News Republic Editorial: Thumbs down to No. 4 of Vikings

Thumb’s down to Brett Favre, who on Sunday will run out of the WRONG tunnel in a No. 4 jersey that is the WRONG color in an attempt to lead the WRONG team over the Green Bay Packers.

Favre insists his desire to play for the Minnesota Vikings was not motivated by an intense desire to get even with Packers General Manager Ted Thompson.

Righhht. If you believe that, then you also think the Metrodome, home field for the Vikings, is the finest venue in the National Football League.

Here’s hoping Favre adds a few more picks to his NFL record for interceptions in a career.

Many diehard Packer fans would like to show Favre a digit other than a thumb … and it’s not the ring finger.

 

— Thumbs up to local merchants for offering safe and fun trick or treating opportunities to area children. Friday, youngsters were able to make the rounds of downtown shops participating in Boo Fest, where they not only collected Halloween treats in a safe environment, but could help out the food pantry as well.

A $1 donation provided admittance to costume contests, cookie making and other creative activities. So, everyone benefited as the kids got candy, the retailers got shoppers inside their doors and the food pantry will have more money to stock its shelves.

As we know, our Wisconsin weather can contribute unwanted chills and thrills to outdoor trick or treating adventures. We won’t have to deal with freezing rain this year, thankfully, but today’s late afternoon temperatures will probably fall to 40 degrees or so.

It’s too bad we usually have to cover up those Halloween costumes with winter coats, hats and gloves. Maybe a stop at St. Clare Meadows Care Center between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. is in order so the kids can take off those coats and treat residents to the sight of their happy faces and clever costumes.

 

— Thumbs down to the Obama Administration for its childlike behavior involving Fox News.

Last weekend, White House officials attempted to bar a Fox News reporter from participating in a briefing involving an administration official. To their credit, the other four networks that comprise the White House Press Pool — ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN — unanimously objected and threatened to boycott the briefing if Fox was not allowed to participate.

White House officials relented and allowed Fox to participate, but restricted each network to a two-minute interview instead of the normal five minutes. Talk about arrogance. That’s a commodity that has not been in short supply in the Obama Administration.

 

— Thumbs up to a change of rules approved by the Sauk County Board.

Residents operating sawmills on their own property, sawing their own trees, no longer need a permit following action by the board on October 20.

The board voted 19-11 to amend a portion of the county’s zoning ordinance that once made it necessary for anyone operating a sawmill for more than 10 days per year to go through a public hearing process and purchase a one-time $500 permit.

According to the change a permit is still required for most sawmills, except for ones "that process only logs from the same farm on which the sawmill is located, as long as the farm is owned or leased in whole or in part by the sawmill owner."

But a local tree farmer and lumber salesman says the new language does not go far enough.

"It still does not recognize that timber crops are agriculture," said Jim Birkemeier of Spring Green.

We agree that there is logic in Birkemeier’s views, but the board’s latest ruling is a step in the right direction.

 

What’s your take? Send e-mail to bnr-editorial@capitalnewspapers.com