Thumbs up to the rainy weather we’ve been experiencing. The timing couldn’t be better for some who haven’t fired up their sprinkler well pumps yet — and we all benefit from having more water in the reservoir. Plus, our yards and forests could use something to drink for them to green up.

Rain is like cough medicine; it’s no fun at the time, but in the long run we’ll be glad we had it. Cool and wet weekdays followed by a warm and sunny weekend are in the forecast, and this is good news.

Thumbs up to Powell’s new “urban forest,” the 50-tree arboretum at Veterans Park. Planting began Saturday, thanks to the help of volunteers rallied together by soon-to-be Eagle Scout Dallin North, and funding for the trees was provided by a grant to study how trees grow in different climates. Planting was still underway this week, but once completed, the arboretum will feature 16 different species of trees. Powell was selected as one of only six arboretum locations in Wyoming, and we are excited to watch this project flourish.

Thumbs up to black-footed ferrets’ recovery and reintroduction to the Meeteetse area. These charming little critters were once thought to be extinct, but were discovered on a ranch near Meeteetse in the early 1980s. Since then, a successful repopulation program has been underway, turning the 18 ferrets found in our backyard into what could potentially be a full species recovery. We’re excited to see this species return to where the recovery effort began, right here in Park County.

Thumbs up to the Powell-Shoshone FFA chapter’s successful week at the state FFA convention earlier this month, and to local chapter president Kinsey Ashby for being elected as a state officer. Thanks to the overall health, productivity and community service of our local FFA students, they were awarded the coveted Gold Emblem award at the state convention.

Each of the teams and individuals who competed at the state convention also ranked high in the statewide competitions — which combine agricultural knowledge with public speaking, math and science for students to show exactly what their made of.

Thumbs up to the grand opening of Powell Middle School’s fine arts wing. This state-funded 6,733-square-foot addition to the school will provide the space needed for Powell’s sixth- through eighth-graders to flex their creative muscle through both audio and visual creative arts — and we’re excited to see what they come up with.

The fine arts wing is part of a roughly $16.8 million construction/renovation project that has been underway for a few years. The first phase was completed in 2012. Up next, the middle school’s gym will undergo renovations with the goal of completion in time for the fall semester to begin.

Thumbs up to a good time. On Saturday, the first race of the Dax Russell Memorial Race series hit the track at the Park County Fairgrounds, providing high-speed entertainment for those in attendance — and many more are scheduled through the end of October with more bump and run races, demolition derbies and other high-octane competitions.

Local enthusiasm for motorsports is also set to be highlighted during the Park County Fair this summer with an off-road vehicle race, a bump and run race and a demolition derby as the featured grandstand events for three of the fair’s five nights.

These races, coupled with pig mud wrestling and a performance by Terri Clark, have us very excited for the entertainment at this year’s fair.