Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Campaign
The Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 (KKAD25) Campaign has been busy this year after being awarded the $25,000 grant from State Farm. The grant process began when Lisa White wanted to honor her 14-year-old son Tristan White who was hit and killed while running with friends on a gravel road outside Treynor. Lisa wanted to involve the students and community members and form a formal committee to direct the spending of the funds. The committee is headed by the Junior Optimist and is presided by the Jr. Optimist President. The President for the 2016-17 school year was Zach Mass. Alexandra Lowe has been elected the President for the 17-18 school year. Other members of the committee are made up of a mix of members from the community and the organizations within Treynor and include Lisa White, Alora Nowlin (Jr. Optimist), Brendan Mass (Jr. Optimist), Tyler Pollock (Jr. Optimist), Gary Funkhouser (School Board and Optimist Member), John Klein (Optimist Member), Shelly Bailey (Junior Treynor Women), Tom Lewis (City Council), Kelly Groskurth (City Clerk), Jim Murray (Legion Member), Russ Maguire (Fire Chief) and Judd Knispel (Community Member and State Farm Agent),
The campaign was kicked off at a winter basketball game with t-shirts and keychains being handed out to begin raising awareness. The next event planned was the Mock Crash held on May 5th. This involved the committee and was led by Iowa State Trooper Scott Miller and Treynor Fire Chief Russ Maguire. The THS Multimedia class filmed the event and made a video highlight, which can be viewed here. State Farm also came over a period of 3 days prior to the Mock Crash and created a short video depicting the story behind the campaign. Their video can be viewed here.
The Committee has also been working with the City and Iowa DOT to get permanent radar speed signs installed at the main entrances into Treynor. They are hopeful to have these installed sometime this summer. In addition, they are working with a company to make banners with safety messages to be displayed along the light poles on the main thoroughfares. Lastly, approval has been made to talk to homes on residential streets to purchase and strategically place yard signs reminding drivers to "drive with care" and "slow down".
Recently, the JOI Officers (Alex Lowe, Alora Nowlin and Brendan Mass) visited the elementary school and handed out "KKAD25/Phones Down-Eyes Up" keychains to each student. Although these kids may be too young to drive, the message is still powerful and can be shared with their family.
Go "like" the Treynor KKAD25 page to stay up-to-date on this worthy cause. Plans are underway to apply for the Neighborhood Assist Grant again, so be watching for your opportunity to vote.