THUMBS UP: To all of the athletes and volunteers who participated in the Valdosta-Lowndes County Winter Special Olympic Games. For two days, boys and girls, men and women, between the ages of 6 and 22 competed in bowling and basketball. When it was all said and done, everyone was declared a winner.

THUMBS UP: To everyone who participated in the Doug Henderson III Memorial Golf Tournament on Thursday. A total of 31 four-man teams competed, making this year’s tournament the largest ever. The winning team was Nate Balanis, Brian Conley, Zac Crosby and Tonya Crosby with a net score of 53.1. All proceeds from the event, which included live and silent auctions, benefit the community, as well as the fight against cancer.

THUMBS UP: To those who answered The Valdosta Daily Times’ call last week to help Bill Holt of LODAC with his youth chess clubs at Lowndes Middle School, Lake Park Elementary School, Ora Lee West and Hudson Dockett. The Times gave $250 and challenged others to help purchase more boards, pieces and other equipment for this worthwhile endeavor. Others answered the call. Bill Holt mentions that the program could also use more volunteers to help teach chess.

THUMBS UP: To airmen at Moody Air Force Base for answering a call to assist in the search for a missing F-16 pilot who suffered a mid-air collision off the coast of Charleston, S.C., Thursday night. Two HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters departed the base Friday morning with crewmembers, a combat rescue officer and pararescuemen. The HH-60Gs were slated to provide a platform and equipment for recovery during the search effort.