The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Biggsville- West Central High School students gathered in the gym March 20th to get their first look at their student's group's new logo.
The student group 34VOICES is committed to the long-term goal of increasing driving safety through Henderson County by the modernization of Highway 34 into a 4-lane highway from Burlington, Iowa, to Monmouth.
Students became especially interested in highway safety after a traffic fatality last May.
The accident occurred just yards from classrooms at the high school.
With 10,000 vehicles a day going right past the school, students went on a letter-writing campaign creating over 600 letters to send to state legislators urging funding for highway improvements.
The state of Illinois has long stalled highway improvements, and the students are seeking to increase the public's awareness of the need for significant improvements in Henderson County.
The logo was brainstormed by a group of elected student leaders of the organization. High school artist Josie Grant created the finished sketch.
The logo depicts a Highway 34 sign marker with a rising sun over the two-lane highway and the group's acronym VOICES standing for "Voicing Our Interest Concerning Everyone's Safety."
The 34VOICES group seeks to actively support safe teenage driving along with the construction of a 4-lane highway through the county.
Funding for some of the group's projects comes from the Illinois Department of Transportation and Allstate Insurance.
Participating in March 20th 34VOICES logo unveiling were, from left, Tirri Gray, State Trooper Dan Leezer, Allstate Insurance representative Jayme Horner, the LOGO, Jill Britt, and 34VOICES co-leader Julianna Gillam. The logo event was part of a Operation Teen Safe Driving event at West Central High School.