Thumbs up: To the volunteers from Madison County who are helping out at the five-day build for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” in Miami County. They are among hundreds of volunteers who began construction on the Cowan-Brown family last Thursday at Bunker Hill. The family is expected to return home from a trip to Disneyland in California on Tuesday to see the brand-new house. When the show is broadcast a few months from now, Madison County residents will have made a significant contribution to the endeavor. Anderson-based Hallmark Homes is heading up the project and an Alexandria company, Bolt-A-Block, installed the 4,500 feet of foundation. The clear skies on Sunday were a welcome sight for volunteers and construction crews as rain had turned the ground into a muddy bog and caused delays.

Thumbs up: To the Anderson Fire Department for the quick response to an eastside apartment fire early Wednesday, getting the residents safely evacuated from the fire that got out of control in the kitchen of one of the apartments. The outcome could have been disastrous. An unidentified Anderson University police officer allowed the residents to sit in her car to get warm in the chilly weather, and the American Red Cross gave the eight displaced residents three nights’ stay in a hotel.

Thumbs up: To the Pendleton Heights High School cross country team for reaching the state finals for the first time in school history.

Thumbs down: To the traces of pharmaceuticals found in White River during a study done by Ball State University biology professor Melody Bernot.

Thumbs up: To all the beautiful fall colors in Madison County as the trees prepare for winter. Take time to enjoy a walk in the county’s parks or in Mounds State Park before heavy rains take their toll on the leaves.

Thumbs up: To the more than 60 Madison County residents who took a couple of hours Saturday night to experience how visually impaired people get through some of their challenges in eating meals. Christ Lutheran Church hosted a “Dinner in the Dark” as a fundraiser for the Anderson Outreach Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. A dinner in 2006 raised $1,000 for the organization.

Thumbs up: To the Anderson University Community Concert Band, which performed a free one-hour concert Thursday evening at Central Christian Church. The band will return on March 30. Conductor John Huntoon also pointed out several other free concerts upcoming at the downtown Anderson church, at Park Place Church of God and in Anderson University’s performance halls. Residents should take advantage of these opportunities to hear talent of this caliber free of charge.

Thumbs up: To everyone who donated coats for this year’s Coats of Caring distribution. Best Way Cleaners cleaned hundreds of coats for Saturday’s giveawa