Thumbs up: To the Minnesota Twins for defying the oddsmakers in their recently completed phenomenal season.

The Twins were one of the last teams predicted to win the division or even finish near the top. It turns out the Chicago White Sox had to beat the Twins in a tiebreaker playoff type game for the division title.

Many predicted the loss of superstars Johann Santana and Torii Hunter would doom the Twins to the cellar of the division, but with top-notch manager Ron Gardenhire and his coaching staff, the Twins were a contender all season. They were a competitive team that was fun to watch. They have the fewest home runs of any team in the American League, but near the top with runs scored.

It was classic small ball, the way baseball can be played by teams of differing talents. All in all, the Twins provided the kind of professional sports entertainment for the fans despite significant player turnover.

Autism awareness is the way to go
Thumbs up: To organizers of WALKdo, a local fundraiser to benefit families affected by autism scheduled for noon Sunday beginning at the Red Jacket Trail near West High School.

Parents of autistic children are very aware of the challenges and opportunities they face with this often-misunderstood disorder. But there’s so much more to know, and so much many of us do not know. In Minnesota, about one in 81 children born is autistic, compared with about one in 150 outside the state. Nationally, efforts to understand autism is growing, and it’s fitting that here in the Mankato area the effort is under way.

Proceeds from WALKdo will go toward bringing in an informed speaker that will educate and encourage locals about a disorder that is difficult for most of us to comprehend. But autistic children, and their parents, need the kind of understanding that the WALKdo event can help bring about.

Time to pressure Chinese government
Thumbs down: To China’s disregard for safety in its food-processing industry. The inclusion of melamine, an industrial chemical, as a filler in milk products has sickened more than 50,000 children and killed several babies in their own country. In addition, the contamination has caused concern in other countries that sell Chinese-made food. British candy maker Cadbury announced a recall of some of its chocolate this week made in China that was sold in the Pacific and Asia and tested positive for the chemical.

As the U.S. knows with its own struggle of dealing with contaminated foods, policing the food industry isn’t easy. But there’s a big difference between accidental contamination and adding a chemical that has the ability to poison. World leaders who trade with China need to put pressure on the country to clean up its act.

—Free Press Editorial Board

Kudos to BENCHS’ Katherine Nelson
Thumbs up: While driving back to Eagle Lake on Highway 60 on a recent evening, I saw a distressed dog, that had been lost or abandoned, running along the highway.

I stopped to pick up the dog, then pulled in at the Eagle Lake police station hoping they could be of help. The heedless response was to take it to a humane society or take it home and name it.

I went home to work the phone in calling various agencies that possibly could be of help. I was delighted to find a lady at the Law Enforcement Center in Mankato who helpfully explained the policies and facilities for lost animals in Blue Earth County.

I came to understand that it would be necessary for me to shelter the dog until the next Monday, when the Blue Earth County Impound facility could receive her.

But, on a whim, I phoned a member of the Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society at her home on a Saturday night. She said, “heavens yes,” bring the dog to the humane society now as she would drive into Mankato and open up the facility to receive the dog and shelter it. They would take it to the impound facility on Monday.

Kudos to Katherine Nelson of BENCHS for her obvious love and passion for animals and especially for her willingness to provide personal services beyond what may reasonably be expected. The citizens of this county, and especially displaced animals of this county, are so very fortunate to have her at BENCHS.

Phyllis Wisen

Eagle Lake