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The Southwest District's snow plow stand was among the tool andequipment category winners. This innovation makes the process ofattaching and detaching the snow plow more safe, quick and simple.

Click on the link above to watch a video recapping the showcase.

Showcase Spotlights Top Employee Innovations

by Jim Dickson

This year’s Innovations Challenge Showcase marked its seventh birthday with anew streamlined look. Last year’s two challenges (Tool and Equipment andProMO) were combined into a single program with three separate competitionsfor tools and equipment, projects and productivity innovations. Therewere a total of 54 employee innovations on the floor April 10 at the SpringfieldExpo Center. This also marked the first year the event served as the kickoffevent for the DOMInno Conference with more than 500 employees spending themorning investigating new ways to get work done better, faster, cheaper andsafer.

The road to the showcase floor started last fall with eight separate competitionsacross the state. A total of 125 first-round winners were then evaluated bystatewide teams to choose the best for the showcase.

Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger said the event continues to wow him each year. “Iwas a judge last year,” said Hassinger. “When I left the exhibit hall, I wonderedwhat could top that and you filled the exhibit hall again. But we really haven’tgained anything unless we take these back and put them to work.”

Here are the statewide winners from both challenges:

People’s Choice AwardPorous Backfill (Southeast District) – Traveling Trophy

Tool & Equipment Statewide WinnersLED Panic Lights (St. Louis District) – Individual Cash Awards plus a $10,000 budget transferPipe Liner Winch (Southeast District) – Individual Cash Awards plus a $10,000 budget transferSnow Plow Stand (Southwest District) – Individual Cash AwardsDrag Chain Oiler (Kansas City District) – Individual Cash Awards

Productivity Statewide WinnersCustomer Contact Map (Statewide Team) – Individual Cash Awards plus a$10,000 budget transferGPS Pavement Markers (Northeast District) – Individual Cash Awardsplus a $10,000 budget transferGroupCast (Central District) – Individual Cash AwardsEngine Block Heater Controller (Central District) – Individual CashAwards

Projects Statewide WinnersLiDAR Vertical Clearances (St. Louis District) – Individual Cash Awardsplus a $10,000 budget transferTablets in Construction (Kansas City District) – Individual Cash Awardsplus a $10,000 budget transferRaising Spirit of St. Louis Boulevard (St. Louis District) – Individual CashAwardsTraffic Permitting Database (Traffic and Highway Safety Division) –Individual Cash Awards

More information on the 2014 Innovations Challenge Showcase is available at http://wwwi/intranet/cr/SolutionsAtWork/Innovationsshowcase2013-2014.htm. Be sure to watch the video recapping the showcase at the same address (link works for active employees only).

MoDOT's Mantra for Spring: Revive - Recover - Restore

by Patrick Wood

Winter is finally over and as temperatures rise it is important to make sure that as a collective team we are performing our best on a daily basis. Duringa presentation at the DOMInno meeting, Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger focused on three keys to success that MoDOT needs to focus on over the comingmonths.

April 24, 2014

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REVIVEIt is important to take the time to rest. There is always work to be done, but tomake sure that you are productive and focused while at work you need to takea break. A few days off, or a long weekend with friends and family can help toalleviate the stress and pressures of work. Supervisors are encouraged to avoidscheduling meetings on Fridays or Mondays so employees can take longweekends without the stress of missing critical information.

RECOVERWinter has been damaging to our roads and fleet. We need to prepare for thesummer construction season and make sure that potholes are filled, delineatorsand tabs are replaced, and our fleet has been restored. A single pothole can bethe difference between a satisfied and dissatisfied customer, and it is our job toprovide a world-class transportation system that delights our customers.

RESTOREOur customers expect road conditions back to normal standards of quality and safety. Over the last several years we have developed best practices to beefficient and meet our customers' expectations. Those methods are the key to our success. We don't rush, we don't cut corners, and we always taketime to be safe.

MoDOT's direction has not changed. We will continue to take care of our system as well as we can, for as long as we can, with the resources we have.Safety is a priority and we will be focused on keeping our customers and ourselves safe so we can all go home safe.

Why Revive?"Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a whileyou could miss it.” - Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

by Patrick Wood

As we emerge from a winter that seemed to have no end, it is time to revive and reap the benefits that spring and summer have to offer. It can be easyto become so focused on work that we lose sight of family, friends, or even our own interests outside the day-to-day grind. It is high time we take a

moment to revive from work and take a page out of Ferris Bueller’s book and take a dayoff!

A day off can simply be taking the time to relax at home, but it can also be a chance to getout of the house and enjoy a vacation right here in the state of Missouri. Take theopportunity to be a tourist in your own state!

While many who have lived in Missouri for a long time would say, “there is nothing good todo in Missouri” have you really looked into what the Show-Me state has to offer?

To see more of what Missouri has to offer this vacation season, go to www.visitmo.com fortrip ideas, upcoming events, and discounts.

Time Is Running Out to Complete Your EmployeeSurvey

by Jim Dickson

There’s less than one week remaining for you to complete the 2014 MoDOT Employee Survey. You can complete survey on paper or use the onlineversion at http://research.cfrinc.net/2014survey.

If you have questions about the survey, please contact Phillips and Associates at info@phillipsgroup.com, or call (636) 394-4430.

Your survey answers will be combined with all the other employee responses from across the state. The overallresults will be analyzed at the statewide level as well as all seven districts and the Central Office. The final surveyreport will be posted on the department’s intranet in July.

In the months following the final report, our consultant will work with MoDOT senior managers to develop actionplans to address issues identified in the survey.

The deadline for being part of this year’s survey is April 30!

Team Talk

by Roberta Broeker

Hello, Team MoDOT! This past Easter weekend, I decided it truly feels like spring. We’ve got blooming redbuds and flowers, and everything isturning green. (Except perhaps my yard…that’s not looking so good.) I really enjoy this time of year, and looking over my flower beds to see whatsurvived the winter that I can identify, and what survived but I can’t remember what it is. During this time, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to

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Click above to view the virtual meeting.

April 2014

Revive, Recover and Restore, in both your personal and MoDOT lives. It HAS been a tough winter and we all need to realize that and take the time torest, to heal, and to prepare for whatever comes next. Team MoDOT is all about being game on, but every team member needs a break from time totime, so make sure you are looking after yourselves.

