Thumbs up: To the players on the Anderson High School football team, who have begun a fundraising effort to pay expenses for the funeral of Steven Roberts, a 17-year-old player who died unexpectedly last week. There’s loyalty and sacrifice for one’s team, and then there’s an effort like this. We applaud the players not only for their work to raise the money, but also for thinking of doing it in the first place. A noble effort.

Thumbs up: To the boys who donated their hair for charity. Sonny, Sterling and Shiloh Thompson, ages 8, 10 and 3, respectively, sat in chairs at Lookworthy, 1615 E. 53rd St., Anderson, while stylist Jacki Grimaldi sheared off their locks. Sonny’s hair was donated to Wigs for Kids, which makes wigs children under chemotherapy or with the scalp condition alopecia. Sterling and Shiloh, whose locks were not long enough to be used for wigs, will go to Matter of Trust, which makes absorbent pads that soak up oil from spills. Hair’s to you, kids.

Thumbs down: To MTV for shameless pandering. A film crew hired by the cable network spent last week following a young pregnant teen, filming her daily activities for a documentary series tentatively titled “16 and Pregnant.” The reality of teen pregnancy is not entertainment and should be kept private. Exploiting it for ratings is repugnant.

Thumbs up: To both the annual Free Picnic for reconciliation and the annual Ollie H. Dixon Back-to-School Parade. These celebrations remind us that Anderson is multiracial, and the more we honor that fact, as well as each other, the more progress we will make.

Thumbs up: To state Rep. Scott Reske of Pendleton for his support of a state measure to regulate mortgage offices. It may be a bit like closing the barn door after the horse has escaped, but at least we’re making an effort to catch the horse now.

Thumbs up: To the city of Anderson for understanding that, in politics, perception is everything. Last week, Mayor Ockomon and a few other elected officials volunteered to turn back on their most recent pay raises, to help boost the salaries of nonunion workers to the level of union workers. Not only politically savvy but also a decent thing to do.

Thumbs up: To Mayor Ockomon’s administration. Last Friday, it fired assistant street commissioner Darryl Rensel for alleged wrongdoing in the repair of sidewalks in front of his own residence. If a city employee even APPEARS to have made such an error, he needs to go. Period.

Thumbs down: To the recent rash of motorcycle crashes in the county. Two such accidents in one week is two too many.

Thumbs up: To Nestlé for its willingness to ante up. The global corporation announced last week that it would expand its Anderson operation greatly, bringing in an additional 140 jobs. An investment of about $200 million. That’s a lot of Raisinets.

Thumbs down (for students): To the end of summer vacation and the beginning of the school year.

Thumbs up (for parents): To the end of summer vacation and the beginning of the school year.