Adopt a Highway Volunteer Newsletter - Winter 2021

Arizona Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 01/14/2021 08:43 AM MST. If you would like alerts on this and other ADOT news, sign up above to receive our GovDelivery notices.

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Volunteer Newsletter - Winter 2021
Maddie Ella

Happy New Year!

To our volunteers, followers and travelers on the state highway, we wish you a new year filled with joy and good health.

I am pleased to report that our Adopt a Highway Volunteer group numbers have steadily increased over the past three years. Last year, volunteer groups topped 1,100. This compares to 810 groups participating in 2017. A positive sign of increased community involvement and litter awareness throughout Arizona.

Thanks to nearly 5,000 program volunteers, who removed  8,000 bags of litter — about 110,000 — pounds from state highway corridors last year! We appreciate the many groups who schedule quarterly and even weekly litter clean-up events throughout the year and report their litter to us, so that we may report these successes to you.                                     

While the number of volunteer groups did climb, overall the Adopt a Highway Volunteer program experienced a reduction in litter volunteer activity last year, as expected due to the pandemic. Volunteer groups reporting an intent to schedule a litter cleanup or report their filled litter bags was down nearly 50%. Group leaders are welcomed to schedule cleanups by contacting a local Adopt a Highway representative to notify at least one week prior to the clean up date, and to request trash bags and safety vests.  

At this time we are asking all volunteers to respect guidelines for social distancing and follow all regulations of the jurisdiction where your cleanup is taking place. Keep groups to fewer than 10 people as recommended by the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Wash your hands, especially after touching any frequently used item or surface. Avoid touching your face. 

Thank you for considering ADOT as an opportunity to unite and reduce litter along our highways. If you would like more information about the program, visit Adopt a Highway online.

If you live in Phoenix and would like to help reduce litter in your neighborhood, please visit  My Beautiful Phoenix hosted by Keep Phoenix Beautiful. The Maricopa Association of Governments' also focuses on keeping roadways clean through its Don't Trash Arizona campaign.

Photo provided by ADOT Kids Maddie and Ella (Tempe, AZ)

Arizona, Keep It Grand!

Mary Currie
Communications Program Manager
Adopt a Highway Programs

Read on for volunteer- inspired stories and related program information.

Report your litter. It's a volunteer program requirement and easy to do.

Every bag counts!

  1. Activity Report
  2. Enter the permit number, 'click' to continue (your permit number is located on the original permit document or you may contact your ADOT district office for assistance.)
  3. Submit your bag count and number of volunteer participants.
  4. 'Click' Submit (only once.)
  5. Done.
ADOT Kids

ADOT Kids Keep it Grand!

By Mary Currie/ ADOT Communications

Hey kids, last year tons of litter was removed from along Arizona’s highways. That’s huge!

ADOT Kids can help all year 'round by picking up trash in your own neighborhood. Be sure to be safe, watch for cars and bikes, and wash your hands when you are done! Challenge your friends to see who can pick up the most trash from your neighborhood!

For those too young to join in, but who still want to show their support for keeping Arizona Grand, we have an Adopt-a-Highway-themed ADOT Kids Word Scramble and word search! Download your own copy by clicking on the activity sheets.

The Adopt a Highway Volunteer Program is an important program for Arizona. Over 1,100 groups volunteer to pick up litter from along the state highways each year. Permits are needed to participate on an annual basis, and one-time pick-up permits are also available. Anyone 12 and older can participate. In fact, check out what the Boy Scouts from Troop 616 accomplished in one day for a nearby community. 

You can learn more about how easy it is to participate in the Adopt a Highway program on our website.

A bonus activity: ADOT Kids Maze

Arizona, Keep It Grand!

More volunteer opportunities!

The Arizona State Land Department welcomes volunteers for upcoming cleanup events on national forest and state trust land. Visit the event calendar here.
Arizona State Land Department Logo
AAH Available

Adopt a Highway: Arizona Rangers Show Low company has a rich history of community service

By Mary Currie / ADOT Communications

A prominent location in need of attention drew the Arizona Rangers to adopt the first mile of State Route 77 leading north out of Show Low.

“Our highway segment is on the way to the Lone Pine Dam refuse transfer station and was in desperate need of a cleanup," said Ranger Bob Coleman. "This portion of SR 77 connects the Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside area to Taylor, Snowflake and eventually Holbrook. We hoped having our sign on this well-traveled road would give us some additional public exposure because not a lot of Arizonans know who we are.” 

The Arizona Rangers (link is external) are a unique volunteer law enforcement auxiliary consisting of approximately 500 men and women dispersed around the state and divided into 20 separate companies. The Arizona Rangers Show Low Company has about 22 members serving the area of Navajo County along the Mogollon Rim.

“We discussed ways to give more to the Show Low community and get better exposure at the same time, so we decided to look into the Adopt a Highway program,” said Coleman.

Coleman hails from Casa Grande and spent four years stationed in Mt. Home, Idaho, while in the United States Air Force. After retirement he worked at a facility for adjudicated juveniles, where they adopted a highway. This positive experience followed him back home to Arizona where he registered the Arizona Rangers Show Low Company with ADOT’s Adopt a Highway Volunteer program on Dec. 12, 2018.

