POCATELLO — Thursday was a day of celebration and somber remembrance for students at Jefferson Elementary School.

    About 400 students took part in the school-wide Fun Run at the Nordic Center on East Mink Creek and classmates launched about four dozen balloons into the sky as a tribute to Harly and Sky Willcoxon. The two young girls, former students at Jefferson, who were recently killed in a car crash.

    “They were the epitome of what we think Jefferson students should be,” said Principal Heidi Kessler. “They were sweet and smart and funny. We loved them very much.”

    The sisters died from injuries sustained in a rollover on I-15, seven miles south of Shelley May 17. Their 16-year old brother, Brandon Willcoxon Jr. was driving when the accident happened. He also was injured and was transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center until he was released from the hospital Monday.

    Sky, 10 and Harly, 8, were attending Midway Elementary in Menan at the time of their deaths, but they had recently transferred from Jefferson Elementary.

    Both schools rallied to support the family. At Midway students made cards for the family and officials at Jefferson sent notes home with students asking for donations for the Willcoxon family.

    A number of students were absent from the field trip because they attended the funerals of their former classmates, Kessler said. The funeral services for both girls were held in Rigby Thursday.

    Kessler said the school’s Fun Run has been taking place for the past three years — but Thursday was the first time the event was held at the Nordic Center.

“(The Nordic Center) is my favorite place,” Kessler said. “I ski up here and I run up here and to be here with all my kids is really special to me.”

    Thursday’s event was hosted by Pocatello Fun Run Director Lance Clark during the Jefferson Elementary race, kids in grades third through fifth participated in a 5-K run/walk. Students in grades first to third ran 2.5 K and the kindergarteners raced for 15 minutes.

    “(Kessler) is a loyal fun runner and so when she called and said she had a crazy idea, I said of course I’m on board,” Clark said. “This is completely new to the school and new to us, it’s an experiment.”

    Clark said the trails were marked with flags and monitors were station at designated points during the 5K run.

    John Moriarty waited near the finish line Thursday - he came to support his great nephew Jacob Moriarty, a second grader at Jefferson.

    “Jacob was really excited about the Fun Run,” John said.

    Smokey the Bear high-fived runners at the finish line and the U.S. Forest Service passed out comic books and pencils.

    Firefighter Travis Taylor said the crew was on hand to make kids aware of fire safety.

    Following the Fun Run, students worked with City of Pocatello and Forest Service workers to clear trails and spread bark.

    Katie Ball waited for her two sons, Andrew ball a first grader and Cameron Ball, a kindergartener, to complete the race.

    “I think this was a great idea,” Katie said. “Jefferson is a great school. I am happy with the teachers and the boys are happy there.”