On September 18, approximately 15 volunteers gathered at the Bayou Bartholomew bridge on Pinebergen Road in Jefferson County for a trash cleanup. The stream bank and channel below the bridge have served as an illegal dumping site for years. Some of the volunteers focused on picking up small debris under the bridge and along the road ditches. Others concentrated on removing the larger objects from the stream channel. Much of the large debris required the use of a winch to remove.

Several "unusual" objects were discovered buried in the silt, including a motorcycle, four newspaper vending machines, and a large metal safe! Much to our disappointment, someone had already emptied the contents of the safe with the help of a cutting torch. Other objects removed included stoves, washing machines, tires, 55-gallon drums, a lawnmower, and many smaller household items. The trash removed totaled enough to fill two 16-footflatbed trailers.

Unfortunately, the Pinebergen Bridge is but one of many sites that are used as dumps on Bayou  Bartholomew. It is up to people who care about the bayou to change that through education of the public and by participation in future cleanups.

We truly appreciate the efforts of those who participated in the cleanup. They include the following: Cynthia Kim-brell , April Layher, Bill Layher, Kris Layher, Curtis Merrell, James Mooney, Phil Penny,Jason Phillips, Kenneth Phillips, Nate Ralston, and Derrell Young. Several members of Ted Nugent's United Sportsman of America were also present. They included Keith Baker,Johnny Brock, Chip Stewart, and Greg Stewart. One of two trailer loads of trash removed from Bayou Bartholomew near Pinebergen on September 18.

Source: State.AR.US