Workers with the Greenup County Solid Waste District office were busy Wednesday picking up litter along the shoulder of Ky. 7 near the Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge. Volunteers will be out next week on many such state roads for the Adopt-a-Highway Fall Sweep. Shown, from front to rear, are Jim Craft, Steve Black and Josh Bass.
That’s the theme behind the bluegrass state’s Adopt-A-Highway program, said Allen Blair, spokesman for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 9.
The district is made up of the 10 counties of Greenup, Lewis, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Bath, Mason, Nicholas and Rowan.
Blair said one-third (687 miles) of the state roads in those counties have been adopted by various groups, including Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, high school organizations, service clubs, college fraternities and sororities, sports teams, church groups and others.
Each group adopts at least a two-mile section of highway under a two-year, renewable contract. Each is responsible for keeping that stretch clean throughout the year.
Statewide, about 1,100 groups take part in the program, which the cabinet established 21 years ago. Volunteers clean approximately 8,000 miles of roadsides annually.
This coming Sunday, Sept. 20 through Sept. 26 has been designated “Fall Sweep Week” and volunteers from the various groups are expected to be out in force picking up litter from shoulders and wide areas along state roads.
Litter pickups are held at least four times a year. The cabinet oversees and coordinates three of them a year.
“The cabinet salutes all participants and thanks them for their tireless efforts,” said state Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “Their work makes it easier to promote tourism. It also creates a partnership between communities and government, and establishes a pride in our state.”
Groups interested in becoming members of the Adopt-a-Highway program can call Jenny Perkins at District 9 headquarters in Flemingsburg at (800) 817-2551, or visit the Web site: www.adopt-a-highway.ky.gov.
G. SAM PIATT can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.
Post a Comment
