West Memphis holds Fall Cleanup Blitz

West Memphis holds Fall Cleanup Blitz

City Beautiful Commission puts on commu-nity wide effort

news@theeveningtimes.com

The first ever Keep West Memphis Beautiful Fall Cleanup Blitz was a big success. The inaugural autumn effort brought together city representatives, volunteer youth, city workers and police for litter pick up and beautification. The sweep produced some big numbers through the effort of 123 volunteers that signed in for the event. The group included four from court ordered to community service and 35 children.

The volunteers labored for some big results in the cleanup effort.

• 117 litter bags filled

• 550 tires disposed

• 37 blue porch lights supporting the county fallen officers memorial distributed to city residents The groups divided into squads and swept through a big area along city avenues. City Councilor Lorraine Robinson coordinated the event and said it was a dirty job but was glad so many turned out to serve.

“We started on Broadway and went down 7th street to Jackson Avenue to south 16th, and back up to Broadway to loop back,” said Robinson of the community service group she supervised. “It was nasty down in the ditches with beer bottles and things I won’t mention. I do not understand the mindset of people to do the city like this. It is terrible.”

Robinson thanked Coun- cilor Ramona Taylor for providing the blue lights for the give away. Councilor James Pulliaum lauded Robinson for her volunteer effort and felt city workers should shift attention to city clean-up during the fall as well.

“Miss Robinson works so hard on Keep West Memphis Beautiful,” said Pulliaum. “Since grass cutting is slowing down, I think the city street department could work the avenues.”

“The street department does get a lot of leaves out of ditches, grates, and culverts,” said Public Works Administrative Assistant Rhonda Standridge. “That is their focus this time of

year.” “I can show you some areas they should have already been cleaning out,” said Pulliaum.

“That stuff slows down the water flow.”

By John Rech