|
 Why
she was being so spiteful is something only she can know. While her
nastiness may have slowed down a few people it did not stop them
from doing what they needed to do for a city-wide trash pick-up day.
The day began cold with temperatures only at about 40-degrees. It
was also windy, as Scott Turner will attest when he watched his tent
in Latham Park go summer-salting across the park until it was caught
and held by a tree.
The trash pick-up day was hosted by Turner and was an open
invitation for the people of the community to come together, then go
out to all the entry points into the city and pick up trash in the
right of ways.
There were several who came to the park between 8
a.m. and 9 a.m. to get signed up to go out and clean up the city.
While waiting to get on one of the buses that would take them to
different entry points in the city, the volunteers enjoyed warm
beverages and fresh donuts.
According to Turner the buses left Latham Park a
little early as it was clear that there were not going to be any
late arrivals to the event. The buses delivered volunteers to
Illinois Route 121 near Chester East Lincoln, North Kickapoo Street,
the West end of Woodlawn Road, and the south end of Lincoln Parkway
and other parts of the city.
Around the town, volunteers were seen filling trash bags.
Before the morning was completed, Mother Natured had delivered
sprinkles that turned to sleet and then to snow. The winds stayed
high, and the temperatures stayed low. The only talent the old lady
did not display was her ability to deliver a warm, sunny day on
Earth Day.
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Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch with wife Annette teamed up
with Scott and Gaynor Goodman to clean up the median between North
Kickapoo and Lincoln Parkway north of Graue Chevrolet. Welch noted
that it was cold, but on the bright side, he recalled that the last
time the event was held it rained and everyone was soaking wet. So
in other words, it could have been worse.
At the end of the two-hour clean up session,
volunteers came back to Latham Park where they had the opportunity
for a free lunch. Turner said the original plan had been to also
have live music until about 1 p.m. on Saturday. However, due to the
nasty conditions, he opted to cancel the band.
Even though Mother Nature delivered less than ideal conditions, the
volunteers managed to pick up quite a bit of trash in the city right
of ways.
Turner was not disappointed by the work that was
done.
The city-wide trash pick-up day is held every two years. So, those
who would like to be a part of this community drive, could mark
their calendars now for April 2025 and make a personal promise to
come out and help the next time around.
[Nila Smith]
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