Article Photos

PARKERSBURG - A biking enthusiast who organizes children's safety projects, a Parkersburg police officer involved with highway safety programs and a local Boy Scout leader who advocates safety projects for scout groups were named the 2009 Highway Safety Award winners on Tuesday.

During a luncheon meeting of the Wood County Commission on Crime, Delinquency and Corrections, plaques were presented to Kim Broughton, Chris Morehead and Dale Musgrave.

"These individuals play a tremendous role in getting things done in the community. They do all this work without looking for recognition, they do it because they know it's the right thing to do. We are very thankful for all they've done," said Toni Tiano, Mid-Ohio Regional Highway Safety program coordinator. "I think everyone will agree they all three are very deserving and have devoted a lot of time to promoting highway safety."

Broughton, who is with Adventure Pursuit, set up the PARK Program, a safe bike riding program for low-income youth, especially those residing in housing projects. It was conducted weekly. There were six to 11 children weekly ages 4-18 years who rode three to eight miles a week. The program operated from May to August.

Youth learned bicycle and road safety, safe use of helmets, laws relating to road safety, hand signals, keeping their bike in good working order and parts of the bike.

Because of the program's success, the program will be sustained because it has been linked to an area local bicycle riding club.

Broughton also organized the first Critical Mass Ride that drew 74 area bicyclists, including children, to Parkersburg to promote safe riding on the road and raise drivers' awareness of the presence of bicyclists.

"Kim's commitment to the area low income youth has not only taught them bicycle safety but has also provided them with a safe way to exercise, get fresh air, fight obesity, reduce juvenile delinquency, make friends with other children and adults, and fight boredom. Low-income children have benefited a great deal from Kim's commitment to their health, safety, and happiness," said Wendy Tuck, director with the Volunteer Action Center, who nominated Broughton for the award.

"I am really touched, I've had a lot of help from a lot of people and I think the sustainability of the program has a lot to say about people working together," Broughton said in accepting her honor.

Morehead, a detective with the Parkersburg Police Department, is involved with many highway safety enforcement activities and grants, actively working with the DUI Enforcement, Target Red, Click It Or Ticket, Seatbelt Checkpoint and Aggressive Driving/Speed Enforcement grants. During his time working on this grant, Morehead is actively enforcing the highway safety laws. Morehead was nominated by Capt. Delmas Barker of the Parkersburg Police Department.

"These grants help us put more officers on the streets and improve the safety of our community," Morehead said.

Musgrave, executive director of the Boy Scouts Allohak Council, is a leader and trainer in the Boy Scouts of America Program working with scout leaders and youth 7 to 19.

"Dale places a great emphasis on bicycle safety, skateboarding safety, auto safety, and traveler safety. Dale has done this for over 20 years and has a passion for teaching young boys, including his own children, the importance of personal responsibility by practicing safety at home and on the street. With regard to bicycle safety and skateboarding, Dale teaches the boys the safety rules including wearing a bicycle helmet, learning hand signals, being aware of their surroundings which include watching for drain covers and pot holes, not weaving in and out of traffic, and especially never to hitch a ride by holding onto a truck, car, or other vehicle. They even learn how to repair a bicycle chain and fix a flat tire," said Joyce Mather, executive director with the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

"Great emphasis is placed on auto safety. Dale has stated that early training begins with seat belt fastening and locking car doors. They learn not to exit the car on the street or traffic side and not to place anything in windows that could potentially obstruct the driver's view. As the boys progress through the scouting system, they learn advanced auto safety. Although continued emphasis is placed on basic auto safety, with adult supervision, the boys learn how to change a tail light, how to change oil and lubricants, and most importantly how to change a tire. Dale stays involved year round in keeping children safe and teaching them how to keep themselves safe. His teachings are lifetime skills the young men of today will be using and teaching their own families for years to come," Mather said.