I have a couple requests to make of your work time, and I know you canhelp. The first is my wish to see feedback from all employees throughMoDOT’s employee survey. We haven’t done one since 2010, and Dave, Ed,Kathy and I believe it is really important. You’ll see an article on this pageabout the employee survey, and I want to stress that we want to hear fromevery single employee. It’s due April 30, and you’ve got some options forsubmitting your responses. Please do. That’s how you can help thedepartment grow and improve.

My second request is for district or division employees who aren’t attendingan in-person spring meeting this year. During April and May, many MoDOTdistricts gather employees together to talk about preparing for the spring andsummer work seasons. These meetings focus on safety, spring operations andMoDOT’s priorities.

This year, MoDOT created a “virtual” spring meeting, so even if you aren’tscheduled to attend in person, you can still catch up on what’s going on inthe department. The video is about 25 minutes long, and features a segmentfrom yours truly about the state of transportation funding and what thatmeans for MoDOT employees. You can also hear Ed speak about his Revive, Recover and Restore message, and Kathy speak about all the work wehave to do, even as we talk about a declining construction program. There’s also great information on the department’s focus for spring and summeroperations, new PPE requirements, our safety awards, and changes to the medical plan, among other things.

Check out the virtual meeting video through this YouTube Video link. If you work at a building with a slow Internet connection, you can downloadthe video to your computer from MoDOT’s FTP site. (By the way, that stands for File Transfer Protocol. My IT folks need to make sure we’re keepingup with the engineers when it comes to using acronyms!)

I believe in being open to all of your feedback and, at the same time, helping you stay engaged and informed. My requests today are rooted in thatbelief, and I hope you understand our communication at MoDOT is always a two way street. Thank you for doing your part. Stay safe and happyspring!

Statewide Events Calendar Pulls It All Together

by Matt Hiebert

MoDOT is a big organization. Keeping up with events across the state is no easy task, but it’s critical to our success. Knowing “who, what,where and when” helps us work together as a team.

With that fact in mind, the Statewide Events Calendar was created.

Located on the customer relations SharePoint site, the Statewide Events Calendar shows all major MoDOT happenings across the state month by month (link works for active employees only).

District-wide meetings, events including public and statewideconferences and holidays, are all color-coded on the calendar for quick reference. Clicking on the text will expand the view to show more details.

“This is an excellent tool to get a look at the big picture,” said MaraCampbell, MoDOT customer relations director. “You can see what’scoming up months ahead of time and plan accordingly.”

The Statewide Events Calendar is a tool for the entire department. Any division or district planning an event of organizational interest can add information. It’s a great way to plan meetings around holidays or keep your invitation from conflicting with other big events.

If you want to know more about the Statewide Events Calendar,contact your customer relations beat driver or district CR staff. Theycan help you decide if your event (Soiree? Shindig? Hootenanny?)belongs on the calendar and give you a hand getting it on there.

Motorcyclists Urged to Drive With Caution This Spring

by Kelly Jackson

No one appreciates a warm spring day more than a motorcyclist who's had a bikesitting in the garage all winter. As engines rev in anticipation of a beautiful Missouriscenic ride, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety wants to encourage riders to

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keep an eye out for debris, gravel, and rough road conditions that often result after ahard winter.

As you know, city, county and state road crews are working daily to fill and repairwinter roadway damage. In the meantime it's important to pay special attention to theroadway conditions when planning a ride.

Motorcyclists are much more vulnerable than passenger vehicle occupants in crashes.Therefore, it's very important to always wear proper protective gear, including a DOTcompliant helmet when riding.

For more information on motorcycle safety visit saveMOlives.com. You can alsofollow SaveMOLives on Facebook and Twitter.

Fatality Update

What's Happening

Chat With the ChiefRemember to check out Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger's blog post on the Innovations Challenge, DOMinno and theFuture of Funding - Chat With the Chief.

Focus on PreventionAre you taking advantage of the no-cost preventative benefits offered to employees throughCoventry Health Care? Surprisingly, many employees aren't.

Check the preventative benefits information on the Central Office page of this edition ofConnections and see why it's important to take advantage of this benefit.

Don't miss the opportunity to live a healthier life with this program.

Manchester Arts Club Annual Photo ContestThe Manchester Arts Focus 2014 photography competition selected forty winners out ofthe 200 photographs of Manchester and St. Louis. Among the submissions are even somefeaturing transportation-related photos.

The article with photos can be viewed on News Magazine Network's website - NewsMagazine.

More photos can be found on the Manchester Arts Facebook page.

Left, one of the winning photos. Photo by Ronald Gaddis.

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Stay in the Now!If you haven't already, join the nearly 3,000 who have downloaded the MoDOT Now app to their smartphones or tablets.

The information on the app is divided into three sections, MoDOT News, Videos and Other News. Make sure to check eachsection every day for new content.

The icon should automatically have loaded to your MoDOT issued smarthphone or tablet, and to your computer desktop. To getthe app for your personal smartphone, go to MoDOT's webpage and click the download for iphone or android.

Don't be left out, join MoDOT Now - iPhone or Android.

Employee Discounts for Summer Fun!What's your idea of summer fun? Baseball, roller coasters, pizza? Before you make plans check out the ticketdiscounts available to state employees, from Cardinals baseball to Silver Dollar City.

The discounts are offered in conjunction with State Employee Recognition Week in May, but some continuethrough summer into the fall - Employee Discounts.

April Retirements

Gary W. Fewins – NW – 28 years Drake D. Tarpley – NW – 28 years Larry C. Cornelius – NE – 25 years Herbert L. Lovelace – NE – 28 years Lay, Gregory D. – NE – 29 years Ronald E. Cordes – KC – 25 years

Connie J. Roadruck – CD – 27 years Jerry W. Nilges – CD – 29 years Timothy M. Shaw – SL – 27 yearsKenneth L. Hollocher – SL – 36 years Jack S. Pate – SW – 10 years Ernest D. Doody – SW – 24 years

Ted A. Frieden – SW – 24 years Charles K. Gire – SW – 29 years Jill A. Fetters – SE – 26 years Jay W. Trammell – SE – 28 years Martin A. Brose – CO – 16 years

In Memoriam

James Durden (active employee)SW District – April 7James SchwerdtfegerCO – March 28Kenneth PaschalCO – March 28Philip BroylesCO – March 29

Joe Brightformer D10 – March 30Ernest Derbovenformer D2 – March 31Don Bakerformer D6 – April 2

Everette Gordonformer D3 – April 9 Carroll McAfeeformer D10 – April 10Glenn Banksformer D7 – April 13

Connections

The mission of Connections is to be a source ofMissouri Department of Transportation news andfeature articles that connect employees statewide.

