Adopt-a-Highway clean up -- Big Big Thanks

Front row: Kathy, Rachel, Jackie, Rose, Amy
Back row: Christine, JT, Linda, James, Bunny

I cannot thank the "volunteers" enough for the first clean-up of Highway 10 mile markers 213 to 211 on Saturday, June 19. I received this is the section of Minnesota highway for my 50th birthday in January.

I was warned to make this blog entry not sound too bad for fear of losing volunteers for this Fall's clean-up but I'll be honest....it was tough.

We had a gorgeous, sunny day. It was hot! But the crew did an incredible effort and 2 miles each way is 4 miles overall and that is a lot of territory to pickup.

We were way too meticulous in the beginning trying to pickup all the cigarette butts. Lesson-learned...you cannot get the thousands of butts so leave 'em and concentrate on the bigger stuff.

We were filmed for the local NBC affiliate. Jeffrey Demars, the KARE-11 photo-journalist, is JT's son-in-law. He had been tipped off to this big news event back during the now historic Mexico trip. We were the featured story on the Saturday 10pm news. I can't find it on the station's website but if I do, I'll include link.

Nothing hazardous was found. Lots of car pieces and noticeable increase in trash on the side of road going away from the town of Elk River instead of going into Elk River.

We'll be looking for more volunteers this Fall and with some better planning and cooler weather, it should be a breeze.

Big incentive is the Dairy Queen at the start/finish. We also got tons of thanks from the locals and encouraging honks from passing vehicles.

Kathy found the story on Kare-11
Click here The video is on the right side.