data shows that more than 800 guns recovered by police in other states in 2009 were traced back to the Mountain State.



Thumbs up ... to Stratton Elementary, among eight West Virginia schools honored as 2009-10 Schools of Excellence. Stratton was the only area school to be recognized at a reception and banquet in Charleston.



Thumbs up ... to Raleigh County’s Crescent and Sophia-Soak Creek elementary schools, recognized by former President Bill Clinton and Dr. Clyde Yancy, president of the American Heart Association, in New York last week for transforming into healthier places for students to learn and staff to work.



Thumbs down ... to the sad fact that mortgage foreclosures in the state rose by 12 percent from 2007 to 2008. The West Virginia Banking Commission said there were 2,577 foreclosures in 2008, compared to 2,296 in 2007.



Thumbs up ... to the state Division of Highways’ plan to outfit employees in uniforms that stand out more. Employees who spend more than half of their work time on the roads and in traffic will wear reflective, high-visibility green shirts and pants with reflective striping to help them be more visible to motorists.



Thumbs up ... to the West Virginia Golf Association for another great summer of first-rate championships for all the golfers of West Virginia. The group also got the state Golf Hall of Fame off and running with a ceremony and banquet at The Greenbrier. Another project is construction of the golf house at Coonskin Park in Charleston where the Hall of Fame will be housed. The facility will also house The First Tee with a teaching area and driving range for the public.