Customer Relations - MoDOTP.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102573.751.2840 / www.modot.org

Comments & Suggestions

We would like to hear from you. Send comments andsuggestions to Tammy Wallace atTammy.Wallace@modot.mo.gov.

Mission

Our mission is to provide a world-class transportation

To view or print other pages, click on thelinks below:

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Maintenance Division received this emailfrom a customer who called to join the

Adopt-A-Highway program.Thank you Margie (Mansager). Mary

(Deaton) did make contact with me shortlyafter your email. Sometimes it’s hard toremember that MODOT is part of the

government. I have only contacted MODOTonce or twice before by email and I have

received a helpful response the nextbusiness day each time.

Thanks again,Tom

April 24, 2014

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MoDOT Helps Students Celebrate Earth Dayat Capitolby Patrick Wood

Celebrations for Earth Day on the Missouri State Capitol lawn have been taking place for the past 20 years. This April25, MoDOT will be there to encourage students, teachers, and parents to help keep Missouri roadways clean and litterfree. The Earth Day celebration helps MoDOT share information about the Adopt-A-Highway program and the annualNo MOre Trash! Bash.

No MOre Trash! Bash is a state-wide anti-litter campaign that encouragespeople to clean up litter across the state. “We have an environmentallythemed game for the students to play,” said Stacy Armstrong, roadsidemanagement specialist. “We want everyone to have a good time, but alsopick up on the important message we’re sharing with them.”

Programs like the Trash Bash help to offset the cost of litter clean up andallow MoDOT and the Missouri Department of Conservation to devoteresources to other much needed projects.

Littering isn’t just ugly and harmful to the environment. It also hurts thewildlife of Missouri.

“Birds, fish, turtles and other animals get tangled in litter, such as plasticsix-pack holders and fishing line, and it can kill them,” said Conservation Department No MOre Trash! Coordinator JoeJerek.

One such case is the story of Peanut the turtle. When a young turtlecrawled into a six-pack ring that stayed around her as she grew, the trash deformed her shell into the shape of a peanut. Peanut survived, the ring was removed and she has lived with the Missouri Department of Conservation as their environmental spokesturtle since 1993.

Volunteers are needed across the state to participate in litter cleanupactivities. Participants can report their cleanup efforts and will receivea thank you No MOre Trash! pin specially designed to commemorate the 30th birthday of Peanut.

For more information about the No MOre Trash! Bash and to learn how to participate, visit www.nomoretrash.org.

April Health and Safety TipsWork Zone AwarenessEarlier this month we brought attention to Work Zone Awareness Week, focusing on educating the public about workzone safety. Motorists will again experience a good deal of road and bridge construction on Missouri highways this year,so it’s important that they know what to do when they approach a work zone. As MoDOT employees, we will also be the motorist navigating the work zone, or the worker within the work zone, soit’s important that we follow the safety guidelines too, so everyone goes home safe.

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Work Zone Driving TipsPlan your trip before you begin driving. UseMoDOT’s Traveler Information Map.Slow down as you approach a work zone andturn down your radio.Obey all posted work zone speed limits.Merge into the proper lane as soon aspossible.Watch for workers.Stay alert and read all signs in the work area.Have patience when traveling through a workzone.Avoid talking on cell phones and never textand drive.

Obey the Move Over LawThe Move Over law protects law enforcement, emergency response and MoDOT vehicles (with amber and whitelights flashing) parked on the side of the road.Motorists are required to slow down or change lanes when approaching these vehicles.It’s simple, if you see flashing lights on the side of the road; move over to give workers and emergency personnelplenty of room to stay safe. If you can’t move over on a crowded highway, slow down as you pass them.

Work Zone SafetyThere are several things MoDOT employees need to remember to stay safe when working in work zones:

Wear MoDOT-approved, high-visibility safety apparel and PPE while working in work zones. Replace theapparel when it becomes ineffective.Don’t take matters into your own hands when dealing with traffic offenders.Expect the unexpected; don’t assume drivers can see you.Work within the work zone, and stay alert.Don’t have your back to traffic. If you must have your back to traffic, use a spotter.Use buffer spaces when possible.Make sure work zone devices and signs are in good working order and placed appropriately.Perform work zone inspections.

Prevention is the Best Defense

Well-Care Visits and ScreeningsProtect yourself and your family by taking advantage of your preventive care benefits. For example,well-care visits for adults, infants and kids are covered 100 percent for most Coventry health plans whenyou see in-network medical professionals. (Review your Coventry Certificate of Coverage to determinewhether your health plan provides this coverage.)

Regular checkups and preventive screenings are an important part in finding any potential problems before they reallystart. Proper preventive care is also vital in detecting diseases in their early stages, when they are the easiest to treat andcure.

Read more in the Focus on Benefits Newsletter.

Central Office HappeningsEngineering for Non-EngineersJune 48 a.m. – 4 p.m.Construction & Materials Lab, Room 2011617 Missouri Blvd., Jefferson CityBy Charlie Nemmers of the University of Missouri

This class covers the fundamentals of transportation engineering,

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highway and bridge design, construction, operations and maintenance.The class is fun, interactive and easy to understand--perfect for thosewho are not engineers, but who work with engineers regularly.

Charlie Nemmers is a professional engineer currently serving asDirector of the Transportation Infrastructure Center at the University.He also leads the research program for a major U.S. corporation in the

field of civil infrastructure. He has been conducting this training with MoDOT (and many other organizations) for over10 years. Read more - Charlie Nemmers.

Enroll in the class using the LMS Student Center Sign On link (active employees only). Class #24208.

For questions contact Kristen Bagwill - Kristen.Bagwill@modot.mo.gov or (573) 751-3941.

See what’s happening on the Mee Zone Blog! (active employees only).

Connections

The mission of Connections is to be a source ofMissouri Department of Transportation news andfeature articles that connect employees statewide.

