Longtime Genoa crossing guard honored by high school group

GENOA – After school Tuesday, crossing guard Bevia Probst was standing at the intersection of Hill and Sycamore streets in Genoa attending to her job, much like every other afternoon in the past 16 years.

However, this time, the 84-year-old’s job was interrupted when high school students approached her.

The students, sisters Serenity and Faith Baskins, are members of Genoa-Kingston High School’s Impact Club. Serenity, a senior, and Faith, a sophomore, surprised Probst not only with a visit, but also a sign, flowers and $200 the club raised by selling noisemakers at the homecoming football game last weekend. The club’s gifts were to thank Probst for her hard work and to show the students’ and community’s appreciation.

“We live in the neighborhood, so we always see her,” Faith Baskins said. “She’s always waving and smiling. She always says hello and makes conversation with you as you walk past.”

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Longtime Genoa crossing guard Bevia Probst is surprised Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, by Tara Wilkins, the supervisor of Genoa-Kingston High School’s Impact Club, with a sign, flowers and $200 the club raised by selling noisemakers at the homecoming football game. Wilkins, with students members of the Impact Club Serenity Baskins, a senior, and her sister Faith, a sophomore, dropped by the corner where Probst's works to give her the gifts and thank her for her 16 years of service and her friendly interactions with the students and motorists. (Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com/Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com)

Serenity said that seeing Probst in the morning “is a good way to start the day.”

“Seeing her in the morning, I know it’s going to be a good day,” she said. “She’s always so friendly and nice.”

Probst was surprised to receive gifts of appreciation and attention from the students.

“It’s marvelous. I can’t believe it,” she said. “I didn’t expect it at all.”

Probst previously worked as a crossing guard in Bartlett for 16 years. She said seeing the students every day is why she enjoys going to work every day.

“I love my job because I love the kids,” she said. “They always wave hi and say good morning. I know a lot of their names, and I like to see how they’re doing.”

Tara Wilkins, the supervisor of Genoa-Kingston High School’s Impact Club, said the club’s goal is to help people in the community through community service, projects and fundraising. Other projects the club is involved with include highway cleanups, volunteering with Feed my Starving Children and collecting items for annual food and toy drives. Last Valentine’s Day, Serenity and Faith Baskins made Valentine’s bags for teachers.

“It’s a student-driven club, so they do projects to help others in the community,” Wilkins said. “There’s so much negativity in the world, it’s nice to do something positive. We’re all in this together, and it’s easy to make people smile and feel good, so why not?”

Probst said that despite her age, she has no plans to retire anytime soon.

“I’m here every morning and every afternoon,” she said. “I plan on being here as long as I can. I love my job, the children and the community.”