It is very hard for me to believe that it is once again time for that column where we give out praise where it is deserved, and give out some criticism where it, too, is deserved.

Yes, I can hardly believe it, but it has been three months since we last did our always eagerly anticipated Cheers and Jeers column. The last one was in the Sept. 29 issue of the Register, so unbelievably it is time, with October, November and December rushing past at full steam.

Let’s start with a Cheer to the Faribault County Board for their selection of Jennifer Howard as the new Veterans Services Officer. We believe it is an excellent choice and feel that she is going to embrace the job and do well.

We wish her much success in her new position.

A similar Cheer goes to the Winnebago EDA for their selection of Randy and Patti Nowak as the Winnebago Hall of Fame selections for this year.

Again, we feel they made an excellent choice, as the Nowaks have always done many, many things for the community of Winnebago.

A Cheer goes out to the city of Elmore, and their city administrator, Mandy Emmers, for having worked hard on getting grants so that they could accomplish turning a large area in Elmore into a new Activities Park.

This would be an impressive accomplishment for a larger city, so it is very awesome that a small town like Elmore can have this. Have you seen it? We suggest waiting for spring and then take a look.

An additional Cheer goes out to the group in Wells working on a redo of Thompson Park and in Blue Earth where they are trying to create a Giant Inclusive Playground for kids of all abilities.

Hopefully in the future we can give those two groups a big Cheer of their own.

A Cheer goes to the city of Blue Earth, and the Blue Earth Chamber of Commerce, for having settled their issues surrounding the funding of the Giant Welcome Center. Those were some complex issues and we are glad to see they were able to be settled to everyone’s satisfaction.

We have to give out a special big Cheer to the students at Blue Earth Area Middle and Elementary School.

Why? Well they first had a coin collection competition to raise money for the Blue Earth Area Foundation, which puts on the Buc$ for Bucs fundraiser and then gives out a lot of money to support various things at the BEA Schools.

Secondly, they also raised a bunch of money and a whole lot of toys for the You Can Make A Difference Campout.

And they did it all with smiles and love in their hearts, and with a concern for kids like them, who maybe don’t have much.

So next we better give out a Cheer to the Buc$ for Bucs Committee and to those crazy campers at the YCMAD Campout. What they both do makes a great big difference in a lot of peoples lives.

Our next Cheer could also be a salute. It goes to those folks who organize and put on all the Veterans Day programs around the county. It is something that is very special.

So another bunch of Cheers goes out to all of you folks who attend these programs, to show your respect and to honor those who have served in the military for our country.

A Cheer goes out to the folks at STEP, Inc., for creating a lot of baskets of food and other items to give out to those in need or those who need a little Christmas cheer boost.

A similar Cheer goes out to the youth at Trinity Lutheran Church who did baskets full of food that would create a Thanksgiving and/or Christmas meal for those who would not be able to have one.

The same kind of double Cheer goes out to other groups.

The Knights of Columbus, who put on the most heart warming event at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Blue Earth.

They invite all of the special needs folks, people with physical or mental disabilities in and around the community, to a Christmas party. There is a complete turkey dinner with all the fixings and then Santa arrives and gives everyone a present.

And then there are the law enforcement officers in Faribault County who do something awesome for kids whose families may not have a lot. It is called Shop with a Cop, and the kids get to pick out items and toys to give to their family members. A big Cheer for the cops.

And there you have it. You just might have noticed that this column is filled with lots of things to Cheer, and not one, not one single Jeer being sent out.

Oh, it is not because there hasn’t been a lot to Jeer about in the past three months, but hey, it is Christmas week. And we need to have some Christmas Cheer.

There will be plenty of time for some Jeers later.