Is your puzzler sore?

It's a fair question and it happened to a beloved holiday character whose evil ways were transformed during a wintry self-realization experience.

Location? A pointy and litter-free cartoon mountain top. Our character and thief, relieved a small town of the holiday feast. A beast. Nevermind the ribbons, tags, packages, boxes and bags looted from the tiny village.

And yet, none of the shiny items littered the pathway to that slim and snowy summit. The tinsel and shiny packaging that could easily have been blown from the sled were objects of a desperate and misguided spirit.

But something rad happened on that ridiculous sea wave of a peak. A deep and puzzling experience that prompted goodness and a change of heart in the antagonist.

As the story goes, each present and holiday food item was returned to the grateful villagers in the nick of time. And not one package or tag from the well-secured sled was found along the icy road side during the flurry of swirling gifts and products from village to peak and back again.

A miracle indeed. Or was it?

Thank you to ADOT volunteers who help keep our villages and not-so-pointy mountains litter-free. If you want to learn more about the program no need to puzzle— click here. Happy Holidays!

The Arizona Department of Transportation remembers veterans for the commitment made to our great nation and those who continue to serve their communities.

Forty-five veterans groups care for adopted segments along state highways throughout Arizona. These individuals gather to reduce litter in the community and to express honor and remembrance to fallen military, beloved family members and friends.

Thank you to all veterans and veteran organization groups for leading others to help keep Arizona grand.

Adopting a two-mile section of state highway is one way to express pride in your community and preserve the beauty of Arizona. We welcome civic-minded groups and individuals interested in gathering together to pick up litter a few times per year. Click here for program details.

Fifty-three Starlight Pines residents gathered to celebrate 32 years of engaged participation in the Adopt a Highway Volunteer program at a community meeting held Saturday, Oct. 8. The community is located in Happy Jack between Payson and Winslow on State Route 87.

Starlighters Committee Chair Bonnie Steele and Adopt a Highway Group Coordinator Naïla Erwin are the positive force leading Adopt a Highway volunteer cleanups in the Starlight Pines community. 

Erwin said, “We are very proud of living in Starlight Pines and want to make sure that people who drive through see a clean highway, so they will know that we care about our community and our state.” 

Mary Currie, Adopt a Highway program coordinator, presented a years of service certificate and a certificate of appreciation for participating in a National CleanUp Day 2022 trash collection in September. 

Currie said, “This is such an important group of individuals that give of themselves year over year. And they continue the momentum of volunteerism so well by organizing and announcing community cleanup events.” 

Further north on SR 87, Lou and Cindy Hoover are the caretakers for an adopted two miles adjacent to the Starlighters segment. Hoover was recognized by the Starlighters for their neighborhood partnership. Erwin said, “We do the two sections together. As a reward for our hard work and a chance to visit, we have a potluck lunch afterward.”

Joel Harris, a retired Phoenix firefighter, remembers when his parents moved to Starlight and were part of the original founders of this volunteer effort. Harris says they fell in love with the surroundings and became active in preserving the community. Why is littering such a big deal? Harris said, “It destroys the natural beauty of the forest, it is unhealthy and it’s not good for the animals. We enjoy trying to keep this area clean and natural.”

Since 1990, more than 1,700 pounds of trash has been collected by 177 volunteers along the two-mile segment that parallels the community. Improving the view from the highway and preserving beauty for travelers and campers nearby are part of the legacy of community spirit Starlighters have fostered for more than three decades. 

Want to start something good in your community?  Visit azdot.gov/adoptahighway to begin trash-reducing efforts along an Arizona state highway near you.

This year's statewide litter cleanup event marks five years that Adopt a Highway volunteers have dedicated the third Saturday in September, aka National CleanUp Day, to reduce litter along state highways.

Total pounds collected were estimated at 4,586 pounds, the second largest haul of litter collected since 8,693 pounds was reported after the event in 2020.  

On Sept. 17, 39 volunteer groups and 215 individual volunteers in 11 counties filled 335 litter bags and gathered larger debris into piles for disposal totalling 2.3 tons. 

ADOT Digital Communication Supervisor, John LaBarbera caught up with Stephanie Humble and her crew of seven early Saturday morning on US 60 near Apache Junction. The group's volunteer sign reads "Nicholas Wayne Humble," in memory of Humble's son who passed away Oct. 7, 2017. Humble said, "We're cleaning up our portion of the highway to honor his name and make a difference in the community." 

Further east along US 60, LaBarbera met ADOT Water Resources Stormwater Program Coordinator Laura Nordan near the town of Miami. Nordan adopted a segment to show support as she has done for the past several years. Part of Nordan's role is to help educate the public about the impact of stormwater runoff through community outreach. Nordan said, "Trash is one of  the leading causes of water pollution and why it is so important to prevent litter from entering storm drains where it is directly linked to washes, ponds and lakes."

Thanks to this year's volunteers, many of whom are shown in the photo slideshow embedded in this post, and those who participate year 'round at adopted segments in their communities. 

During the last fiscal year, litter collection and disposal cost $7.4m statewide. If you would like to help us keep Arizona grand by volunteering, visit azdot.gov/adoptahighway.