Local Effort Makes a Difference

The day after finals is traditionally a day for relaxation and stress release for college students who aren’t packing to go home for the summer. However, Friday proved to be a workout for members of Hays Neighbors and nearly a dozen students from Alpha Gamma Rho. At about 9:30 the group met at 8th and Ash for a final planning session before embarking on a record-setting large item cleanup effort in their neighborhood that was made possible in part to a good public relations effort beforehand.
Although last years cleanup netted an impressive 3.75 tons, a total surpassing 5 tons was collected and taken to the Ellis County Transfer Station by 2 P.M. In addition to that amount seven loads of limbs and brush were transported to Hays’ city compost site and numerous e-waste items were taken to Ellis County’s new collection center. Although Hays Neighbors and Alpha Gamma Rho provided the labor, trucks and trailers necessary to accomplish this, it would not have possible without the cooperation of local government. Michael Graf, Ellis County Public Works director, agreed to waive the fees for white metals and construction and demolition waste, as well as e-waste. Brenda Herrman, Public Works Director for the city of Hays agreed to pick up the tab for the municipal waste portion of this years spring cleaning.
The Large Item Klean-up Effort, a name coined by the Hays Beautification Committee, is intended to improve the aesthetics of the area south of 8th Street and west of Main Street prior to the summer events in the area. Most of the disposed items are generated by residents in the area who are moving or returning home after a year of studies at Fort Hays.

Good Work! I'm sure the residents in that area are happier now.

yay!!!!!!

way to go J2 you make a difference!!!!

Nice avatar, NB.

thanks suzy!!!!

I agree that it's always good when people get together and clean things up like that. What would be even better is if people wouldn't litter in the first place. Cigarette packs, snuff cans, pop bottles , cups, worm containers, beer cans and empty beer case boxes, tires, old beds, TV's & other old electronics, washers, dryers, refrigerators and many other items can be found in the road ditches, street gutters, lying in front yards thrown out by passing vehicles, waterways, streams creeks and rivers. The real irony then is when you are down at the creek and there, floating in amongst the other garbage, are plastic bottles with labels proclaiming their purity such as DASANI, EVIAN, AQUAFINA etc.... WE are worried about drinking pure clean fresh tasting water that we willingly pay upwards of 10 - 12 bucks a gallon to drink, yet when we finish our clean refreshing drink of water, we casually pitch the container out the window to continue the chain of pollution. PUT YOUR STUFF IN THE TRASH CAN OR SEND IT TO RECYCLING, BUT DON"T JUST THROW IT OUT TO THE MERCY OF THE WINDS.

Yup. Zactly, Luke.

Great Work!