Thumbs up to a report of a new “oil boom” in Wyoming.

Dan Coolidge, a Campbell County commissioner and third-generation oil and gas producer, told The Associated Press that term is being heard more and more, welcome news after more than 20 years of dropping oil production.

“Are we booming? I think we’re in the early stages of a boom,” Coolidge said, while cautioning that it is a “fine line” right now. “Town is certainly busy, all the hotel rooms are booked, rental vacancy rates are down. So yeah, maybe we’re in it.”

The AP cites a lack of available apartments, hotels packed with oil-field workers and “the daily convoys of trucks crisscrossing southern Campbell and northern Converse counties.”

Bruce Hinchey, president of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, said he’s a believer. The truth seems to be there in black and white.

“What we’re tapping into here are significant reserves,” Coolidge said. “These wells will have a 20-year life or more, whereas the coal-bed methane wells (of the most recent local energy boom) had maybe a two-year life.”

And as long as oil prices remain higher than $75-$80 a barrel, the commodity will be attractive to producers, people in the industry predict.

Is it a boom? We’re not going to be picky about the term, but we do know this: It sounds good to us.

Thumbs up to the Powell High School football team for being tough enough to wear pink.

The Panthers will don pink and white socks for Friday’s game against Jackson Hole, and the cheerleaders will wear pink bows in their hair. Fans can join in the effort to raise money to battle breast cancer by purchasing pink bandanas for $1 apiece from the Powell High School National Honor Society.

Panther football head coach Chanler Buck called it “pretty cool,” and we echo that sentiment.

Thumbs up to the community for helping restock the shelves for Powell Valley Loaves and Fishes.

The local food bank reported its food supply was low and asked for donations. Local youth groups spread out across Powell on Wednesday to gather donations.

We would recommend possibly holding a third such food drive to prevent the shelves from getting as bare as they were. We feel people would open their doors and their hearts in the spring, summer and fall to ensure no one goes hungry.

Thumbs up to the Rocky Mountain Manor paying off its mortgage.

The senior living facility borrowed $888,000 in 1964 and now, after 50 years of paying $4,200 per month, it has paid off the debt, which ballooned to more than $2.5 million over a half a century. It’s been money well spent, and hundreds of local residents have a quality place to reside in their golden years.

An open house and mortgage burning is set for 4-6 p.m. Tuesday at the manor, located next to Washington Park. We think this is one fire that everyone will be glad to see lit.

Thumbs up to one of the best times for sports during the year.

The high school teams are wrapping up their seasons, with the Powell High School volleyball and cross country teams headed to conference competition this weekend and state meets by the end of the month.

The football team earned a playoff berth last Friday and will have a chance at a fourth-straight state title, while the volleyball team seems to have a great shot at a second straight state crown.

And pro sports are also in full swing, as the MLB season hits a crescendo with the American League and National League championships to be settled in the next few days and the World Series set to start on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the National Football League is in the middle of its season, and the NBA and NHL are ready to toss up the ball and drop the puck on new seasons.

The weather is colder, the days shorter and winter approaches. But this bonanza of sports will warm the hearts of fans.