Driving along Highways 89 and 97 in South Siskiyou County, one will see the “Adopt a Highway” signs. Caltrans started this program in 1989. These signs list who is volunteering to pick up trash on that stretch of highway.
The most common Adopt a Highway sign seen along these roads is “Cabitto’s Cleanup Crew.” There are 12 of these particular signs covering 20 miles of Highway 89 and a few miles on Highway 97. Linda Cabitto is the sole crew member, and she can be seen in a bright yellow vest using grabbers to pick up trash along the highways. Her passion for this work started in April 2016 when she began volunteering in the “Clean and Safe” program. She joined the Adopt a Highway program about six years ago. She completed a safety class to obtain a permit for the work, and the money she earns — from recycling what she finds — goes toward buying gas. She typically covers her stretches of highway four times a year, every three months, though she also takes part in special cleanup projects in specific areas, such as the Park and Ride.
