5/9/2014

Communications
ITD Quick Facts booklet provides Idaho transportation snapshot
How the transportation department is organized, who is in charge and facts about many aspects of Idaho's transportation system are available now in the ITD 2014 Quick Facts booklet. The compact publication includes information on administrative leaders and board members, budget facts, highways and bridges, motor vehicles, aeronautics, public transportation and highway safety.
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Districts
District 4’s Kimbol Allen selected as next District 6 engineer
Kimbol Allen has been selected to be the next District 6 engineer in ITD’s Rigby office. “Mr. Allen has been with the department for nearly 15 years and has held management positions in both construction and maintenance at our D4 office,” said ITD Chief Operations Officer Jim Carpenter in making the announcement.
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Division of Motor Vehicles
Idaho driver's license written-knowledge test available in American Sign Language
The Idaho written-knowledge test is now available in American Sign Language at all driver’s license offices throughout the state. ITD is the first in the nation to work with Solutions Thru Software to develop this innovative software and integrate it into the state’s current automated-testing system. Idaho is one of only a few states that offer American Sign Language using an automated on-screen application.
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Awards
Communications wins four "Best of 2013" awards from Idaho Press Club
ITD's Office of Communications brought home four awards in the Public Relations category from the Idaho Press Club's annual awards ceremony in downtown Boise Saturday night (May 3). News media and public relations professionals from throughout the state gathered for the awards presentation. Bruce King took first place in Feature Writing and Reed Hollinshead took first in News Releases.
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Aeronautics
Boise, Caldwell students garner top honors for aviation-themed artwork and visit with Idaho governor
Treasure Valley students Sierra Lafrenz and Gage Thornton earned top honors for their artwork depicting aviation themes in a recent aviation art contest sponsored by the ITD’s Division of Aeronautics. The two also earned a visit with Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter at the state capitol in Boise.
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Aeronautics
Young artist submits heart-felt entry to Aeronautics' aviation art contest
Ariana Hall, a second-place winner in Aeronautics’ aviation art contest, submitted a heart-felt entry this year in recognition of her great-grandfather Leonard “Bud” Purdy. Purdy was known to many Idahoans as a respected rancher and conservationist who died in April at the age of 96 at his home on Silver Creek in Picabo.
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Aeronautics
ITD aviation academy enrollment extended to May 16
Enrollment has been extended through May 16 for high school students, ages 14-18, to learn about aviation and space-related careers at the Idaho Transportation Department’s annual Aviation Career Exploration (ACE) Academy June 16-18 in Boise. For enrollment and scholarship information, call the Division of Aeronautics at (208) 334-8776.
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Division of Motor Vehicles
ITD warns of vehicle registration renewal phone scam
ITD is warning of a recent telephone scam involving vehicle-registration renewals and reminds its customers that renewal notifications are made only by mail. The Division of Motor Vehicles has received complaints from concerned citizens of a caller claiming to be from the department, advising that their vehicle registration needs to be renewed.
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Employees
Governor proclaims May 5-9 Public Employee Recognition Week
Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter issued a proclamation designating May 5-9 Public Employee Recognition Week and May 7 as State Employee Recognition Day. Read the full text of Gov. Otter’s proclamation.
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Headquarters
Encore (5-2-14) Merrick, Main join ITD management makeover
Karen Merrick and Carl Main became the latest additions to the ITD Headquarters' facelift, accepting promotions to the top spots in Construction/Materials and Design/Traffic April 28. Merrick is the new Materials/Construction engineer for the Division of Engineering Services. Main is the new Design/Traffic engineer.
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Headquarters
Encore (5-2-14) Szplett takes over Right-of-Way Division manager position at Headquarters
The makeover at the top of the ITD Headquarters' structure continued with the promotion of Dave Szplett to the manager position for ITD¹s Right-of-Way section. Szplett¹s first day on the job was Monday (April 28). Karen Merrick was serving as joint manager of pavement performance and right of way until the realignment. Szplett is the first full-time manager for this division in some time.
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Districts
Encore (5-2-14) Pair of young ITD intern engineers finish first, second in regional competition
A pair of young engineers with ITD experience recently placed at the top of a weekend-long engineering competition involving 19 regional colleges and universities. Lauren Nuxoll (currently a District 3 intern) finished in first place as leader of a team from Boise State University, while Kyle Staab (a summer intern at District 2) co-led a second-place squad from the University of Idaho in the ASCE Pacific Northwest Conference.
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Governor's Office
Encore (5-2-14) Gov. Otter boosts government transparency with public records order
Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter signed an executive order last week creating an ombudsman position in his office to review and begin the process of improving how governments in Idaho respond to public records requests from citizens and the news media.
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