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District 3 employees help put glitter
in Special Olympics World Winter Games

Employees from ITD’s District 3 were among the hundreds of volunteers who helped make the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games a tremendous success in Idaho. ITD’s employees provided services from hospitality to transportation security.

Joy Finley, administration, helped with hospitality, making sure the athletes felt welcome and comfortable while in Idaho. Althea Fackrell, central maintenance, and Kelly Byrne, materials, volunteered to help with accommodations, ensuring athletes got on the right buses in the morning and arrived safely back at the hotel in the evening.

Fackrell, who said her job also included small chores, such as replacing lost room keys and fetching personal items, felt a personal bond with the athletes.

“My deceased husband showed me that there is no division among humans. He spent the last 10 years of his life trying to make things better for mankind. He told me the only way to make ugly go away was to give of self. So to make ugly go away, I do my part in helping where ever I can,” she said.

“This week has been fulfilling. I am quite patriotic and a nationalist. My assignment this week is with athletes from countries that have civil unrest and where the U.S. has gone in and attempted to stabilize. Observing these great people solidified for me what my husband meant. Verbal language was the only barrier between them and me. Otherwise the communication was universal – love and understanding.

“They were no different from me. Now I have many good thoughts (I want to say pray often) for peace for all nations. God bless the USA!”

Dan Bryant and Terry Zabel, central maintenance and Jim Morrison, District 3 Construction Manager, assisted with transportation security, monitoring the 150 buses as they made their way to and from eight venues in southwest Idaho. Dan’s wife, Michelle Bryant, was part of the awards committee, helping to present gold, silver and bronze metals.

Photo: Althea Fackrell, left, poses with Russian athletes during a break in the Games early this week.