Communications workers connect people, clean connectors
ACT Communications has been connecting people of southeast Idaho for nearly 85 years, dating back to Grandma Jeannette Breslin who operated the first magneto switch from her home. “She understood the value of service and spent any spare time helping those in need within the community,” explains Sharon Short, coordinator of ITD’s Adopt-A-Highway program in District 5. With grandma as their inspiration, a fifth generation of successors takes the spirit of helping to a new arena – the shoulders of Idaho 38 near Malad. ACT Communications volunteers clean the highway between mileposts 7 and 9 twice a year, and in three outings since joining the Adopt-A-Highway program, they have gathered 945 pounds of refuse. They put the company’s mantra into practice: Local People, Local Solutions are just a phone call away.” The communications firm serves several rural communities, including Albion, Arco and Malad, and even smaller hamlets in between. Services include school functions, clubs and organizations. “ACT believes that being supportive of the communities and taking an interest in what is going on is a way of giving back,” Short explains. She selected ACT Communications as the District 5 Adopt-A-Highway small group of the year. Members were honored Wednesday during the May meeting of the Idaho Transportation Board in Pocatello. For their efforts, group leaders received a certificate and a clock made from a sample Idaho license plate. Company employees often take advantage of the cleanup campaigns to socialize afterward with hot dog roasts, barbecues or lunch at one of the area restaurants. “They say this stretch of highway is one of the cleanest they have,” Short explains. “They don’t know if it is because it is the least traveled or people out there are really tidy.” ACT Communications is the first active AAH group to join the highway beautification program from Malad. Published 5-18-2012 |