Volunteers net 3 tons of trash from Laurel Lake
April 30, 2013 by clackey
Jerry Parsley, Laurel County Solid Waste Department, helped volunteers unload their trash bags from a boat at the Laurel River Lake Dam Spillway during the 25th annual Laurel Lake Cleanup on April 20, 2013.
Fog and chilly temperatures did not hinder the 247 volunteers who participated in the 25th annual Laurel Lake Cleanup on Saturday, April 20.They pulled three tons of trash and 860 pounds of recyclables from the lake’s shores in just three and one-half hours.
Whitley County won the Volunteer Cup with 105 volunteers. Ninety-one volunteers registered for Laurel County. There were 30 volunteers from Knox County and 21 volunteers from other counties.
Sydney Miller won the “Catch of the Day” award for bringing in the most unusual piece of trash: a Sesame Street Cookie Monster mylar balloon. His prize was a bicycle.
As the oldest volunteer, Selsie Reeves, age 81, won a PRIDE camp chair.
All volunteers took home a free T-shirt, and they enjoyed a free cook-out and door prize drawing. The bicycle winners were: James Jacques, Brian Elam, Isiah Napier, Deborah Lacey, Eisen Moses and Darin Harris.
“Thanks to all who worked so hard to make the Laurel Lake Cleanup a safe and successful event again this year,” said Amy Allen, Outdoor Recreation Planner, London Ranger District.
“It’s great to see people who appreciate Laurel Lake so much that they will volunteer in any weather,” said PRIDE’s Mark Davis. “We’re grateful to every volunteer, as well as prize donors and others who make the event possible.”
The Laurel Lake Cleanup is organized by the U.S. Forest Service, PRIDE, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Laurel and Whitley County Governments, Friends of Laurel Lake, London-Laurel County Tourism Commission and others, including concerned citizens and businesses in the Whitley and Laurel County area.
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