Thumbs up to the town hall meeting held Friday by state Reps. David Northrup and Dan Laursen, both Republicans from Powell.

Two dozen local residents attended the meeting to hear from their elected representatives, who discussed the 2015 Wyoming Legislature’s session, what they are trying to accomplish and what is happening behind the scenes.

The voters also offered their input, ideas and insight. A second town hall took place in Cody; that drew a smaller crowd.

The only regrettable part of this was the short notice given to the local media and the residents. Northrup had another constituent meeting earlier in the session with virtually no notice offered to people.

But we came to praise Northrup, not to bury him with criticism. Other legislators should follow his lead. In fact, we propose regular meetings with constituents during the session with all the senators and representatives from the northern Big Horn Basin present.

Other states offer these so-called “cracker barrels” and draw large gatherings of interested citizens. The local media, especially the Powell Tribune, would be glad to publicize and cover these meetings.

In this age of immediate online feedback and instant communication, there is still great value to a group of people sitting around, talking and exchanging information.

Thumbs up to the volunteer firefighters who staff our local department.

The Powell Volunteer Fire Department responded to at least 17 calls in a two-week span in late January and early February. Did you notice all the sirens during that period?

These men did more than hear them. They answered the call, no matter what time of day or night, regardless of what other things they had planned or scheduled, or how tired they may have been.

We’ve said before how impressive the efforts of these volunteers are and we will say it again. Thanks, folks.

Thumbs up to the Powell Valley Healthcare Department of Obstetrics.

It received high marks from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The department received a score of 94 out of 100 from the CDC, which looked into maternity practices in infant nutrition in care at more than 2,600 facilities nationwide in 2013.

The PVHC score was 19 points above the national average and 23 points higher than the average score in Wyoming. Everyone likes to get an A in class, and we think the local heath-care provider is justifiably proud of this.

Thumbs down to the awkward, hastily arranged marriage of a convicted criminal, which some of the victims of his crime spree were forced to witness.

Israel Silva went on a wild run through the area in August, stealing two vehicles, firing bullets into two other vehicles and leading authorities on a high-speed chase, where he ran over and damaged some irrigation pipes. The damage was more than $45,000, according to the Park County Attorney’s Office. Silva contends it was less than that.

Last week, at the start of a sentencing hearing at the Park County Courthouse in Cody, Silva and his 19-year-old girlfriend Ivy Koryne Smith were quickly married by District Court Judge Steven Cranfill. Among those in “attendance” at this bizarre ceremony were people who are seeking compensation for the destruction that Silva caused during his alcohol-fueled rampage.

We think Judge Cranfill should not have subjected these people to this; it’s hardly something that they wished to participate in, even in a passive setting.

We wish the couple a long, happy, marriage and hope this young man sets out to right the wrongs he has caused. But this was an error on the judge’s part.