Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Annual city-wide cleanup to be held Saturday, Oct. 2

OK, it's time to talk some serious trash.

Actually, it's almost time for the Great Arkansas Cleanup  an event to help get trash and litter cleaned up from the streets of cities in Arkansas.

Once again, the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the event locally, and is seeking teams to get involved to help pick up garbage. The trash pick up is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 2, from 9-11 a.m.

Those planning to participate should meet at the Bank of Prescott parking lot at 8 a.m. Mary Godwin, executive director of the Chamber, urges teams to pre-register, though registration will be done at the scene.

However, there's more to it than simply picking up trash. Each year the top teams are rewarded with a cash prize. Godwin said the top four teams will be given cash awards this year. First prize will be $200 in cash, while the second place team will receive $150. Third place garners $100, with the fourth place crew getting $50.

Godwin urges all civic clubs, garden clubs, school organizations and others to get a team together and pick up trash. Bags and gloves will be provided for the participants, and T-shirts will be given out as long as they last.

"We're encouraging everyone who has adopted a mile to pick up their mile either in September or October," she said. "If you need gloves and bags, call the Chamber or the Highway Department." Those who are picking up adopted miles should contact the Highway Department anyway to have their garbage bags picked up. There are 20 families and organizations in the county who have adopted a total of 27 highway miles.

"We picked this time of year," Godwin said, "to be part of the Great Arkansas Clean Up.

"Litter is a problem in the city and county. It's illegal to litter, and it can affect the community's potential to attract business, industry and tourism."

Along with picking up trash on the streets, Godwin said large items, such as couches, old stoves or refrigerators, will also be picked up. Anyone needing large items removed from their premises needs to contact the Chamber at 887-2101, or call City Hall at 887-2210 to make arrangements.

Godwin said there were a lot of larger items picked up last year during this event.

For county residents, she said, they can call the Nevada County Landfill at 887-3370 to have their large items picked up. This will be done on Fridays.

Statewide, the Great Arkansas Cleanup began on Sept. 11, with events organized across the state during September and October to help get trash picked up from the streets and highways.

Last year there were 73 events in 57 counties, where 12,735 volunteers and 68 local coordinators picked up more than 1.9 million pounds of trash; cleaned up 2,259 miles of roadway, 110 parks and public areas and 199 miles of shoreline. Additionally, 23 illegal dumps were closed in 2003, with the volunteer effort saving the state more than $770,000.