THUMBS UP: The smell of corn dogs, cotton candy and barbecue will soon be wafting over Yorkville and Union Grove. It's Racine County Fair time, once again. Youngsters (and adults) have their exhibits and livestock in prime shape as they eye their chances of winning some ribbons (and bragging rights). Whether it's the carnival midway, the demo derby, the food, the shows or grandstand show by country singer Sara Evans, this year's Racine County Fair has a hefty lineup of fun and entertainment. It opens Wednesday and runs through Aug. 2. Step right up and win a prize!

THUMBS UP: It was "Fish on!" for the small fry this week at Lake Beulah. The 14th annual Cops 'N Kids Fishing Trip netted about 100 youngsters Wednesday - a new record for the event. In addition to wetting a few worms and catching a few fish, this year's outing included pontoon boat rides, a wildlife presentation and a Future Farmers of America showing of farm animals. Here's a tip of the cap to the many volunteers and off-duty officers who made the field trip possible - the Racine Police Athletic Association, the Racine Bass Club, Culver's restaurant for supplying lunch, Project New Life teen volunteers, the DNR for donating fishing poles, Divine Word Seminary for hosting at the lake and Kathy Tobar for hosting at her farm.

THUMBS DOWN: Much as we might wish that downbeat economic news might take a summer vacation, that wasn't the case here this past week. Case-New Holland posted a second quarter loss and announced it would be paring 10 to 12 percent of its construction equipment work force. Quarterly sales of construction and agricultural equipment fell by a third from last year. At the same time, jobless rates for the city and county came out. Both were about double the rates from a year ago. Racine County had a jobless rate of 10.8 percent in June and the city's was 16.6 percent.

THUMBS UP: There are other statistics we like to see drop, though, and, thankfully, that was the case with major crimes in the city during the first half of the year. Racine Police Chief Kurt Wahlen said this week that robberies so far this year in the city are down to 88, compared to 155 for the same period last year. He noted that seemed counterintuitive with the drop in the economy and people out of work. "Maybe it's because people are unemployed and home with the kids," Wahlen said, "I don't know, but I'm thankful for it nonetheles and wish we can continue it." So do we, so do we.