Dozens volunteer for annual River Sweep
Published 11:46 am Wednesday, August 21, 2019
- Volunteers off-load bags of garbage collected along the Kentucky River Saturday during the River Sweep. The event, a joint effort between Clark and Madison counties, has occurred for more than 20 years. (Photo by Fred Petke)
About 90 volunteers picked up enough garbage along the Kentucky River Saturday to fill a dump truck.
The event was the 25th River Sweep, a collaborative effort between solid waste officials in Clark and Madison counties. The river forms the border between the two and runs past Fort Boonesborough State Park.
Clark County Solid Waste Coordinator Gary Epperson said past events filled two dump trucks.
“They did a good job getting everything,” Epperson said. “There was probably a little less trash (this year). We haven’t had all the flooding we typically have.”
The river carries trash from eastern Kentucky and, thanks to the currents around the dam next to the park, deposits most of the trash on the Clark County side of the river, he said.
“Hopefully people won’t throw their trash out the window or in an illegal dump upstream in eastern Kentucky,” Epperson said.
Volunteers worked for about three hours Saturday morning before having a cookout lunch prepared by Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner, Clark County Judge-Executive Chris Pace and others.
About Fred Petke
Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.
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