Branson Globe publisher Rob Doherty spent Friday afternoon, November 15, doing his part to help keep Branson clean. Editor Janet Steinkamp, her husband Ken and sister Diane Dick, account rep Mark Feder, and staff writer Cynthia Thomas joined Rob for a couple of hours of picking up litter along Fall Creek Road between 76 Country Blvd. and Roark Valley Road.
The group was blessed with a beautiful day for a little outdoor exercise, but the work was an eye-opener in terms of the sheer amounts of trash discarded by motorists along roadways. Here are some of our comments (by no means all, though!):
· “My sister and I are now on a mission to tell others not to litter!” (Janet)
· “Did you ever see so many cigarette butts?” (Mark)
· “I’m starting to think Styrofoam cups are downright demonic.” (Cindy)
· “That was a LOT!” (Rob)
The Globe staff were proud to get involved in keeping our town looking nice, but we would also like to remind everyone to be considerate to city employees and Adopt-A-Street volunteers. There’s really no reason to wrap a discarded diaper in a Walmart bag and toss it out the window! For those not hauling diapers, a reminder may still be in order to check uncovered boats and the open beds of work trucks, where people often toss drink cans and cups, intending to dispose of them later but not realizing how easily they can blow out. There were literally dozens of Fireball bottles, beer cans and bottles, and those pesky Styrofoam drink cups, which take on a special kind of craziness when hit by the mowers.
Not only is litter unsightly; it is dangerous: Loose bags and papers caught by a sudden gust of wind can distract a driver or even land on a windshield. A mower can break a bottle hiding in the grass and throw the pieces who knows where. Plastic breaks into little shreds after exposure to the weather, some pieces so small it is difficult to reach between rocks to find them all. A growing body of research indicates numerous negative health effects from microplastics in soil and waterways.
If you are a business owner, Rob suggests you reach out to Jennifer at Branson City Hall for information about participating in Adopt A Street. “It’s a win-win for both parties,” said Rob.
The Branson Globe logo will soon be added to the signs of both ends of our route, and other team members will be joining the next clean-up, so say hello and wave if you see us!
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