BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
TOP PHOTO: Millbrook City Councilwoman Long and members of the Millbrook CIA.
Photos courtesy of Elmore County Commissioners Desirae Lewis, Henry Hines and Troy Stubbs
The Elmore County Commission Monday reported on the outcome of the first Fall Cleanup for the County held this past weekend. More than 150 bags of trash were collected from roadways with numerous businesses, agencies and school programs participating.
Commissioner Henry Hines said, “We just had our Fall cleanup and I want to thank Heather for heading that up and getting all those supplies handed out. And to the Highway Department for getting those supplies out to our groups that picked up. We had a great time this weekend.”
Hines said that the efforts picked up 150 bags of trash. That doesn’t include individuals which stepped up and picked up a lot of trash themselves. Hines said this is a great result for the first time to do a fall cleanup in the county.
Hines said, “I want to thank my fellow commissioners for working with different groups. I want to thank Stanhope Elmore High School. They really stepped up and put out four or five groups. I want to thank the principal of Elmore County High School. I understand he took a group out. He is a CDL Driver and took them out and picked up trash and showed our young residents what to do in the future to take care of their highways. Thanks our Highway Department for really working hard and our individuals that made it happen. Our sports teams, youth teams and the Drama Team. Thanks to residents who take pride in Elmore County.
Commissioner Bart Mercer said, “I want to thank Commissioner Hines for his effort that he has put into the trash issue overall, specifically this last weekend for the very successful litter pickup we had. It is encouraging to see how many people in our county, when given the opportunity to show their pride in our county, we appreciate that. As for the Stanhope Elmore High participation, even though Commissioner Lewis and share a lot of that district, I can honestly say she is the one that put the effort into bringing those students into this effort. I appreciate her effort very much.”
Commissioner Desirae Lewis said, “How I see it is we have got to influence our youth because they are the future of Elmore County. I want to give a special shout out to the Wetumpka High School Girls Basketball Team, the Stanhope Elmore High Girls Basketball team, the CIA of Millbrook, the Elmore County NAACP, Mount Zion Chapel AME Church of Crenshaw, Town of Coosada, the Wetumpka Theatre Guild, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Wetumpka Middle School Girls Basketball Team, the Elmore County Civic Improvement League and Ridge Church. Those are the groups I was able to see if there was anyone else out there please let me know. I think that it is worthy that they be mentioned in our Commission meeting because they worked for hours to make our roadways look beautiful.”
Chairman Stubbs praised all of the commissioners who organized groups to come out and be a part of the solution to the litter problem.
“As each of us look in the mirror, we often find things that disturb us, frustrate us, make us cynical in some cases. But when you have an opportunity to let that frustration, anger and energy out by doing something good, it typically makes you feel better about yourself, your family and where you live. I think that is what happened over the weekend. Many people were able to get out and engage in a good cause.”
Another item he wanted to mention in his report relates to the shortage of CDL drivers nationally.
It is of note we all know someone who is graduating high school soon, and considering different opportunities for vocation and to provide for themselves and their family. In my meeting last Wednesday, I learned that a brand new 18-year-old CDL driver could start work at waste management and make $21 an hour, full benefits, three weeks paid vacation, overtime opportunities, they could make 80,000 a year as 18 year old CDL driver. I know that there are a lot of other CDL opportunities out there.”
In other litter cleanup news, Commissioner Mack Daugherty said that Nov. 5-6, Friday and Saturday, will be the Northeast End Cleanup in the Lake Martin Area.
This event has been held for the past 25 years. It is called the “Renew Our Rivers Anti Litter Cleanup Campaign.” campaign. Numerous corporations and individuals take part each year. For Elmore County, supplies can be picked up at the Kowaliga Boat Ramp.
“Russell Lands…I would like to commend them. They actually take all of their employees out of the corporate office on Friday every six months when this happens and they work the roads up there all day long. So, thank you to all of the corporate entities, organizations and school organizations, and the Lake Martin Resource Association and numerous entities that will be participating in this.”
The next work session meeting of the Elmore County Commission is Nov. 8 at 5 p.m.