Customer Relations - MoDOTP.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102 573.751.2840 / www.modot.org

Editor: Tammy Wallace

Comments & Suggestions

We would like to hear from you. Send commentsand suggestions to Tammy Wallace atTammy.Wallace@modot.mo.gov.

Mission

Our mission is to provide a world-classtransportation experience that delights ourcustomers and promotes a prosperous Missouri.

To view or print other pages, click on thelinks below:

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April 24, 2014

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State Construction and Materials EngineerDave Ahlvers addressed qualitymanagement, the new safety JSPs andequipment needs at the Winter Inspectors'Meeting.

Construction and Materials personnel fromacross the district gathered April 1 toreview last year's projects and prepare forthis year's construction season, includinglearning about changes to policies and bestpractices.

Senior Benefit Specialist Mariel Hale walkedemployees through the MPERS website,including a calculator to determine whattheir take-home pay will be after theyretire.

MoDOT employees and their spouses whoare within five years of retirement eligibilitywere invited to attend one of tworetirement seminars. The MPERS benefitspecialists were able to answer questionsand help employees understand howupcoming changes to the medical benefitcould affect their retirement income.

Winter Inspectors MeetingThe winter meeting for the Northwest District's inspectors is a great time for all our construction and materialsinspectors to get together to learn about new techniques, policies and practices, review last year's projects and preparefor the upcoming construction season. This year the team was very busy with bridge inspections, so the annual wintermeeting came in the spring.

This year, State Construction and Materials Engineer Dave Ahlvers joined the group at their annual meeting. Some ofthe discussion centered around quality management, the new safety job special provisions and testing equipment needsfor our district. He reviewed what's been working well in each of those areas, what improvements need to be made andupcoming changes to policies.

Retirement Seminar Senior Benefit Specialist Mary Jordan and Mariel Hale presented a retirement seminar in the district on April 9. Thoseattending were employees and spouses who are within five years of eligibility, but the information presented may bevaluable to all employees. If you have not seen the presentation, please contact your supervisor or Human Resources.

ADA Facility ImprovementsAlmost all Northwest District administrative facilities have been upgraded and now meet the Americans withDisabilities Act (ADA) standards. One of the last projects to meet those goals is the parking lot at the district office.

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Contractors began work to rebuild the rampon the middle parking level at the districtoffice to comply with ADA standards.

To break up the existing concrete, a drophammer was used. What the photo cannotcapture is the way the pavement bounced,and then broke, each time the hammer wasdropped.

Work began April 23 to replace the ramp in the middle parking level. All paved lots will then be resurfaced. Parkingwill be shifted throughout the project. If you're planning on visiting the district office in the near future, please makesure to park where you will not impede the contractors. All work should be completed by the end of May.

For more info

Marcia JohnsonCustomer Relations SpecialistNorthwest District816.387.2495Marcia.Johnson@modot.mo.gov

3602 N. Belt HighwaySt. Joseph, MO 64506-1399

Comments & Suggestions

We would like to hear from you. Send commentsand suggestions to Tammy Wallace atTammy.Wallace@modot.mo.gov.

Mission

Our mission is to provide a world-classtransportation experience that delights ourcustomers and promotes a prosperous Missouri.

To view or print other pages, click on thelinks below:

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GPS Marking Team Wins!The Northeast District’s GPS PavementMarking Team came away as a winner in thestatewide Innovations Challenge held earlierthis month. The multidisciplinary team won firstplace in the Productivity Category for presenting a wayto more efficiently and accurately mark stripes, bothnew and re-stripe on a highway. Jarod Murr and MarisaEllison, employees of the NE District, were winners onstatewide teams.

As Chief Hassinger noted though, all who were selectedto attend the Innovations Challenge were winners, andhe encouraged each district to take back these ideas andbegin implementing them. Congratulations to all theteams who represented the Northeast District!

Holding the winning check (from left to right) are members ofthe GPS Pavement Markings Team from the NE District. KevinWilliams (now working in the St. Louis District), Steve Dickson,Jon Brewer and Kirk Youngblood are pictured with CFO RobertaBroeker, Commissioner Joe Carmichael, and Assistant ChiefEngineer Kathy Harvey. Also on the team were Homer Bussey,Brent Merryman and James Davis.

Around the District...It’s not every day we have the opportunity to be a hero. Yet, when we are called to situations that require heroic actions,we can embrace the challenge and ultimately change lives. Such is the case for four employees who were recentlyrecognized with Meritorious Safety Awards for their quick actions while working on the road.

Tim Glasgow and Arney Carroll, Wayland maintenance, were checking roads on Feb. 21, when they came upon a wreckon US 61. A tractor trailer with a full load was on its side in the median and a 4-door pickup truck was in the median.They pulled over so Arney could perform traffic control. Tim ran to the pickup to check on the situation. The passengerwas about to get out, but the driver was pinned. Another person standing by noticed a fire in the engine compartment, soTim ran back to the MoDOT truck and retrieved the fire extinguisher. He extinguished the fire, then proceeded to pullon the driver’s side door to pry it open while the passenger and another good Samaritan on scene helped the driver slidebetween the seats and escape through the back door. The driver was able to move on his own.

Steve Rench and Bobby Johnston were striping along MO 79 in Hannibal in May 2012, when they witnessed amotorcycle accident. One of the first on the scene, they, too, helped in the situation. A letter written by an anonymousmotorist, more than one year after it happened, witnessed the accident and hailed Steve and Bobby as heroes. The letterwas published in full last month in the NE newsletter.

If you ask any one of these guys why they stopped to help, humbly they will each reply, “It’s just what we do.”Congratulations, Tim, Arney, Steve and Bobby. Thank you for setting the example not only for other MoDOTemployees, but for mankind.

April 24, 2014

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Tim Glasgow and Arney Carroll were recognized at their

spring meeting and are pictured with District Engineer

Paula Gough, Assistant District Engineer Kevin James and

Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger.

Steve Rench and Bob Johnson, Hannibal maintenance, wererecognized at the spring meeting. They are pictured withDistrict Engineer Paula Gough and Assistant Chief EngineerKathy Harvey.

