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Volunteers needed for April 16 river cleanup
For more than 20 years, volunteers from Western Carolina University and the surrounding community have come together once a year to clean up one of Jackson County’s natural treasures – the Tuckaseigee River.
This year, there is a much greater amount of trash and debris in the river than usual because of flooding from hurricanes Ivan and Frances last fall, according to cleanup organizers.
That’s why Western’s Base Camp Cullowhee is looking for an army of volunteers to help remove the large quantity of trash from a section of the Tuckaseigee River on Saturday, April 16.
The 21st annual river cleanup will cover a portion of the river in Jackson County beginning at East Laporte and ending at Barkers Creek.
Volunteers will have the option of working from a raft or from the riverbank. No rafting experience is required for those working in the river, and transportation to and from the river will be provided. Participants should wear old clothing and bring gloves to protect their hands.
“I want to emphasize how important this year’s cleanup is after the tremendous floods we had last September,” said Jennifer Wright, student coordinator of the cleanup. “Every single person involved is a big help, and we are hoping for a large turnout from the community.”
After the cleanup, a free cookout will be held for volunteers at the Western picnic area on Cullowhee Creek. Drawings will be held for a variety of prizes, including a mountain bike, donated by area merchants, and a $100 cash prize to the largest organized group. Each volunteer will receive a free T-shirt commemorating the event.
Major sponsors include The Large Boys, Duke Power, Nantahala Outdoor Center, Western’s Last Minute Productions, Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, Jackson County Travel and Tourism Authority, and Jackson Paper Manufacturing.
Pre-registration is strongly encouraged and currently being accepted. Registration forms are available online at www.wcu.edu/univcenter/outdoors and can be submitted via fax at 227-7250 or dropped off in person on the first floor of Western’s Hinds University Center. On-site registration will be at 11 a.m. the day of the cleanup on the lawn of the University Center.
For more information, call 227-3466.
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