the last word

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has a winner in its “Name the Blimp” contest — “Spirit of Innovation,” penned by Matthew Harrelson, a chemistry teacher at Hudson High School in Hudson, OH. This was the first time in the 81-year history of its airship program that Goodyear turned to a nationwide contest to name a blimp

In June, the tire maker and airship operator christened its newest blimp at its Wingfoot Lake Airship hangar in Suffield, OH, and gave Harrelson the chance to cash in on his grand prize — to ride in the blimp for a day. “I can't believe I won the Goodyear Blimp for a day,” remarked Harrelson.

Pictured by “his” blimp are Matthew Harrelson, his wife Kristi and their daughters.

Bringing bold new meaning to the old saw “Getting there is half the fun” is this Chevrolet Kodiak souped up by Monroe Equipment to haul the Corvette racing team's 48-ft. equipment trailer. According to General Motors Fleet and Commercial, “the team decided it was a must-have after experiencing the truck and its capabilities.”

The 4×2 truck is built on GM's medium-duty chassis. It's powered by a Duramax 6.6L turbodiesel and boasts the exclusive Monroe Truck Equipment So-Low suspension, which lowers the pickup by 4 in. to complement most fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailers. For more information, go to www.ultimate-pickup.com.

Richland, MS-based KLLM Transport Services has donated a refrigerated trailer to the Mississippi Food Network (MFN) — a gift that could double the agency's capacity to deliver food to Mississippians in need.

The reefer trailer will be used to extend MFN efforts to distribute perishable food and household items to charitable agencies throughout the state. KLLM has also agreed to provide maintenance for the trailer indefinitely.

“There are so many people with needs, especially with so many residents who remain displaced by last year's storms,” says KLLM COO Jim Richards.