Last week a semi hauling carpet rear-ended a semi haulingmilk on west bound I-70. The semi hauling milk was stoppedon the shoulder. These trucks came to a stop nearly aquarter mile after the initial impact, blocking a lane and veryquickly became fully engulfed in flames. Both NE andCentral Districts responded. The fire department haddifficulty extinguishing the flames as the tires, fuel andcarpet were on fire, so they used foam. There were noserious injuries that we know of. Once the fire wasextinguished, Russ Automotive worked very quickly to openlane one. While trying to load the remains of one of thetrucks, what was left of the fuel tank ruptured. Russ appliedabsorbent material and booms. Before the scene was totallycleared out, there was about seven miles of traffic backedup. There is significant pavement damage where the firewas, which will be repaired within the next week under anemergency contract.

Hufsah Golzar, job shadow student with customerrelations, helped Tana Akright out at the CHART TeenTask Health Fair last Saturday. She and Tana hadstudents of all ages play the Arrive Alive game to winprizes and learn more about the importance of wearing aseatbelt.

For more info

Marisa Brown-EllisonCustomer Relations ManagerNortheast District573.248.2502Marisa.Ellison@modot.mo.gov

1711 S. Highway 61Hannibal, MO 63401

Comments & Suggestions

We would like to hear from you. Send commentsand suggestions to Tammy Wallace atTammy.Wallace@modot.mo.gov.

Mission

Our mission is to provide a world-classtransportation experience that delights ourcustomers and promotes a prosperous Missouri.

To view or print other pages, click on thelinks below:

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April 24, 2014

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More Than 70 Citizens Join the Discussionon Route 45On April 22, more than 70 local citizens attended an open-house public hearing to learn about a collaborative project towiden Route 45.

Jointly funded between MoDOT, the City of Parkville and Platte County, in 2016,MoDOT will continue to widen Route 45 to four lanes from I-435 to Route K.This project will also include retaining walls along the road, a center median andan additional roundabout. The goal is to increase capacity for more vehicles,improve intersection safety and increase driver sight distance by flattening thehills.This project is the final phase of work that began in 2008.

In addition to widening this important corridor, MoDOT is also building a trailthat begins at Route K and ends at Brink Myers Road. The new trail segmentconnects to Southern Platte Pass trail and further expands the network of bicycle and pedestrian trails that enhance thelifestyle options in Platte County.

Currently in preliminary design phase, road construction is scheduled to begin in2016. However, residents will see utility work as early as this summer to prepare thesite for road construction.

This hearing was an opportunity to see the designs and get an idea of what thecorridor will look like in the next few years.

Learn more about this project on our website, www.modot.org/kansascity.

KC Brings Home Wins from InnovationsChallengeThe Statewide Innovations Challenge was held earlier this month in Springfield. We had six great entries:

Drag Chain Oiler – Chris Coon & Bill Lutgen, Independence Maintenance Tow Plow Salt Deflector - Chris Zurn, Russell Fisher, Andy Dobnikar, Gary Higgs, Harrisonville Maintenance &General Services Multi-Use Nurse Truck - Dennis Pence, Lee’s Summit West Maintenance Tablets in Construction, Kyle Frye & James Phlum, Construction MaterialsBoots on the Ground – Deborah Hogan, Human ResourcesStripe Enhancer – Dave Eppright, Knob Noster Maintenance

Two of our six entries placed! Drag Chain Oiler by Bill Lutgen & Chris Coon and Tablets in Construction byKyle Frye & James Phlum. Kyle & James won the $10,000 prize for their work unit. Over the next year, the districtwill begin implementing these innovations in day-to-day activities. Congratulations and great work to all our teams!

Click here to see photos from the event.Click here to watch a video of some of the innovations.

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Employees Kyle Frye and James Phlum, pictured center, foundby using APPs on a tablet, employees have the ability to markup plans, fill out any form or checklist and store themelectronically from the field.

Employees Bill Lutgen and Chris Coon, pictured center, areinventors of the the Drag Chain Oiler, which is designed toapply lubricant/sealer to drag chains on cinder beds. Clickhere to watch a video of this innovation in action.

For more info

Melissa BlackCustomer Relations Manager,Missouri Department of TransportationMelissa.Black@modot.mo.govP: (816) 607-2027F: (816) 365-0860

600 NE Colbern RoadLee's Summit, MO 64086

Comments & Suggestions

We would like to hear from you. Send commentsand suggestions to Tammy Wallace atTammy.Wallace@modot.mo.gov.

Mission

Our mission is to provide a world-classtransportation experience that delights ourcustomers and promotes a prosperous Missouri.

To view or print other pages, click on thelinks below:

Connections - Central District

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April 24, 2014

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Cunningham Tells Close-Call Story toPromote Safe Driving in Work ZonesAt MoDOT, safety is our top priority. Columbia Maintenance Crew Leader Kent Cunningham took the time to givedetails of a work zone close-call story in a brief video to promote safe driving in work zones. The video can be foundat http://youtu.be/6GBq3AKz5KQ or can be played online:

Cunningham was helping local law enforcement and emergency responders at the site of a two-vehicle accident inColumbia, Mo., when the close call incident occurred. As he was setting up the emergency work zone, Cunninghamsaid he turned around and saw the others on the scene scattering. That's when he noticed the one-ton truck, pulling atrailer, headed toward him.

"I got on my knees and crouched by the median barrier because I had nowhere else to go," Cunningham said. "By thetime everything happened, I could reach out and touch the tire on the trailer. That's how close he got to me."

Cunningham says he feels very lucky to be alive today. A few more inches and his story might have been different.Cunningham hopes his story will encourage drivers to slow down and pay attention, especially when driving throughhighway work zones.

Just this week, a striping operation in Cole County was struck from behind by a truck that was going too fast in thework zone and could not stop in time to avoid an accident. Photos of the aftermath of the accident are below. Note thefirst frame and the tire tracks as a reminder of how long it truly takes to stop at highway speeds.

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Central District Honored for InnovationsThe Central District was well represented in Springfield, during the recent Innovations Challenge Showcase. The SharkBox Engine Block Heater project, GroupCast and the Customer Contact Map (created by a statewide team thatincluded two members from the Central District) were three of the big statewide winners.

The Shark Box Engine Block Heater project, whose implementation was initiated by Facilities Operation SupervisorPhil Hamilton, won an award for its money-saving approach to the regulation of energy to diesel engine block heatersduring winter months. The Shark Box employs both thermostats and timers to reduce electrical use by MoDOTequipment plugged into 120-volt electrical circuits for the trucks' block heaters. Significant savings in electrical costshave resulted from this product.

