THUMBS UP

A start

To Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Seattle for designating five parking spots to homeless families living out of vehicles.

Along with a place to park the car, families get access to church restrooms and outlets to charge cellphones.

We suspect these campers are also receiving emotional support and help with job and apartment leads.

But it won't solve the problem.

The city estimates there are about 500 homeless people living in their cars in Seattle. But it's a start.

If another 50 organizations followed suit, the problem would get a lot better.

Sledding safety

To the Richland School District for making an unpopular call. Nobody was very happy that the police closed Carmichael hill during the best sledding day of the year. Well, that's not entirely true.

Perhaps the crew in the emergency room at Kadlec was. After all, it was their request that prompted the action.

We're sure when they had to airflight to Seattle one boy who hit the dugout, they weren't anxious to do that again.

But we appreciate the gesture. We also appreciate that the closure was temporary.

We also send our wishes for a full recovery to the injured.

Maybe there's a way to make that hill safer. Perhaps a service club is looking for a community project?

THUMBS DOWN

Poor sports

For the high school sports ejections.

One is too many. So 453 ejections from Washington high school players last school season is sobering.

Part of the increase could be the officiators' push to clean up their leagues. When the consequence is steeper, the behavior should improve.

But still, we are concerned that abusive language and violent conduct has become part of almost every game.

Playing sports is supposed to build character and hone skills. In theory, at least, people play sports to have fun.

Officer's uniforms

The correction officers at Coyote Ridge want to have their uniforms purchased from a private company rather than made by the prisoners.

This is kind of like when your mom sews you a pair of pants instead of buying you Levis. In this case, it appears that Mom's handiwork is shoddy.

If the inmates are making the uniforms for the correction officers -- or anything for anyone -- to wear, they should be made to industry standards.

Pants that don't fit, buttons that pop off and seams that come undone are not acceptable articles of clothing.

Prisoners that are employed should be learning skills they can transfer to the outside world.

Usually people that produce subpar work aren't employed very long.