343 PRIDE volunteers cleaned roads at Cumberland Falls

In just two hours on March 26, 343 volunteers picked up 1,288 bags of trash and 181 tires along Hwy. 90 near Cumberland Falls State Resort Park during the fourth annual PRIDE Spring Cleanup Month Kickoff Celebration.
“Now everyone can enjoy the scenery driving to the falls, instead of being distracted by bottles and bags in the ditches,” said PRIDE’s Tammie Wilson. “The volunteers did a tremendous job, and they had a great time working together. We appreciate them, as well as our partners in hosting the event.”
The cleanup was presented by PRIDE, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, McCreary County Fiscal Court 109 Board, Whitley County Fiscal Court, US Forest Service, McCreary County Extension Service, McCreary County Board of Education, Whitley County School System, Bank of McCreary County and Pine Knot Job Corp.
“I was so excited at the support that came from Whitley County this year,” said Tracy West, Director of County Projects for the Whitley County Fiscal Court. “I would like to thank each and everyone who came out and volunteered their time to help, as well as all our local businesses who contributed donations. The Whitley County Fiscal Court is proud to support such a great event. I look forward to seeing everyone again next year!”
“We appreciate our local folks who care about what happens in our own backyard and always turn out to help,” said Andrew Powell, McCreary County Judge-Executive. “I was impressed by the amount of volunteers from outside our community who recognized the importance of the falls and clean roads. It was good to see people looking beyond borders to see the value of this natural attraction.”
“I invite everyone to volunteer again on May 7 for the PRIDE Clean Sweep of US 27 in McCreary County,” Powell added. “Registration starts at 9:30 at The Oaks, and we’ll pick up litter between 10 am and noon, and. There will be free T-shirts, lunch and door prizes. To learn more, just call me at 606-376-2413.”
For the first time, Whitley County won the “Volunteer Cup” for registering the most volunteers for the event. There were 174 volunteers from Whitley County.
The Pine Knot Job Corp was the largest school-based volunteer group. The Whitley County JROTC won the plaque for 2nd Place.
The community group with the most volunteers was the team from Walmart, with representatives from the Corbin and London stores and London Distribution Center. The McCreary County ATV Club came in second.
The youngest volunteer was three-year-old Tyler Carr, who won a basketball autographed by Jeff Shepperd.
At 83, Jimmie W. Greene was the oldest volunteer, and he won a football signed by Tim Couch.
Charles Hopper won the prize for bringing in the most unusual piece of trash, which was an old typewriter
There were two winners of the prize for traveling the farthest to volunteer at the event. They were Chelsea Lee from Johnson City, Tennessee, and Cliff Niemeier from Louisville.
All volunteers received a free T-shirt, lunch and a chance at door prizes. Joseph Lunsford, a seventh-grader from Corbin, won one of the most popular door prizes — two tickets to a University of Kentucky football game.
During PRIDE Spring Cleanup Month in April, volunteers will pick up litter across 38 counties in southern and eastern Kentucky. Local governments organize the cleanup activities. They receive volunteer T-shirts, cleanup supplies and funding assistance from PRIDE, a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental cleanup and education in the region.
Sponsors help make PRIDE Spring Cleanup Month possible. Hinkle Contracting and Outdoor Venture Corporation are the Gold-Level Sponsors. The Silver-Level Sponsors are SouthEast Telephone, Blackboard Student Services and Walmart.
To volunteer for a Spring Cleanup event near you, or to schedule your own Spring Cleanup event, please call the PRIDE office, toll free, at 888-577-4339, or click on your county on the map at www.kypride.org