Midway Chevrolet

By TODD GOTTULA
Hub Staff Writer

KEARNEY - Midway Chevrolet is one of those rare businesses that can say it makes a difference by saving lives.

The Kearney car dealership became involved with the Tri-Cities SAFE KIDS Coalition in 1999 and donates time, personnel and its facilities to help inspect child safety seats and seat belt positioning.

The 2003 Freedom Award winner in the business category, Midway Chevrolet-Buick-Cadillac has been the SAFE KIDS Coalition's inspection station in Kearney since August.

"Because of their tireless efforts and professional partnership, we estimate 1,000 child car seats have been checked at their facility," Karen Triplett wrote in her nomination letter. "Numerous children have been saved from death or serious injuries (from) motor vehicle crashes, the number one killer of children."

Triplett is the Kearney project coordinator for the SAFE KIDS Coalition. Since August, Midway Chevrolet has closed its service center one day each month to allow for a full day of car seat inspections, she said.

Two employees, Mike Morgan and Peggy Staab, became certified child passenger technicians and have donated many hours of their time to the program, Triplett said.

"Kelvin (Shearer) has provided leadership, support and a 'can-do' attitude for this lifesaving Kearney project," said Triplett.

Shearer, Midway's general manager, said other staff members intend to join Morgan and Staab as certified technicians.

"This is something we think is real important, and we're glad we can give some of our time because it's a worthwhile project," Shearer said. "Mike and Peggy have done a tremendous job and really became dedicated to this, and now we have some other employees interested in getting involved."

Staab said all 48 Midway employees have helped with the car seat inspections in some way.

"I remember the first day we closed the service department, everybody volunteered," Staab said. "We had people directing traffic, serving food, watching kids, filling out paperwork, sitting at registration tables and anything else that was needed."

In addition to donating its facilities for inspections, Midway provided personnel, equipment and vehicles during a pair of four-day training classes that allowed students to practice installing car seats properly.

"This program really opened our eyes and hit a soft spot with many of us," Staab said. "When you see the training videos that show the crashes with children, and you realize that could be your child, it really impacts you."

On top of the scheduled monthly checks that attract between 50 and 60 vehicles, Midway averages about one check a day from walk-in customers, Staab said.

"I had one just last week where a person was given a fix-it ticket by the State Patrol and was sent here. We see one or two visits a day like that," she said. "We also take dozens of phone calls each week, so this really has turned into a daily effort."

e-mail to:
todd.gottula@kearneyhub.co