Published: June 20, 2009 11:06 pm      

Volunteers take pride in community

CATLETTSBURG — With the sun and temperatures getting higher Saturday morning, volunteers dragged tires, wading pools, plastic bottles and other trash from around the edges of the Ohio River in Catlettsburg.

Volunteer efforts were part of the annual River Sweep.

The Catlettsburg City Park was the only location for River Sweep in Boyd County because of work at Ashland’s waterfront.

There were about 28 volunteers at 9 a.m. in Catlettsburg, but more were expected before the event ended at noon, said Mia Belcher, 28, of Catlettsburg. Belcher manned the volunteer sign up table in the park.

Joni Hacker, 52, of Ironton said some of the worst things she and her daughter, Katie Hacker, 16, found by the river Saturday were plastics because they aren’t biodegradable

“We live on the river, so we see first hand the pollution on the river,” Joni Hacker said.

Dan Cheek, 60, of Huntington works with FIVCO area development district as a wastewater coordinator. He said he’s involved in the event because it helps the community.

Chela Burd, 54, of Pedro said she came because her husband works for Marathon, one of the event sponsors.

Burd said she came to River Sweep last year and there appeared to be more trash then. But she said it’s still an important event.

“You have to learn to take care of what you live on, but we learn that awfully slow,” she said.

Twyla Hollon, 53, of Flatwoods came to the event with husband Dewayne Hollon, 55, and grandson Parker Hollon, 7. Twyla Hollon said she’d taken part in River Sweep since it started about 18 years ago, adding she sees a difference on the riverfront after the event.

“There will be tons of garbage picked up,” she said.

She and her husband are boaters who often see garbage on the river, Twyla Hollon said.

They brought their grandson to the event to teach him about the community service.

“And to keep the world clean,” Parker added.

Mitchell Wright, 43, of Ashland said the event was a good way to help the environment as well as bond with other Marathon employees. He works transporting petroleum products on the river and said it’s important to keep the river “highway” clean.

“It’s really everyone’s duty to keep the environment clean,” Wright said.

KATIE BRANDENBURG can be reached at kbrandenburg@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2657.