Shasta County Opportunity Center workers included, from left, Craig Remley, Mykle Thomas, Michael LaFeverr, Hance “Buddy” Watkins and Sam Kopp.
By Samantha O’Reilly
District 2 Clean California PIO
For almost 60 years, the Shasta County Opportunity Center facilitated productive and meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Caltrans had the privilege of utilizing this program for several contracts; including litter abatement, rest area janitorial services, and mailroom services before the program shut down on June 30. While active it made a meaningful impact to those involved, and forged bonds that survived the program.
Former Employment Services Instructor II Mykle Thomas led the litter abatement crew contracted with Caltrans for almost two years before the program was shut down due to funding issues. Thomas worked for the Opportunity Center for four years before becoming the crew instructor. Due to COVID precautions, the Opportunity Center kept the crew down to four workers, around half of their pre-pandemic numbers.
Thomas’ crew worked closely with Caltrans landscaping and maintenance. They started and ended each day in the Redding Caltrans Maintenance Yard in Special Crews. Over time, the Opportunity Center Litter-Abatement Crew and Caltrans staff developed a friendship and appreciation for each other’s strong work ethic, kindness, sense of humor and learned to count on each other.
It was also clear how much Thomas cared for his crew. As the program came to a close, Thomas worked hard to help his crew transition and look for new work. Thomas’ favorite part of the job was helping his staff learn people skills that would benefit them in life and in future jobs.
”Mykle made sure they were all set before he even made sure he was okay,” said Charlie Kimball, Litter Crew-North supervisor.
When Thomas first started with the crew, he worked with Sheri Yeomans, District 2 water manager, learning how to put up signs safely along the roadway. Thomas made sure his crew was always following the rules and never cut corners on safety.
”Mykle was very attentive with the guys and made sure they were safe,” Yeomans said.
Everybody at Caltrans touched their lives in one way or another, but Kimball, Yeomans and Lou Romero, former litter crew supervisor and current Integrated Maintenance Management System coordinator, worked with the Opportunity Center crew the most and had a significant impact, Thomas said.
Romero made it a point to connect with them every Monday to see how their weekend went and how they were doing. Romero often made cookies and treats for the Opportunity Center crew.
”It was my way of saying thank you to them and good job,” Romero said. “The program benefitted everybody. I wish there was some way to keep it going.”
While the crew was small, they were also mighty. Caltrans employees who had the opportunity to work with them said that the crew was always ready to work and get the job done, no matter what the weather was like. It could be 112 degrees or pouring rain and this crew never complained. They were known for their hard work and amazing work ethic.
While the crew was small, they were also mighty. Caltrans employees who had the opportunity to work with them said that the crew was always ready to work and get the job done, no matter what the weather was like. It could be 112 degrees or pouring rain and this crew never complained. They were known for their hard work and amazing work ethic.
”They were fantastic and always happy to be out working,” Romero said. “I could see the happiness and enthusiasm in their eyes. You could tell they really cared for each other as a team. They really worked well together.”
As the time drew near for the program to end, Thomas wondered how he could maintain the connection with his guys. The months of time spent working with each other created strong bonds and a sense of comradery that everyone in the group would miss out on. In the spur of the moment, Thomas asked the crew if they wanted to adopt a section of the highway. Adopting a section of the highway would be their way to continue the great work of keeping highways clear and help keep the fellowship alive.
For Thomas, naming their Adopt-A-Highway sign “In Memory of the Opportunity Center” was an act of pride and he wanted to honor the parents and people who started the program more than 60 years ago. Thomas’ goal was to show that the program is gone but the will of the program is still alive and well. He also wants the people who were involved in the program to keep that memory alive and know that the program made a difference.
”It was a really great program,” Romero said. “I was sad to see it go.”