Police Community Service Officer Gina Riley presents a ribbon to Sweet Home Junior High student Timothy Goff during the school’s Bike/Walk to School Day Wednesday, May 7. Timothy walked backwards from his home on 3rd Avenue during the event, which aimed to celebrate and promote safe, healthy, active transportation (walking and biking), and to raise awareness of walking/biking among the school community. About 20 students, parents, and school staff members, plus Santiam Spokes bike club members and Sweet Home Police Department personnel gathered in the school library Wednesday morning to enjoy refreshments, above right. Students received safety materials like reflective shoelaces, fun bright duct tape, reflective stickers, etc. plus giveaways like bubbles and buttons, and safety materials such as helmet fitting guidelines, etc. This is part of the Safe Routes to School program that Sweet Home Junior High has been participating in since March, spearheaded by Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments with funding from the Oregon Dept. of Transportation for writing the Safe Routes Action Plan. Throughout May, students are also participating in the Walk and Bike Challenge promoted by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Scorecards were sent home with all students in early May. The students that track the most bike/walk/skate trips are eligible to win a skateboard (purchased with funds from Safe Kids Oregon, from John’s Bicycle Shop in Lebanon). The class that tracks the most will win a basket of giveaways including lights, etc. Also this month, the school received 20 helmets from Safe Kids Oregon. They were distributed to Sweet Home Junior High students who need them. Those that are too small for Junior High students will be distributed to local elementary school students. Four toddler-size helmets have also been provided to Kidco Head Start in Sweet Home.
Serving East Linn County since 1929