Adopt a Highway

Thirty-seven years of volunteering for Adopt a Highway

Thirty-seven years of volunteering for Adopt a Highway

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Thirty-seven years of volunteering for Adopt a Highway

Thirty-seven years of volunteering for Adopt a Highway

By Caroline Carpenter / ADOT Communications
August 8, 2019

Committing to anything for 37 years is a long time. When it’s to pick up trash, some might not even consider it. That’s not the case for two Adopt a Highway volunteers who have been picking up litter along a stretch of State Route 273 near Sunrise Lake since 1982. 

Stephen and Nancy Combs adopted their first segment of highway to honor their son, Kevin. They later adopted another section to remember Stephen’s parents, Lola and Noy “Bushy” Combs. Stephen says, “Each sign reminds us of the good times and stories of a time gone by. Every now and then we hear from someone who has passed by Kevin’s sign, and it is nice to know he’s not forgotten.” 

The Combs live near Gold Canyon but have always spent time in the White Mountains. Stephen tells us Bushy Combs helped build many of the roads on the Rim in the 1960s. Stephen now shares his love the White Mountains by taking his grandkids up north to go fishing. He says adopting a highway is “a great excuse to get out of the heat and enjoy the cool temperatures up north.” 

Over the past 37 years, three generations of the Combs family have honored their deceased family members through the Adopt a Highway program. Signing up to adopt a highway only requires a two-year commitment, but we can only imagine Kevin, Lola and Bushy Combs would be proud of the many years their family has been working to keep the White Mountains beautiful.

Adopt a Highway: Glendale Union High School District volunteers earn an A-plus

Adopt a Highway: Glendale Union High School District volunteers earn an A-plus

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Adopt a Highway: Glendale Union High School District volunteers earn an A-plus

Adopt a Highway: Glendale Union High School District volunteers earn an A-plus

By Mary Currie / ADOT Adopt a Highway
July 31, 2019

This story began as a back-to-school message to kids of all ages about the negative effects of littering. I was struggling for a catchy new angle when the phone rang.

Richard Perez, permit supervisor for ADOT's Northwest District, called to notify me that the Glendale Union High School District Transportation Department had requested a one-time litter clean-up along 2 miles of State Route 89A, known to locals in Dewey as Fain Road.

Last week I met up with the group as they prepared for an ADOT safety briefing. Hilma Gustafson, the district's transportation supervisor, and Timothy Tillman, a transportation dispatcher, were busy outfitting safety vests and preparing for the cleanup.

It is not often one can say this literally, but not far behind were busloads of volunteers, two of them, 40-strong each, pouring into the parking lot to join the event. When I asked Tim why he choose Adopt a Highway, he told me that scheduling volunteer events for large groups can be challenging. This was a way to keep the group together rather than dividing them up among different service projects.   

 

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Hilma, a 27-year transportation employee with the district, brings the department together annually before the school year starts for training. A few years ago she added volunteering to the program. That's taken them to food banks, thrift stores and, now, the side of a state highway. 

According to Tim, “Volunteering as a group, large or small, is a way to give back to the community. It also opens the volunteer door to some who may have never done volunteering, and it improves the beauty of our great state.”

Well kids, the back-to-school message became more about teamwork and community pride. Not the direction I intended this post to go, but this is a catchy, maybe-not-so-new angle: Making a difference starts with each one of us.

 

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I had a chance to chat with a few of the 40 volunteers as they walked along filling their trash bags. Each had a smile to share and did not seem to mind a rather warm northern Arizona morning. What I learned is that teamwork is second nature to this transportation department. Dispatchers, bus drivers, supervisors and trainers all work toward the common goal of safely delivering students.

Their efforts netted 51 full litter bags dotting SR 89A, earning them a well-deserved "A-plus" for the team. Thank you to the Glendale Union High School District Transportation Department for spending part of your day with the Adopt a Highway Volunteer program. Your service to the community reflects in our new program motto: Arizona, Keep it Grand.

Do you have team spirit? Then please visit the ADOT website to learn more about our Adopt a Highway program. An interactive map will show you which highway segments are available to adopt. 

 

They're keeping Arizona grand by adopting high country highways

They're keeping Arizona grand by adopting high country highways

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They're keeping Arizona grand by adopting high country highways

They're keeping Arizona grand by adopting high country highways

By Caroline Carpenter / ADOT Communications
July 17, 2019

Many of us think of escaping to the White Mountains at this time of year, but not everyone thinks about getting out of town to pick up trash along a highway. 

