ROSE (roz) n. One of the most beautiful of all flowers, a symbol of fragrance and loveliness. Often given as a sign of appreciation.

RASPBERRY (raz'ber'e) n. A sharp, scornful comment, criticism or rebuke; a derisive, splatting noise, often called the Bronx cheer.

We hereby deliver:

• ROSES to all of the community members and law enforcement officials who had a role in bringing an end to the long nightmare that began May 24, 2004.

Thanks to them, long-time sex offender Joel Courtney is now a New Mexico prison inmate, serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the kidnapping, rape and murder of 19-year-old Brooke Wilberger.

We would like to express our affection to a community that never forgot this crime, and a deep respect for the law enforcement officials who never stopped looking for her.

Roses as well to the investigators in New Mexico who linked Courtney's attack on a 22-year-old Russian exchange student on Nov. 29, 2004, to the mysterious disappearance six months earlier in Oregon.

And finally, roses to that student. We wish her well. She put a murderer behind bars.

• • •

• ROSES to Harry Mallory, who nominated for a "rose" the generous members of Corvallis Elks Lodge 1413. They provide a measure of comfort to some Oregon soldiers stationed in Iraq. It's a rose perhaps best delivered in Mallory's own words:

"I'm Harry Mallory, and I am one of the coordinators of the Family Readiness Group for Company B, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, which is currently deployed near Ur, Iraq. I would like to see the Corvallis Elks recognized for coming to the aid of our unit after being contacted asking if they could help fill a deficiency in toiletry articles where the company is stationed.

"Bravo company, as well as the rest of Oregon's Task Force Volunteer, are stationed at Camp Adder Iraq, a former Iraqi Air Base. Apparently quite a few soldiers are stationed there beside the Oregonians, and the Post Exchange is too small and under-stocked to handle the demand, so toiletry items disappear within a day or two of resupply.

"When the word reached us, we called the Corvallis Elks and they responded quickly, dropping off several pounds of various toiletry articles that same week which were packaged by family volunteers during our family program meeting. The troops have already received these items and are very appreciative of their efforts."

Stacks and boxes of toothpaste, soap, shaving cream, deodorant and talcum powder may not seem like much unless you don't have these things. We add our thanks to the Elks, and to Mallory, for nominating them.

• • •

• RASPBERRIES to a theft police listed on their crime log as a Beaver Mobile.

The first part that the vehicle stored at the Valley Football Center known as "the Beaver Mobile" was missing when its owner went to retrieve it in June. It was last seen in November (perhaps after the ill-fated Civil War game?)

The vehicle is valued at $3,000, but as soon as the item appeared in our "Crime Watch" listings, our phones rang from readers who insisted that they own Beaver mobiles, too - and they had the websites and blogs to prove it. We're talking orange former mail trucks and small cars.

So, ROSES to all of the citizens of Beaver Nation who own these mobile displays of their school pride. And we hope that soon we'll be able to report the recovery of the Beaver Mobile that used to live at the Valley Football Center.

• • •

• RASPBERRIES to the unfortunate fire that has closed - no for long, we hope - one of our homiest local neighborhood restaurant/bar: Tommy's 4th Street Bar & Grill at Fourth Street and Adams Avenue in downtown Corvallis.

The fire broke out after 3 a.m. Sunday and scorched the kitchen and dining area. Jim Patton, Corvallis Fire Department fire prevention officer. Nobody was hurt, thanks in part to quick action by Corvallis police.

Tommy's owner Bill Enwright, who has owned the business for nine years, was shaken by the fire but said he has insurance. We hope that we soon can report the grand re-opening of Tommy's.

• • •

• ROSES to a gentle transition into fall. It arrived Tuesday afternoon in the midst of an unusually warm three-day streak marred only by Wednesday's falling ash from wildfires in southern Oregon.

The nice weather is expected to linger though this weekend's Fall Festival, and we hope that everyone has a chance to enjoy this Corvallis welcoming ceremony to fall. By Monday, the weather is forecast to reflect the seasons with three days of rain.