Our assistant manager started an ambitious project of painting the Park City Café.  Because she didn’t want to disrupt the customers, she could only work on this project in small sections late at night or early in the morning when the restaurant was closed.  Shortly after she started, she injured herself and was unable to finish the job.  The rest of the crew jumped in and stayed after their scheduled shifts for several nights to finish the painting.  It was a great team effort and the place looks great!  Thanks to Sherry, Lexi, Shanna, Ann and Francis.

Not long ago, we had a driver enter the facility on foot.  Apparently, he miscalculated how much fuel he had and was stranded on the highway about 12 miles from the Hardin exit.  We don’t know how he got to the unit, but once he arrived, James, our maintenance associated lent him a gas can.  They filled it up and he drove him back to his rig.

One of our casino hosts fell and broke her ankle on her way home from shopping. Kris, our assistant manager, and her husband took that employee to the Hospital and waited for her to see the doctor, then gave her a ride home. She was extremely grateful for their time and effort as she now heads into recovery.

2. Around Christmas time, a woman came in and bought a roll of duct tape and asked if we could spare any large pieces of cardboard. Ron, our assistant manager, went to get her the cardboard and in the process he asked her what she needed if for. Apparently, something hit the side of her van while driving and shattered one of her windows. She had three children and a dog with her.  They were all pretty shaken from having the window shatter while driving on the highway. Instead of a piece of cardboard, Ron grabbed two 30 gallon heavy duty garbage bags, went out to the van and taped the two garbage bags to the window making sure to get it as secure as he could. In about twenty minutes the side window on the van was safe and she was able to get back on the road.  

3. Last year one of our employees found that she had cancer and had to go through Chemotherapy.  She was unable to work for about six months.  Her fellow cashiers wanted to do something to help her out, so they started a collection jar at the fuel desk.  This collection earned about $200 every week, which she used to buy groceries and cover other daily expenses.  Each of the cashiers went the Extra Mile, doing their best to help a fellow employee in need.  Many customers that came through helped by donating money, food and even get well cards and inspirational material for the employee to read while she was receiving chemo.

Betty, a casino host at our Colt Inn & Casino had a lady traveler enter the casino in tears.  Her automobile had broken down about 35 miles from town and she didn’t know what to do.  Betty, with the help of her brother, drove to the traveler’s car and got it running again so that she could continue along her way.  She was very grateful to Betty and her brother for helping her at a time when she had no other resources to use.

In December, the Battle Mountain Casino staff wanted to do something to help those families who were less fortunate in their community during the holidays. The casino purchased 14 hams and set up a food collection center and cash donation jars. The casino hosts were very enthusiastic about doing their best for these families and spent time telling each and every customer about their efforts and asked for their help. The first day the food donation bins were filled up. There were also many sizeable cash donations made. The casino was able to go out and purchase toys and gifts for these families as well as provide them with food that would last them well after the holidays. Some of the crew joined in the distribution of these gifts. Needless to say, there wasn’t a dry eye in the whole group. They felt that it was absolutely one of the best things you could be involved in.

It is not often that we receive recognition for the normal activities that we go about doing day in and day out. In Belgrade, Montana, however one customer took the time to thank our maintenance staff for a job well done. Here are his comments:

“This shower is the cleanest I have seen all over the Truck Stops either in the USA and Cananda. If I was a “no-name” or unknown flying j inspector…you would have five stars and the highest note for your good & great work! – Appreciation, Andre  CR5 Express, St. George, Quebec”

Dear Broadway-

Just before Thanksgiving my family learned that our sister's cancer had gone to her brain.  We were told she had only weeks to months to live.  On Dec 5th I was informed my husband needed triple bypass.  He has been diabetic for 40 years, so they were not sure if his arteries were viable to handle the surgery.  Tests proved on Dec 8th that they were in good enough shape to make his bypass possible.  On Mon. Dec 11th, he had his bypass surgery.  It went well, however, he had a bleeder in his chest cavity that required opening him up again a couple hours later to locate and repair the hole in the blood vessel.  He handled both procedures very well.

On Thursday Dec. 14th, I went into work, my husband had been moved from cardio/ICU to a regular room. I felt it was safe to leave him long enough to go to work for the day.  However, while I was at work, the call came that my sister was nearing the end.  My coworkers stepped in to cover my shift and get me to the hospital to see my sister.  I made it to see her, about 30 minutes after I arrived at her side, she passed on.

As you know, losing a loved one is always difficult, but at the holiday season it seems to make the loss much harder.  My family was there for me.  Thank God for their strength and prayers, they helped pull me through this difficult time.

Also behind me, supporting me was my Broadway family.  They offered prayers, and hugs and a lot of shoulders for me to cry on. Believe me, I used a lot of those shoulders!  I have never had so much happening to me at one time, and pray that nobody ever has to go through that  much at one time ever again.

I missed a lot of work.  My co-workers stepped in and took over the extra hours.  They covered shifts not only for me but also my sister Sue Smuck, also a Williams Broadway employee.

On Dec. 22nd I finally got to bring my husband home from the hospital.  Dec. 22nd happened to be payday. I called my bank to ask what my payroll deposit was.  The bank informed me there were 2 deposits made that day by Broadway.  After the bank assured me it was correct, I called Kim in Spokane to see what was going on.  She informed me there was an additional deposit in the amount of $425.00.  When I asked her what it was all about, she told me I must be somebody pretty special, because that was a gift from my co-workers in Williams.  She can also tell you that I cried as I thanked her. I still cry every time I think of their generous gift to me and my husband. It has helped pay my bills for January, as I haven't worked as my husband recovers some.

I just wanted to let you know what a great family I have at Broadway – Williams, IA.  Without their love and support, the past few weeks would have been so much harder to endure. If you don't call that going the extra mile, I don't know what you'd call it.

If this sounds like rambling, I apologize. I have been with Broadway since 6/23/00, and I have never seen or been a part of giving as I experienced these past weeks. I don't think I can thank them enough. I just want you to be aware of what this branch of your Broadway family is made of.

Thank you,

Sherry Goodknight

God Bless You All

Happy New Year!!!

Fall, 2006, the Spokane, WA Broadway Flying J participated in the St. Jude’s fundraiser for research.  The fundraiser was supported through a vendor who was reluctant to set up the fundraiser at a Truck Stop thinking that no one would participate.

After the a few employees convinced this representative that drivers are some of the most generous people on earth, he decided to let us participate.  He left a few packets of the $1 tokens to sell and hang up in our store.  Each token in those packets was sold in 48 hours!  After calls for more and more packets, Broadway started to get the attention of the vendor and the area St. Jude’s representatives.  By the end of the contest, our Spokane Truck Stop sold more $1 tokens than any other convenience store, grocery store, tavern or Truck Stop in the Spokane area!  Our Team raised over $1272 for St. Jude’s research.  Thanks to their great effort and our generous customers we were able to show a few people that the Driving Industry is filled with great people.

At the Belgrade, MT Broadway Flying J, we have an 83 year old regular customer by the name of Larry.  He has been coming to the Truck Stop longer than most can remember.  In fact, some people might mistake the facility as his second home and the employees at Broadway his family.

Through the years, Larry has made many friends with our customers and staff.  Like the sun rising each morning, you can be sure that Larry will be by to have his coffee and meander around the lot smoking his pipe.

This Christmas, Jenean Martinez noticed that Larry’s pipe was getting worn.  Knowing there probably weren’t many presents under the tree for Larry, she went out and bought him a brand new tobacco pipe.  What a great way to show one of our regulars how much he means to us.