Thumbs up to last week’s Kannapolis Christmas Parade and the Tree Lighting Ceremony. If you want a true picture of “our town,” check out the photos from the tree ceremony in today’s Citizen on Page 4A. Lights, music — Christmas!

Thumbs down to the escalating cost of the Cabarrus County jail. It will only get higher as the county waits for the courts to weigh in on a lawsuit. Now a new commissioner wants to rethink the whole thing. This project has taken Cabarrus County prisoner, with no hopes for freedom any time soon.

Thumbs up to a new state law imposing a $25 fine on teens found using a cell phone while driving. Young drivers are easily distracted. This should get their attention, blue lights and all.