Volunteers clean-up Polson area
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POLSON — Winter’s snow has melted away, but the trash decided to stay.
So on Friday, April 29, Polson community members headed-out with garbage bags and gloves to clean the sides of roads and parks during the Clean Up Green Up event sponsored by Envision Polson Beautification Committee.
“It is important for people to take ownership in the area that they live,” said Mary Jensen of Envision Polson.
The group asked volunteers to collect debris in areas that needed the most help, like along Highway 93.
Volunteer Judy Preston helped eight low-risk lawbreakers that qualified to serve their sentence by volunteering, with the help of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
“The jail is overpacked and I thought it would be a great alternative,” Preston said. “By doing this, people who had to pay a fine or serve a small sentence can volunteer instead. This will help relieve some of that backed up pressure at the jail.”
Other volunteers included about 140 Polson High School students, who spent their afternoon cleaning Kerr Damn Road.
“We get so many visitors in the summer, so it is important to make it look nice,” ninth grader Robin Erickson said.
He and his classmates were amazed at the amount of cigarette butts people throw out their windows.
“It is sad to see all of this garbage,” Erickson said.
Also cleaning up the ends of cigarettes where Mayor Heather Knutson and City Commissioners Todd Coutts and Ken Siler. Their assignment was cleaning the downtown sidewalks.
“It is nice to do some spring cleaning,” Knutson said. “It is just great to have a fresh clean look after the winter.”
Clean Up Green Up will continue through May with environmental-friendly days. On Friday, May 6, Polson community members should have their leaves and branches on their curb by 8 a.m. for free pick up. Friday, May 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Glacier Bank will be accepting two boxes of important papers per person for free shredding. The following day, Saturday, May 21, the transfer station will be accepting computers, printers, copiers, cellphones, TVs, cords, and other electronic waste.
“We want the public to take advantage of these opportunities to make Polson look beautiful before summer visitors come,” Jensen said.
