VALDOSTA — Lowndes county residents, organizations and students gathered along the bank of the Alapaha River Saturday to do their part in keeping it clean during the 16th annual Rivers Alive River Cleanup and Hands On Georgia Day.
From 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 50 to 60 volunteers, each assigned to particular trail areas, collected anything from beer bottles to bullets at the county site off of Good Hope Road right outside of Naylor. This effort is part of an ongoing statewide campaign to clean and preserve Georgia’s 70,150 miles of rivers and streams.
Several Valdosta State University class groups and organizations were in attendance. Among them were an environmental science class, a sociology class and Students Against Violating the Earth (SAVE). The most common types of trash found, according to Kierria Laster, a student from the environmental science class, were bottles, cardboard and, most surprisingly, underwear.
Adrian Rivers, another environmental science student with a new found appreciation for cleaner surroundings said, “This opportunity has really opened my eyes to the negative effects litter has on our rivers.”
When asked why a sociology class would have interest in cleaning up the Alapaha River, a resource-conscious student, Stacie Studstill, gave this analytical response: “Litter is not only an environmental problem. Litter is a social problem.”
In support of the event’s host organization, Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful (KLVB), members of the Valdosta Sierra Club joined the crew. Sierra Club President Frank Barnas was spotted with this two children pulling debris out of a ditch near the river. The trio’s most peculiar discoveries of the day were a toilet seat and skeletal remains of a pit bull.
An active member of KLVB and coordinator of the event, Dr. Carl Hand, expressed his gratitude for the volunteers and his desire to keep the waterways clean year-round.
“This has become a growing issue in the state and the efforts put forth today have made a big dent in the cleanliness of this particular site.” Hand said.
Hand, also a sociology professor at VSU, mentioned that this was the first time this site had been visited. He added that since the KVLB’s cleanup efforts at the St. Augustine site across from the Lowndes County Jail began, there is a significantly lower amount of litter along the river bank.
KLVB Executive Director H. Aaron Strickland encourages Lowndes County citizens to get involved by learning about the effects of litter and promoting cleanup in the community.
“We learn by doing,” Strickland said. “Litter is not going to pick itself up. Since water is such a vital resource to us all, we must all do our part to help clean up, educate and prevent this filth from contaminating it.”
This event is one of many to take place in recognition of Annual River Cleanup Month in Georgia. Throughout October, more than 80 cleanups are to be held in streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands throughout the state.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Valdosta State University Sociology Student Stacy Studstill drags a bag laden with discarded soda bottles, cans, and other garbage found in and around the river Saturday during the 16th annual Rivers Alive Cleanup on the Alapaha River outside of Naylor.
-
Buddy Colman and Preston Jackson paddle upstream picking up trash, debris, and discarded tires Saturday during the 16th annual Rivers Alive Cleanup. The focus of this group is the Alapha River just outside Naylor at the end of Old State Road.
Discussion
River cleanup
- Local News
-
-
Lake Park in Limbo
LAKE PARK — Lake Park citizens will have to wait several months before being able to attend another City Council meeting following Tuesday’s resignation of two council members.
Deb Cox, Lowndes County elections supervisor, said Georgia state law dictates that another special election cannot be held until July 31. -
Colo. court says fugitive sibling has plea deal
WALSENBURG, Colo. — One of the three Dougherty siblings accused in a multi-state crime spree, including a Valdosta bank robbery, has reached a plea deal with prosecutors, a spokesman for the Colorado court system said Wednesday.
-
Airport Authority tours True Flight Aerospace Plant
VALDOSTA — The Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority toured the True Flight Aerospace Plant after their meeting Wednesday morning. True Flight President and CEO, Kevin Lancaster, lead the tour through the facility which is located in the largest hanger at the Valdosta Regional Airport. -
Lake Park: Council members resign
Immediately following the Citizens to be Heard portion of the regular Lake Park council meeting Tuesday night, council members Eric Schindler and Paul Mulkey tendered their resignations.
-
Valwood goes global
Valwood School has hosted several international guests for the past several weeks.
-
City cuts ribbon on new home
With a snip of some over-sized wooden scissors, the City of Valdosta took another step in eliminating substandard housing.
-
Berrien clinic director loses job
Speaking to The Valdosta Daily Times about the possible discontinuation of the Berrien Elementary School MED Clinic led to the program’s executive director losing her job Monday morning.
-
From the CIA to man about town
Meet Jack Pruden, former member of the Central Intelligence Agency.
-
Berrien school medical facility faces an uncertain future
A state-of-the-art medical facility that was introduced in Berrien County public schools in 2010 might be ending soon.
-
New TV listings section debuts in print edition
In Sunday editions of The Valdosta Daily Times, keep an eye out for the updated TV listings section.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Lake Park in Limbo
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