Fortunately for those who enjoy trips to Arizona's high country, there are volunteers helping keep highways clean when they're getting away from it all. Two of those volunteers recently shared their love for the mountains and for loved ones they honor through ADOT's Adopt a Highway volunteer program

Deb Givler adopted a highway segment more than 15 years ago after her husband, Chris, passed away. Chris used to bring Deb to the White Mountains where they dreamed of having a cabin. They later brought their two sons to the White Mountains. As Deb tells us, “It’s a good place to bring boys.” 

After Chris died, Deb wanted to honor him and remembered he would always pick up trash on their fishing trips. Deb initially adopted a highway near Overgaard. Now she picks up litter along State Route 260 near McNary. It’s less than 10 miles from her cabin but nearly 200 miles from her home in Phoenix. Deb used to do the cleanups with her sons, but now that they’re in college she often does it by herself. She says it gives her time to think about and remember Chris. 

Deb believes it’s up to all of us to take care of the area and we shouldn’t expect someone else to do it. “A lot of people have cabins up in the mountains, why not do something to honor your family?” she says. 

Another Adopt a Highway volunteer, Michael Stafford, says cleaning up a highway in the mountains is a good way to spend some time alone and get peace of mind. 

Michael used to travel from his home in Scottsdale to volunteer with his significant other, Charlene Sipe. Around 2001, Charlene adopted a mile along US 191 north of her Nutrioso cabin to honor her late husband, Dennis, and his best friend. Their Adopt a Highway sign reads “In memory of two good old boys.” 

Before Charlene passed away in early July, Michael would help Charlene and her son, James, pick up trash along their mile in front of the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area. Now that Charlene is gone, Michael plans to continue the cleanups as a way to honor Charlene. 

If you would like to keep the area around your Arizona cabin clean or want a way to remember and honor a loved one, please visit to the Adopt a Highway website to pick out your mile.

Adopt a Highway: Inspiration led to 20 years of keeping Chinle area clean

Adopt a Highway: Inspiration led to 20 years of keeping Chinle area clean

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Adopt a Highway: Inspiration led to 20 years of keeping Chinle area clean

Adopt a Highway: Inspiration led to 20 years of keeping Chinle area clean

June 25, 2019

By Mary Currie / ADOT Adopt a Highway

Twenty-six years ago Caroline Dale, senior homesite agent for the Chinle Navajo Land Department, became inspired by a promotion for an annual event celebrating support of the environment and harmony with nature.

Dale’s inspiration turned to action when she adopted a stretch of US Route 191 near her office. Her mission: Keep Arizona clean. Between three and seven department staff members joined Dale’s continuing effort to clean up trash along this stretch in Chinle.

Chinle is located in northeastern Apache County on the Navajo Nation. The name Chinle in Navajo means “flowing out” and is a reference to where water flows out of picturesque Canyon de Chelly nearby.

On June 5, ADOT’s Northeast District staff members and program representatives gathered in Holbrook to recognize Dale for her volunteer service with ADOT. By stepping forward to reduce litter in her community more than two decades ago, Dale and her team left an imprint in the form of a positive impression to residents, travelers and visitors to the area.

That's Dale second from the right in the photo above, joined by, from left to right, Matt Moul, district engineer for ADOT's Northeast District; yours truly; and Tim Tait, ADOT communications director.

We hope you too will be inspired by both Dale's awareness of nature and her mission to reduce litter in Arizona. If you are interested in forming your own group of volunteers learn more about the Adopt a Highway Volunteer program and check out an interactive map to see available locations ready for adoption throughout the state.



EDITOR'S NOTE: The author oversees ADOT Adopt a Highway programs.

Make dad proud by adopting a highway

Make dad proud by adopting a highway

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Make dad proud by adopting a highway

Make dad proud by adopting a highway

June 10, 2019

By Caroline Carpenter / ADOT Communications

With Father’s Day around the corner, many are searching for that perfect gift, while some are remembering a father who has passed away. If you’re looking for a unique way to honor a family member and do something for your community, adopting a highway might be right for you.

For the past 17 years the Schlecht family has been cleaning up a stretch of State Route 72 in La Paz County. They began participating in ADOT's Adopt a Highway program in 2002 after Tom, the youngest of 10, passed away from cancer. When their parents, Don and Phyllis Schlecht, died, the sign dedication was changed to “Dad, Mom & Brother Tom.”

The Schlecht family grew up together in North Dakota. Now they gather several times each year to pick up litter along their 2-mile segment south of Parker, near the State Route 95 junction. The photo above shows the five Schlecht brothers next to their family's Adopt a Highway sign. The family tells us the process has evolved over the years and often includes more than just immediate family members. Friends and former classmates from North Dakota have joined in.

