Thumbs up, down from the Yuma Sun
• Thumbs up to Yuma Regional Medical Center, which recently completed a $40,000 project to create a private Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Family Room. The space offers families a “haven for healing,” whether it’s for hearing difficult news about their infant or learning how to prepare to bring their baby home, or simply to have a moment of respite in a time of stress. This space is much needed!
• Thumbs up to Omar Duron, the new superintendent of the Somerton School District! We wish you the best of luck as you take the helm for the upcoming school year!
• Thumbs up to the Yuma Community Food Bank! Feeding Yuma County’s food insecure isn’t easy, but the food bank strives to make sure no one goes hungry. It’s a noble mission, and one worth supporting! To give them a helping hand, visit www. Yumafoodbank.org.
• Thumbs up to the Foothills, which is seeing a surge in new business development lately. According to our Comings and Goings column, Chile Pepper, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, a Circle K, Wetzel’s Pretzels, a car wash and an as-yet-unnamed hotel are all in the works for the Foothills, which is exciting news!
• Thumbs down to whoever decided to name the latest COVID variant “FLIRT.” Apparently, the name stems from the technical names of the involved mutations, but it’s kind of hard to give it serious consideration with such a goofy name. Apparently, “FLIRT” is making the rounds across the U.S., causing a range of symptoms, from gastrointestinal to a fever and cough. But couldn’t there be a better name?
• Thumbs down to the ongoing spike in homicides in San Luis Rio Colorado, Son. At what point does the violence stop? If you are heading into Mexico, readers, please be safe.
• Thumbs down to people who leave their pets in cars. We don’t care if the window’s cracked, or if you’ve left the car running, or if you only plan on being in the store for a second – it’s dangerous to leave your pet unattended in a vehicle when it’s this ridiculously hot outside. Don’t risk your pet’s life – just leave them at home in the air conditioning.
Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down are compiled by the Yuma Sun editorial board, based on recent events, happenings and activities around Yuma County and the nation, and will appear on Fridays in the Yuma Sun.