Coleman, who serves as the group volunteer coordinator, remembers his Idaho days fondly. “It was a very positive experience for all involved and I’m sure it will be for our Ranger company also.” 

When the rangers are not cleaning up litter along SR 77 at milepost 343, they are providing assistance to law enforcement agencies and civic organizations. From volunteer guard service and securing crime scenes, to Secret Santa and scholarships, its volunteers serve in a big way. Last year, in spite of busy schedules, about 12 rangers achieved three litter cleanups. 

“The winters on the mountain can be pretty severe at times,” Coleman said. “We are usually limited to April through September to do our pickups.” Summer is a busy time for the company and in spite of planning there are always some conflicts. “Even though we’re busy, we pull together as a team and have really bonded with our stretch of highway.” 

“The pride we feel when completing the litter pickup is something that is hard to explain to others. When you’re out there sweating and your joints and back start to ache, people driving by will honk their horn in appreciation and it helps ease the pain a little bit. Doing something where there is a clear start and finish with litter bags lining the highway once the job is done, is something any organization would take a lot of pride in seeing.”

With that, Ranger Coleman tossed out a challenge for others: “Are you looking for something to help build your team outside of your normal work environment?  This is an awesome opportunity to bond together and feel like you have given back to your community in a way that is easy to see the physical results.” 

We appreciate Ranger Coleman and all Show Low Ranger Company volunteers for outstanding volunteer service to the community and the state of Arizona. The Rangers are helping ADOT Keep it Grand.

Visit the ADOT Adopt a Highway website to learn how to get started with your own group of volunteers.  
Heber Overgaard Firefighter

Adopt a Highway: Decades of volunteerism in the White Mountains

By Caroline Carpenter/ ADOT Communications

The Adopt a Highway program asks volunteers to commit to cleaning up a highway segment for at least two years. Several Adopt a Highway volunteer groups in Heber-Overgaard have gone well beyond that by helping keep their local highways pristine for nearly 20 years or more! We recently highlighted some of these long-term Adopt a Highway groups at an event in the White Mountains.

The following groups were recognized for their long-term commitment to the Adopt a Highway program.

  • Ponderosa Lions Club (30 years)
  • Heber-Overgaard Fire District (19 years)
  • NAPA Auto Part of Overgaard (17 years)

The Aug.1 event was organized by the Heber-Overgaard Chamber of Commerce, which also recently joined their ranks in the Adopt a Highway program. Volunteers from the four groups, along with other community members, turned out to pick up litter along state routes 260 and 277. They covered 12 miles and filled 80 trash bags in only two hours. 

Heber-Overgaard Fire District Chief William McCluskey said, "We’ve been here a long time and we’re going to continue to do that. It’s the heart of the community. All of these people provide their time and effort for free and come out as early at 6 a.m." 

If you'd like to adopt your own stretch of highway, visit azdot.gov/adoptahighway.   

Volunteer event stories. We want yours.

Below are a few questions to get you started and quickly on your way to an opportunity to have your experience as a volunteer, featured in a future release of the ADOT Blog and Adopt a Highway Newsletter.

  1. Why did you decide to Adopt a Highway?
  2. Can you tell me about how you came to that decision?
  3. Is this a memorial to a loved one?
  • If so, what do you think your loved one would think about this?
  • Is there anything you’d like to share about the person honored by the segment?
  • How long have you had the adopted segment?
  • Who/how many maintain that segment?
  • What would you want others to know who might be considering adopting a highway?
  • Can you share a photo/photos of the person who is honored or any photos from your cleanups?

Note: An ideal group photo is landscape oriented and includes your Adopt a Highway sign in the background.

BC sign only

Adopt a Highway mile honors a father, son and police officer

By Caroline Carpenter/ ADOT Communications

If you drive through the Hopi Reservation, you’ll notice an Adopt a Highway sign that reads “BC One of a Kind” about 11 miles south of Second Mesa. It honors Branyon Rebeau Claw Sr., the oldest son of Madeline Sahneyah, also known as “BC.”

While BC was a son to Madeline, he was also a father to Jenna and Branyon Jr. Nearly two decades ago, BC died in a vehicle crash. His family has spent the past 15 years cleaning milepost 395-396 along State Route 87 to remember their beloved son and father. Each year, between two and 15 family members and friends gather early in the morning to pick up litter. After the cleanup is done, they all return to breakfast at BC’s grandmother’s home.

Madeline said, “Every time the highway is cleaned, BC is remembered as one who respected all living things. Everyone remembers his smile which reflected the kindness of his soul.”

Besides being a son and father, BC served as a Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer. While BC died in an off-duty collision, the adopted highway segment was selected by BC’s fellow police officers. It was an area where they often held roadblocks.

BC’s family believes his spirit is at peace knowing people remember him each time they travel on his segment of SR 87.

If you would like to honor a loved one through an Adopt a Highway mile, please visit the Adopt a Highway website.