Pat Schlecht says their parents taught them about the value of hard work and to care about the environment. According to Pat, “I know that Mom, Dad and Tom would be proud that we continue to gather and share with each other memories and stories from home as we work alongside each other. More people should get involved in this process, as it is easy to do, does not require much expenditure and the return is many fold.”

Whether you’re looking to remember a cherished family member or want to honor a veteran who has served our country, adopting a highway in the name of your loved one can be a way to remember them and improve your community. There are currently more than 400 Adopt a Highway memorial segments across the state. Visit the ADOT website to learn more about the Adopt a Highway program. An interactive map will show you which highway segments are available to adopt.

Keeping Arizona clean again motivates Adopt a Highway manager

Keeping Arizona clean again motivates Adopt a Highway manager

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Keeping Arizona clean again motivates Adopt a Highway manager

Keeping Arizona clean again motivates Adopt a Highway manager

June 5, 2019

By Laurie Merrill /ADOT Communications

Let’s face it, not everyone jumps out of bed most mornings and says, “I’m going to clean a highway today!”

But keeping highways litter-free again motivates Mary Currie, program manager in charge of ADOT’s Adopt a Highway program. She's at right in the photos immediately above and below and solo in the picture farther down.

Currie's mission is spreading the word about the rewards of adopting a piece of highway and gathering with like-minded folks for a few hours of fellowship and community service.

“There is nothing glamorous about cleaning up other people’s litter or stuff that has blown out of a window or a truck bed,” Currie says. “But nearly 10,000 individuals did that for us last year.”

Among them was Currie, who has worked at ADOT since 2005. After stepping into her new role in late 2017, she quickly saw the wisdom of walking the walk.

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After all, it’s hard to pitch an activity without firsthand experience.

Thus she organized ADOT Communications' own band of garbage removers, whose Adopt a Highway sign says, “Word Sayers and Trash Slayers.” They gather through out the year to spiff up a stretch on US 60 near Wittmann northwest of the Valley.

That team is one of  more than 900 whose members put on safety vests, wield trash pickers and stuff garbage into large plastic bags. There were 810 groups in 2017.

Currie notes that about 400 of the current groups adopted highway segments as a remembrance of a friend or family member. One such group, taking care of a stretch of State Route 260 in eastern Arizona, is the family and loved ones of Clint Fluhr, who passed away in 2007 at age 23 in Pinetop. Then there's Evelyn Oneil, who adopted a stretch of SR 79 south of Florence Junction to remember her son, U.S. Marine Brodie Jay Denow.

“It means so much to people that they can memorialize a loved one by getting together and doing something for the community in their honor like cleaning up trash,” Currie said.

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One of the longstanding groups, The Prescott Litter Lifters, dates to 1981. They get together several-dozen strong for an hour twice a week.

“They currently clean over 60 miles of Prescott highway and area roads. Volunteers picked up over 6,000 bags of trash, and that's just since 2012,” Currie said.

Currie has initiated two programs to recognize volunteers, an Adopt a Highway quarterly newsletter and a certificate of appreciation given to each team leader.

“We want them to know that many are watching the good work they do, and let them know they are valued,” Currie said.

Another new feature is an Adopt a Highway interactive map that makes it easier for people to see which stretches of roadway may be up for adoption.

“These are groups or individuals that decide to take a step forward and make Arizona a better place,” Currie said. “They do it because they want to make a difference. This is what drives me.”

If you're interested in adopting a highway and helping keep Arizona litter-free, please visit azdot.gov/adoptahighway.

Making trash go viral, in a good way

Making trash go viral, in a good way

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Making trash go viral, in a good way

Making trash go viral, in a good way

April 27, 2019

By Caroline Carpenter / ADOT Communications

We've learned there are a lot of people out there passionate about cleaning up their communities. Now there is a hashtag for them! Recently, the hashtags #Trashtag and #TrashtagChallenge starting trending on social media and went viral.

We'll explain for those you wondering: What is a hashtag, and what would I do with it?

In mid-March, people used the hashtag #Trashtag and posted photos of themselves cleaning up litter. Hikers collected trash on the mountains and beachgoers cleaned up the beaches. Then they posted selfies picking up litter and hashtagged them #Trashtag. A hashtag is like a Google search for social media. Users can go onto social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and use a hashtag to search for topics of interest. The hashtag #Trashtag was so popular that media outlets like Forbes, the BBC and Huffington Post took notice, writing stories about the movement.

