KINGWOOD —
Cleaning up litter along Preston County roads is a never-ending process.
Recently a three-mile stretch of Dogtown Road yielded 70 large bags of litter.
The cleanup effort, on May 16, was a collaboration between the Preston County Drug Court program and the Preston County Litter Control Program.
Cherity Shahan, Drug Court probation officer and coordinator of the monthly community service project, said seven clients in the program participated in the clean-up.
Preston County Litter Control Officer Jay Sowers said the clean-up took place from 8:30 a.m.-noon between the Manown Mini Mart and 3D Drilling.
“We try to get out on a monthly basis, weather-permitting, and clean up roadways or dump areas, in an effort to give back to the community,” Shahan said. “It’s important for the clients to do something positive for their community and just as important for the community to see them doing something positive.”
She said some of her clients had to clean up additional roadways, including St. Joe Road in Albright; Tunnelton Street, Showerbath Road and Herring Road in Kingwood; Shaffer Street, Aurora Pike and the railroad tracks in Terra Alta; and the Cuzzart area in Bruceton.
“These individuals were required to do hours because either they are unemployed and must do community service until they find employment or due to receiving a sanction for a negative behavior,” Shahan said.
She said Drug Court clients also help each year with the New Deal Festival, set for July at Arthurdale Heritage.
At an earlier Preston County Solid Waste Authority meeting, Sowers said he was considering ordering 5,000 small in-car garbage bags from the state. He said he believed they might help alleviate some of the trash being thrown from cars.
“The state has the bags you hang in your car. They gave me some,” he said. “I want to take them to gas stations, where they can be handed out.”
TWEET@DominionPostWV