Phil Hamilton is pictured holding his statewide award for the Shark Box innovation atthis year's Innovations Challenge Showcase. Also pictured (from left) are MoDOT ChiefFinancial Officer Roberta Broeker, Vice Chair of the Missouri Highways andTransportation Commission Lloyd J. Carmichael and Assistant Chief Engineer KathyHarvey.

The Shark Box was also one of three innovations featured in the MoDOT 2014 Innovations Showcase Video. You can

Connections - Central District

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Central District Maintenance Worker Randall Richardson cuts thepavement during a pipe replacement on Route T. Richardson was oneof many maintenance workers from whom Senior Customer ServiceRepresentative Janis Gieck got on-the-job training during a day of jobshadowing.

check it out at: http://youtu.be/pG2kE1qi5_U or view it online:

The Customer Contact Map team, a statewide team that included the Central District's Assistant Engineer TravisKoestner and Senior Customer Service Representative Scott Smith, collected the top prize for innovations. The purposeof the Contact Map is to allow quicker reference to MoDOT personnel in a number of districts and divisions across thestate. It is used in Customer Relations to diminish the number of phone transfers and “on hold” times for customerscalling MoDOT. Searches on the map can be done by county, district or roadway across the state. It can be used byanyone who has access to the MoDOT intranet.

Groupcast, whose implementation was initiated by Maintenance Supervisor James Williams, is a mass communicationtool used by schools to reach numerous people at once. It’s function is to send a mass notification through text, voicemail and email. Central District is piloting GroupCast for the first time this winter season. The district currently usesthis system for calling in equipment operators for winter events. Instead of calling each operator on different shifts oneby one, once filters are set up in GroupCast a large group (day/night operators, team rotations, etc.) of people can bereached instantly. The previous system took couple of hours to notify a group of workers. With GroupCast thenotifications are finished within minutes.

Thank you and congratulations to our district employees who helped contribute to these award-winning innovations.

District Customer Service RepresentativeParticipates in Job Shadow ExchangeEDITOR'S NOTE: This article was written byJanis Gieck, one of the district's customerservice representatives. In this article, shegives a first-hand account of what it was liketo participate in a job shadow exchange withmaintenance workers. The exchange's purposewas to allow workers from both departmentsto spend the day in the other's shoes andbetter understand how the other half goesabout their daily tasks. Here's her story:

You never know how it feels to be insomeone else’s shoes until you are in them.And I'll tell you, going from a customerservice representative’s shoes to a pair ofmaintenance worker’s boots can be a bigdifference in shoe size. In fact, I found that amaintenance worker's boots are awfully bigones to fill.

My day started by waking up at 4 a.m., whichis very early for me. Both me and my shoesusually don’t get up that early to go to work.Especially to work in the roadway and inunpredictable weather. Honestly, it was almostimpossible to get going, but I pushed myselfbecause I knew I needed to drive 45 minutesto start my day at 6:30 a.m. to work in thefield at Versailles with maintenance workers.

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When I arrived in Versailles, my day as a maintenance worker began with a safety meeting. We talked about beingsafe on the roadway and wearing your personal protective equipment, and then the crew leaders assigned jobs to themaintenance workers for the day. The two tasks for the day were putting in a culvert pipe on Route T and repairingedge rutting on Route O. I chose to help with the culvert pipe replacement. I have never seen or couldn’t image how toreplace a pipe under the roadway, but I put on my PPE and headed out into the field to participate in the pipereplacement.

I rode with a Crew Leader Robbie Nolting out to Route T for the pipe replacement. Robbie was very knowledgeable ofhis duties and told me about all the different types of work in the field. When we arrived at the work zone, the crewwas already set up.

The first thing I noticed was Maintenance Worker Randall Richardson using a machine to cut the pavement. I thought,"What is going through his mind." So I walked over to ask, and he asked me if I wanted to take over. I thought, "whynot?", so I grabbed the handles and away I went cutting the pavement.

After Randall and I cut the pavement, a backhoe was brought in and it began digging up the roadway. I didn’t thinkthat Maintenance Supervisor Darren Apperson wanted me in the backhoe, so I just kept my thoughts to myself, andwatched the maintenance worker do his job scooping up the roadway.

I wanted to learn while I was in the field, so I asked Darren what kind of roads a snowplow driver drives during asnow fight. So Darren took the time to drive me through his routes in Morgan County, so that I could see what kind ofroadways a snowplow operator drives on in the middle of a snowstorm. And wow, some of the roads are very curvyand the mailboxes sit really close to the road. After seeing first-hand what trials and tribulations a snow plow operatorgoes through, I truly understand how difficult their job can be.

As the day ended, I saw some edge rutting repaired, a culvert pipe replaced and experienced the difficult route of asnowplow driver. It finally was time for me to go home.

I'd recommend that every customer service representative spend a day in the maintenance field. Being in someoneelse's shoes for a day helps you gain a new appreciation for how hard it is to walk in them, and a better understandingof the men and women who do this job every day.

Around the District

This is an "after" photo of what happened when a trash truck forgot to lower its boomarms and twisted a signal pole like a pretzel and shut down the intersection at BusinessLoop 70 and Providence Road in Columbia. It took five skilled Central District workers tofix the twisted light pole and damaged signals at the location. Despite the extensive

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damage, the district crew got the intersection open again by the end of the day.

Several Central District employees, including Laurie Wyrick (pictured above),participated in the No MOre Trash Bash April 17 by cleaning up trash on the district'sAdopt-A-Highway stretch on Route 94 in Callaway County.

The Central District recently began its annual series of spring meetings. Here, DistrictEngineer David Silvester (pictured to the left of the screen) updates district workers onnew policies and MoDOT's direction for the future.

For more info

Sally OxenhandlerCustomer Relations ManagerCentral District573-522-3375Sally.Oxenhandler@modot.mo.gov

1511 Missouri BoulevardP.O. Box 718Jefferson City, MO 65102

Comments & Suggestions

We would like to hear from you. Send commentsand suggestions to Tammy Wallace atTammy.Wallace@modot.mo.gov.

