Over 250 bags of trash and 12 tires were collected along a four mile stretch of roadside in the historic Coal Creek community. We were very happy with the number of students who participated in learning to take care of their own community. Maybe the students can teach others not to trash our world. Along with community members and students, volunteers included six Anderson County inmates and members of CCWF, Clinch River Trout Unlimited, and the Knoxville Office of Surface Mining.
A prize of $100 was awarded to the team who collected and filled the most bags of trash. The winning team collected 47 bags and split the award.
See more photos below...
Volunteers gather at Briceville Park after
their productive morning efforts
"I have noticed a situation that has grown really out of hand in Coal Creek - litter. There is not one square foot of unpolluted ground from Anderson County High School all the way to my house. I have to look at this everyday on my way home from school. I have to say, it hurts to see a place so dear to me being destroyed by its inhabitants.”
Terry
Douglas, Jenna Bullock and April Byrge
(L
to R) Coal Creek Scholars Jonathan Sharp, Office of Surface Mining (OSM)'s
Tim Dieringer, Melinda Patterson, Dhara Naik, and Danny Ellis (OSM)
Jared,
Cassie, and Denny Phillips
Full
trash bags line the highway just past Fraterville
(L
to R) Ryan Vandergriff, Kyle Leinart, Tyler Vandergriff, and Kippie Leinart
Danny
Ellis and Jonathan Sharp
John
Thurman and Melinda Patterson
Frances
Hamilton Oates from the Clinton Courier News and student Dhara Naik
Frank
Bryant and Steve Brown from Clinch River Trout Unlimited
Area
ladies did some home-cooking for the volunteers to reward their efforts in
making Coal Creek more beautiful
Jennifer and
Jacob Phillips