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Thumbs up for county award. Proving once again its efforts to move forward, Mower County was recognized by the Association of Minnesota Counties recently with a County Achievement  Award. The award was for its Community Resource Navigator initiative that was created last year. In lieu of the work, it’s a deserved recognition.

Thumbs up for free holiday fun. Earlier this past week, the Paramount Theatre announced that it was opening up the doors to free admission for the upcoming “Who Brought the Humbug” show on Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. Paramount officials explained they were making the move to make it free in order to thank the public for its support as it moves forward toward the upcoming renovation and expansion of the Historic Paramount Theatre.

Thumbs up for 50 years. Any time a small business can serve for any length of time, it’s worth noting. The Muffler Center is celebrating its 50th year (five years under new ownership) today from 2-6 p.m. It’s been an established tradition of service for the shop that has expanded from muffler work to that of a full-service shop, created an added on section just last year. The public is invited to this open house so take some time and head on down.

Thumbs up for 100. It was a night for 100-themed milestones for a pair of Austin athletes on Thursday. Austin wrestler Sam Winkels, who is ranked No. 2 in the state in his weight class, notched his 100th win Thursday night in a triangular with Albert Lea and Westfield. Meanwhile, Austin swimmer Brent Dahl broke the Rochester Century pool record in the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 53.34 seconds.

Thumbs down for progress of new law. The hope of getting legalized cannabis to approved stores is likely now going to be extended to late spring, early summer rather than a hoped for early 2025 launch. It’s another setback in a rushed process that almost was destined to be an issue from the beginning. We’re not here to argue the arguments for or against legalized marijuana use, but the way this legalization has been set out has been plagued from the beginning and it puts cities and counties in a state of limbo as they seek to meet shifting deadlines and shadowed unknowns at the state level. The City of Austin postponed passing its cannabis ordinance because it now had more time to further consider the topic of buffer zones because of this delay. A right decision, but one guided by a state that seems to go out of its way to step on its own feet.