On Thursday, April 27, volunteers are invited to pick up roadside litter during the ninth annual PRIDE Clean Sweep of US 27. Rain or shine, volunteers can pick up litter any time between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. At Noon, all volunteers are invited to The Center for Rural Development for a free cookout and drawing for door prizes. In the case of rain, the cookout will be held indoors. Free T-shirts also will be given to volunteers, while supplies last.

“The beauty of Pulaski County is well known throughout Kentucky,” said Bobby Clue, Executive Director of the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, a Clean Sweep partner. “By participating
in the Highway 27 Clean Sweep, businesses have the opportunity to demonstrate personal responsibility by volunteering to pick up litter along roadsides and helping to preserve our local environment. Changing a common behavior, like littering, starts with you.”

In 2016, the 1,090 Clean Sweep volunteers removed 665 bags of trash along US 27 and other roads in Somerset and Burnside. A total of 50 miles of roadway was cleaned through this effort. Almost all of the volunteers joined the cleanup as part of a group, such as a business or school. A total of 65 volunteer groups participated. While groups made up the majority of volunteers, individuals are encouraged to participate as well. They will be assigned to a larger group and assigned a cleanup area.

“‘A Generation of Change’ is our Spring Cleanup theme this year. As PRIDE celebrates its 20^th anniversary, we have certainly seen a change in the landscape of southern and eastern Kentucky,” said PRIDE’s Tammie Wilson. “People are concerned with protecting their environment and teaching their children why it is important as well. We’ve made great strides in cleaning up our region over the last two decades.”

The PRIDE Clean Sweep will focus on US 27 through Somerset and Burnside, Hwy 914 and Downtown Somerset, but volunteers may clean other nearby areas if arrangements have been made in advance. Safe, age-appropriate areas will be available for groups with children. Volunteer groups are encouraged to register before April 27. By doing so, they can reserve the section of US 27 they want to clean and receive their trash bags, gloves and safety vests early. Volunteers also may register and receive their cleanup supplies on April 27. Day-of registration will begin at 8 a.m. at The Center for Rural Development, which is located at Traffic Light #15. To register, please call the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce at 679-7323.

The annual Clean Sweep of US 27 is sponsored by Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, The Center for Rural Development, PRIDE, Somerset-Pulaski County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Pulaski County Re
ycling Center, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 8, Waste Connections of Kentucky, South Kentucky RECC and Pine Knot Job Corps. The Clean Sweep is part of the PRIDE Spring Cleanup campaign across 42 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky. The region-wide PRIDE Spring Cleanup is sponsored by Walmart, Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, The Tennessee Valley Authority, Kentucky Utilities and Kentucky American Water.

About PRIDE

PRIDE, which stands for “Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment,” was founded in 1997 by Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-5) and the late James Bickford, who was the Kentucky Secretary for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. The PRIDE mission is to contribute to the economic and cultural growth of southern and eastern Kentucky by improving water quality, cleaning up solid waste problems and advancing environmental education, in order to improve living conditions for its residents while enhancing the potential for tourism industry growth in the region.

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