Mission

Our mission is to provide a world-classtransportation experience that delights our

To view or print other pages, click on thelinks below:

Connections - St. Louis District

http://www.modot.org/stlouis/connections_stlouis.htm[4/24/2014 9:28:14 AM]

April 24, 2014

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St. Louis District’s Work Zone 5K a Success

by Shaunda WhiteMore than 500 people came out and showed their support or ran/walked at the St. Louis District’s first Work Zone 5K inChesterfield on April 12. MoDOT employees along with their families, friends, corporate and private sponsors, gathered atthe event to honor workers that have lost their lives in the line of duty and to create awareness of workers in work zones.

NameStuart McNeil (MoDOT) Sara NelsonShane ConcannonMarjie WareChristian SchoonoverAlyssa MillerDan DoellingCori ClarkRoger AndersonKristen WaddellNorm WeiskopfMarisa Ellison (MoDOT)James Smith (MoDOT)Kay PiperMark BussenBarbara Pumm

CategoryMale OverallFemale OverallMale Ages 1-11Female Ages 1-11Male Ages 12-19Female Ages 12-19Male Ages 20-29Female Ages 20-29Male Ages 30-39Female Ages 30-39Male Ages 40-49Female Ages 40-49Male Ages 50-59Female Ages 50-59Male Ages 60-69Female Ages 60-69

Time18:4121:1824:0937:5619:2026:3619:3122:3118:5621:3919:3121:4823:0526:3624:0035:27

Mark Fresen, (sitting in front row), a previous MoDOTemployee that was struck by a motorist in a workzone, takes a picture with participants that wonplaques for their performance in the Work Zone 5K inChestefield, MO on April 12,2014.

The event was organized by the St. Louis Fit 4 Life Team and resulted with almost 400 participants registered to run orwalk. All participants received a work zone 5K medal, but the winners also won plaques for completing first.

The races started and finished on the parking lot of the Transportation Management Center, with the 5K route takingrunners and walkers over Interstate 64 and onto the outer roads.

Stuart McNeil, a senior highway designer, completed the 5K with the lowest time overall.

“It was challenging because it was more hilly than what I expected, but I am very pleased with how successful the 5Kevent was. It is a great way to promote healthier lifestyles, while also promoting safety of workers on the highways. I amglad that I had the opportunity to participate,” said McNeil.

The Fit 4 Life Team is already making preparations for the 2015 Work Zone Event. For additional information pleasesend your inquiries to SLFit4Life@modot.mo.gov.

St. Louis Group works to boost EmployeeMoraleby Shaunda WhiteWhat exactly will it take to boost employee morale? A team of 13 St. Louis district employees is strategizing to come upwith ideas to do just that.

The quick action team was formed as a suggestion fromthe Voice of St. Louis members after receiving numerousconcerns about employee retention within the organization.

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A selected group of St. Louis employees came together withemployee suggestions from across the district about how toboost employee morale.

The “Improving Employee Morale” kickoff meeting washeld in March. Since then, the group has questionedemployees throughout the district and received feedback onimproving morale. The next item on the group’s agenda isto present their plan of action to the St. LouisAdministration Team in late April.

The St. Louis Administration Team will work with thegroup to implement short and long term practices that willaddress the concerns.

For more info

Marie ElliottCustomer Relations ManagerSt. Louis District314-453-1807Marie.Elliott@modot.mo.gov

1590 Woodlake DriveChesterfield, MO 63017

Comments & Suggestions

We would like to hear from you. Send commentsand suggestions to Tammy Wallace atTammy.Wallace@modot.mo.gov.

Mission

Our mission is to provide a world-classtransportation experience that delights ourcustomers and promotes a prosperous Missouri.

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Connections - Southwest District

http://www.modot.org/southwest/connections_southwest.htm[4/24/2014 9:28:31 AM]

April 24, 2014

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Southwest District at Work

ONE, TWO, THREE… Equipment TechnicianSupervisor Gary Shisler (left) and Senior FinancialServices Specialist Todd Tyler account for districtassets during the annual audit. (Photo/DavidMitchell)

ON THE MOVE - Springfield Facility Operations CrewWorker Matt Hutson replaces MoDOT icon Barrel Bobwith Barrel Becky outside the District Office. BarrelBob is being placed at various work zones in thedistrict to draw attention to them and urge drivers toslow down. (Photo/David Mitchell)

Southwest District Helps EmployeesPursue Healthy Lifestylesby David Mitchell

MoDOT’s Southwest District is urging employees to live healthier lifestyles and is helping them pursue that goal.

The district is offering a variety of wellness opportunities to employees. Most recently, biometric screenings are beingoffered which are a short health examination assessing a person’s risk for disease and other medical conditions.

The screenings check things like blood pressure, cholesterol andweight.

Gary McLarry, District Safety and Health Manager, says thedistrict offered these screenings for the first time in 2013 when 27percent of employees took advantage of the tests.

For the first time in February, the district made mammogramsavailable to female employees. Twenty women visited the mobileservice at the District Office.

McLarry’s goal is to increase participation in these medicalopportunities every year. For him, the motivation is personal.

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Joplin Construction Inspector Ryan Dingman gets aflu shot at last year’s employee fair. Flu shots foremployees are one part of the District’s wellnessprogram. (Photo/David Mitchell)

New configuration of Glenstone Avenue (Bus. Loop65) and Republic Road in Springfield.(Photo/MoDOT)

His dad, who was a smoker from the age of 12, died in theirfamily's milk barn at the age of 65.

“My parents had dreams for their 50th anniversary," McLarry said."They didn’t get to enjoy their retirement together.”

He said people, especially men, don't take their personal health asseriously as they should.

“We want our employees to enjoy life and their family as long as they can.”

McLarry pointed to national studies showing employers who offer wellness programs can see as much as a 25 percentreduction in areas like sick leave, medical costs and workers compensation claims.

The wellness effort is part of MoDOT’s overall safety emphasis. Employees already have various opportunities to betrained in first aid and CPR. The goal there is to get every employee trained. Currently, 92 percent of Southwest Districtemployees are CPR qualified.

In the future, district employees can expect to see efforts to encourage them to exercise more and eat healthier.

Safety and Traffic Congestion Relief is theAim of Glenstone Avenue Widening Projectby Angela Eden A project to widen Glenstone Avenue to six lanes – three lanes ineach direction – between Battlefield Road and James RiverFreeway (Route 60) has its focus on improving safety and relievingtraffic congestion along a very busy stretch of the road that carriesBusiness 65 traffic in southeast Springfield.