If this hashtag inspires you to help make Arizona litter-free, we hope you'll consider turning that passion into action by becoming an Adopt a Highway volunteer. Hundreds of individuals and organizations have adopted stretches of state highways, and more stretches are available.

We'll provide safety vests, litter bags and safety training, and your group's name goes on an Adopt a Highway sign at the location. Volunteers agree to pick up litter there, preferably three or more times per year.

The efforts of Adopt a Highway volunteers go a long way toward keeping the highways clean and beautiful. That's a spirit we'd like to see go viral just like #Trashtag.

Governor proclaims: Let's hear it for Arizona's volunteers

Governor proclaims: Let's hear it for Arizona's volunteers

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Governor proclaims: Let's hear it for Arizona's volunteers

Governor proclaims: Let's hear it for Arizona's volunteers

April 11, 2019

EDITOR'S NOTE: With Governor Doug Ducey proclaiming April 7-13 Arizona Volunteer Week, we're sharing a note that Mary J. Currie, who oversees ADOT Adopt a Highway programs, sent to the many volunteers who help make Arizona a nicer place by cleaning up litter along state highways. She also shared a copy of the proclamation, which is below. In the photos above, Mary, a volunteer herself, is at far left and bottom right.


National Volunteer Week is observed April 7-13 this year. We kicked off the celebration with a tribute to one of our longstanding volunteer groups (Adopt a Highway Volunteers appreciated all year, not just during National Volunteer Week). I am very proud of our nearly 10,000 volunteers who support our efforts to clean up Arizona's roadways.

Governor Ducey honored Adopt a Highway volunteers and all other volunteers who make Arizona such a special place by proclaiming Arizona Volunteer Week. I'm pleased to share that proclamation with you.

Thank you for enhancing the overall quality of life in your community, and choosing to do that through the Arizona Department of Transportation's Adopt a Highway volunteer program. For more information about the ADOT Adopt a Highway program please visit azdot.gov/AAH.

Adopt a Highway Volunteers appreciated all year, not just during National Volunteer Week

Adopt a Highway Volunteers appreciated all year, not just during National Volunteer Week

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Adopt a Highway Volunteers appreciated all year, not just during National Volunteer Week

Adopt a Highway Volunteers appreciated all year, not just during National Volunteer Week

April 8, 2019

By Garin Groff / ADOT Communications

With this being National Volunteer Week, we’ve been figuring out the best way to show you the impact made by more than 900 volunteer groups who have adopted an Arizona highway.

And then we heard from volunteer Gene Van Dyken, who reports to us that his group’s weekly cleanups along Interstate 19 in Green Valley have already won the community’s appreciation.

“Yesterday a couple wrote in the (Green Valley) News, Letter to the Editor, “WE SEE YOU. The persons who get up early and clean the trash from the roadsides in Green Valley! We owe you a big thank you.”

Van Dyken is part of Green Valley Litter Patrol, an Adopt a Highway group that started about 2008 and has collected 3,182 bags of trash. The group volunteers every week, except during the hottest part of the year.

“We enjoy doing something that most everyone agrees is beneficial to our community,” Van Dyken said. “And we really like the camaraderie of the group. People notice the work we put into it.”

All of us at ADOT would also like to thank Van Dyken, his group and hundreds of passionate volunteers who collect litter across the state. Their efforts save taxpayers $500,000 a year!

If you’d like to be the next person or group to help beautify Arizona’s highways, we’re always welcoming new volunteers.

Check out our statewide map of highway sections available for adoption and learn more about the program.

We've made it easier for volunteers to help keep highways free of litter

We've made it easier for volunteers to help keep highways free of litter

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We've made it easier for volunteers to help keep highways free of litter

We've made it easier for volunteers to help keep highways free of litter

March 12, 2019

By Garin Groff / ADOT Communications

Arizona is known for its scenic highways, whether they traverse deserts or forests, mountains or valleys.

But there’s more than geography at work, as our highways remain beautiful in part because more than 700 volunteer groups pick up litter along 1,500 miles of ADOT roadways.

Now we’re making it even easier for others to join our Adopt a Highway program by launching an interactive map showing which roadway segments are waiting for volunteers.

The map, available at azdot.gov/AdoptaHighway, allows visitors to quickly zoom in on any corner of Arizona to see adoptable highway segments. And with a simple click, you can connect directly to that highway’s Adopt a Highway coordinator.

Some volunteers tell us they’ve signed up because they’re winter visitors who want to get outside and enjoy Arizona’s scenery, while others do it as a memorial to a loved one.

Check out our new map, and maybe you’ll find your own source of inspiration to volunteer.