Glenns Ferry youth's art on IDT calendar

  Kyleigh Sanchez, a second-grade student at Glenns Ferry Elementary School, has been selected as one of 14 young artists from around the state to be featured in the Idaho Transportation Department's annual safety calendar.

"Don't drink and drive," "Wear a seat belt" and "Don't speed" are some of the important highway safety messages that elementary school students across Idaho trained their colored crayons, pencils and markers on for ITD.

Each year the calendar is dedicated to people who work to save lives and prevent injuries on roadways. The 2009 calendar is dedicated to Anna Beauregard, a seat belt advocate who speaks about buckling up to school children, community service groups and at local government meetings.

"Anna speaks from her heart. She tragically lost a child who was not properly restrained many years ago, and now takes every opportunity to prevent another family losing a loved one," said Mary Hunter, ITD highway safety manager.

 "One local family wrote her a special thank you because they were buckled up in a serious traffic crash, thanks to Anna's efforts."

Artists ranged from kindergarten through sixth grade. Safe driving themes were divided among grade levels: grades K-2, seat belts, child safety seats or walking safely to school; grades 3-4, bicycle safety, aggressive driving or walking safely to school; and grades 5-6, impaired driving, driving safety for teenagers or seat belts.

 The calendar is produced in a monthly format. For each month, the winning student's first name and photograph are printed on the calendar next to his or her artwork, along with their grade and school location.

 Each student received a custom-made calendar frame in which to display the art. The calendars are distributed to elementary schools and law enforcement agencies throughout Idaho.

 Calendars are available to the public in limited supply. For more information call IDT at 334-8104.