Construction of the improvements began this week.

Assistant District Engineer Dan Salisbury says one of the biggestgoals of the project is relieving traffic backups on westbound JamesRiver Freeway at the Glenstone Avenue interchange.

“When people are on a high speed route, they don’t expect to haveto just stop and that’s what’s happening here,” Salisbury said. “It’sjust not safe.”

The project will eliminate a traffic signal just north of theGlenstone Avenue/James River Freeway interchange at Republic Court which causes traffic backups at times.

Republic Road on the east side of Glenstone Avenue will be routed along Luster Avenue to Independence Street. This willmake the Independence Street intersection a four-legged intersection.

Republic Court as it’s called on the west side of Glenstone Avenue will become a right-out/right-in entrance only to allowcustomers to continue to reach businesses in the area.

District Traffic Engineer Joe Rickman says the improvements will mean reduced traffic congestion along the entire corridorfrom Battlefield Road to James River Freeway.

“It will improve traffic flow by shortening the queues at the signals including during heavy traffic times,” Rickman said.

During construction, drivers can expect nighttime lane closings between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Drivers may also experiencenarrowed business entrances, but people will be able to get into and out of the businesses during the project.

Maps of the project are available here.

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Project Basics:

Prime Contractor: Journagan Construction Company, SpringfieldConstruction Cost: $5 millionCompletion: Late November 2014Partnership: City of Springfield

For more info

Jennifer WilliamsCustomer Relations ManagerSouthwest District417.895.7713Jennifer.Williams@modot.mo.gov

3025 E. KearneyP.O. Box 868Springfield, MO 65801

Comments & Suggestions

We would like to hear from you. Send commentsand suggestions to Tammy Wallace atTammy.Wallace@modot.mo.gov.

Mission

Our mission is to provide a world-classtransportation experience that delights ourcustomers and promotes a prosperous Missouri.

To view or print other pages, click on thelinks below:

Connections - Southeast District

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Members of the pipe liner winch team accept a $10,000check for their help in making the workplace safer andimproving efficiency.

Lou Sanborn, licensed D1, presents Doris Dumey withcertificates for her 1000th jump and completing 12hours of free-fall. Doris is licensed D27000. Photocourtesy of Doris Dumey.

Congrats to SE District InnovationsChallenge Winners! Two of the Southeast District’s Innovations Challenge entrieswere named winners at the recent statewide showcase.

The Southeast District’s pipe liner received top honors in theTools and Equipment category, as well as a $10,000 check. Inaddition, the People’s Choice award went to the SoutheastDistrict’s porous backfill process.

The pipe liner winch was invented to assist in pulling pipeliners through corrugated metal pipe (CMP). The 12-ton winchis mounted to the boom of the backhoe. The winch has arotating cable pulley that allows liners to be pulled throughCMP in almost any direction. The innovation helps crewsperform the task more safely, as well as improving efficiencyand making the best use of taxpayers’ dollars.

The porous backfill process includes using porous backfill tomitigate the continuous settlement issues often associated withbridges without attached approach slabs. This innovationimproves the quality of these projects by eliminating bumpsand providing a smoother driving surface.

Congratulations to the SE District Innovations Challengeparticipants and winners! To view more information regardingthe SE District’s innovations, please click here to visit ourSharePoint site.

Photo (left): The Southeast District's porous backfill processreceived the People's Choice Award.

Better Roads Highlights Doris Dumey

Many MoDOT employees may know Doris Dumey through herwork as executive assistant to Southeast District Engineer MarkShelton. But Doris is also well-known for her passion forskydiving!

Doris has earned her A, B, C, and D licenses as well as herCoach, I.A.D. Instructor and PRO Ratings. In addition toserving as an active member of the Southeast MissouriSkydiving Club and an instructor, she also has participated in anumber of special jumps involving everything from an inflatableraft to Mr. Potato Head.

Recently, Better Roads featured a story about Doris and herskydiving experiences. To read the complete article or watch avideo of her jump at the Cape Girardeau Air Festival, check outTina Grady Barbaccia’s article in Better Roads at

www.betterroads.com/photos-video-modot-employee-finds-a-

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new-way-of-transportation-skydiving/?utm_content=buffer00582&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#.

KFVS12 Helps Raise Work Zone Awareness

During National Work Zone Awareness Week, KFVS12’s HollyBrantley visited with Area Engineer Brian Okenfuss to learnmore about the dangers in work zones and what drivers can doto help.

The interview focused on Missouri’s Move Over Law thatrequires motorists to slow down or change lanes whenapproaching these vehicles and now includes MoDOT vehiclesparked with amber and white lights flashing.

Photo: Click the video on the left to view KFVS12's story onMissouri's Move Over Law and the dangers of work zones or visitwww.kfvs12.com.

2014 Long-Term Safety Award RecipientsRecognized During the 2014 spring employee meetings, the Southeast District took time to honor this year’s long-term safety awardrecipients. Photos are available at www.flickr.com/photos/modot_se.

Thanks to the employees below for making our workplace a safer place!

Joe CrumLloyd CrewseRussell DivineJames NealNathan ReedWayne ShaverJerry SpencerRandy SandersMike HensleyCurt BaldridgeChris MedleyJesse WilliamsDon CountsKevin DavidsonDon HillsBilly WellsRodney WilesJohn WoodKenneth AdkinsMartin ElliottRon BollingerDewayne RobeySteve LimbaughTheo MorrisTommy BurgessMike HyslopDarius DowdyJerry Friese

Jessie FultonMike MoonWillie HawkinsAudie PulliamDarrell EmeryDonald TinkleGary RickerJeff MaburyLee ByesKeith ElliotTracee StottsWade LaceyRobert ReedBrian LongBryon DavonportDon CritesDoug GlaserForrest HouseGary KingJeff AmelunkeJoseph AllgierMike CrannickDonnie EdgarCarl SchwentJohn TuttPatty PogueRon Cook

For more info

Nicole ThieretCustomer Relations ManagerSoutheast District573.472.6632Nicole.Thieret@modot.mo.gov

2675 N. Main Street

Comments & Suggestions

We would like to hear from you. Send commentsand suggestions to Tammy Wallace atTammy.Wallace@modot.mo.gov.

Mission

Our mission is to provide a world-class

To view or print other pages, click on thelinks below: