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Do your part for a cleaner river this Saturday
It’s not too late to sign up to take part in Western Carolina University’s largest community event outside of Mountain Heritage Day – the Tuckaseigee River Cleanup. You can still register online in advance or in person at 11 a.m. on April 16.
After September’s back-to-back hurricanes and high water, huge amounts of litter washed down the Tuckaseigee to be deposited along the banks, which makes this year’s cleanup extra-important. “There is a much greater amount of trash and debris in the river than usual,” said student coordinator Jennifer Wright. She urged everyone to pitch in on Saturday and said the annual event is a “great way to support the community and environment while having fun on the river.”
In addition to the enjoyment derived from a day on the Tuckaseigee, volunteers will be rewarded with a free cookout at the WCU picnic area and a commemorative T-shirt. Everyone who participates will also be entered into a drawing for prizes – including a mountain bike – donated by area merchants.
While the volunteers who show up on Saturday do the main work of removing tons of trash from the Tuckaseigee, another group – the event’s sponsors – ante up to make the yearly cleanup possible. Major backers include Duke Power, Nantahala Outdoor Center, WCU’s Last Minute Productions, Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, the Large Boys and Jackson County Travel and Tourism. The big sponsors are joined by a host of civic-minded smaller businesses (including this newspaper) who cooperate with WCU to achieve the common goal of a cleaner river.
New this year is an initiative by current Leadership Jackson participants, who are staging a round-up of discarded appliances in conjunction with Earth Day and the Tuckaseigee trash pickup. That group will collect old appliances Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23, and are using the effort as a fund-raiser. Local businesses are being asked to pledge an amount per item collected, and funds will be divided between several organizations.
Southwestern Community College students are getting in on the cleanup act with the appliance round-up and will assist in collecting the discarded refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers and hot-water heaters.
We appreciate the work of both groups who are taking steps to put Jackson County’s best foot forward for the visitors who will arrive April 30 for downtown’s annual Greening Up the Mountains festival.
Let’s all support their efforts.
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