Volunteers needed to help pick up winter trash along highway in Arlee
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ARLEE – Along with budding flowers and chirping birds, spring’s warm temperatures reveal roadside trash. The Arlee Community Development Corporation has organized a community event to remove unsightly debris from Arlee’s roads.
Arlee CDC member Makenzie Felsman hopes this will make it more attractive for residents to get out and about in town. “We want to encourage people to use the walking trails that the Arlee CDC helped put in,” Felsman said.
According to Felsman, the event is an opportunity for Arlee residents to contribute directly to improving their hometown. “It will give them a sense of pride in their community,” she said. The job will require sizeable manpower. At least 20 adult volunteers will be needed, she said.
The “Love Arlee” committee of the CDC is facilitating the cleanup event. This new committee focuses on beautifying and improving the community. “We love Arlee and take pride in it,” Felsman said. “We want it to look clean and be safe for the Arlee community and those who pass through the town.”
Felsman said the event will focus on cleaning up the roadside from the Hangin’ Art Gallery to the south side of town along the walking trail to Jocko Road. The effort will continue east down Jocko road. According to Felsman, the group chose that area because it seems to build up a significant amount of trash each winter. The cleanup will beautify the route for the annual Buttercup Run on April 13.
Across the county, the Montana Department of Transportation depends on volunteers to clean up litter along state highways. “Volunteer groups get involved in cleanup and beautification of our local areas and the beauty of Montana as whole,” Montana Department of Transportation Public Information Officer Lori Ryan said. The program’s website lists traffic safety, the wellbeing of wildlife and environmental benefits for reasons why it is important to clean up roadside trash.
Many cleanups are organized through the Adopt-A-Highway program. MDT runs the program. Adopt-A-Highway contracts with local volunteer groups that complete twice-yearly cleanups of two-mile stretches of highway. In return, MDT provides safety guidelines for the cleanups, safety vests and trash bags.
After an Adopt-A-Highway group completes its cleanup, the DOT picks up the trash that is collected and disposes of it. The volunteers are acknowledged with a road sign thanking them for cleaning up the stretch of highway.
Many stretches of highway in Lake County have been adopted by volunteer groups, private businesses or families. Other parts of the highway are maintained in memory of community members who have passed away. Many stretches are still available to be adopted.
“The department is very grateful for individuals throughout Montana who volunteer their time to pick trash up along our roadways,” Ryan said.
According to Ryan, state maintenance workers also do significant clean up on roadways, especially in the spring.
The Arlee community cleanup will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 6. Those interested will meet at the Hangin’ Art Gallery for coffee and snacks. The CDC will provide utility vests, trash bags and some gloves. Those who have work gloves or trucks for hauling trash should bring them. Volunteers will split into groups to tackle the cleanup project.
Individuals, families, organizations and volunteer groups are encouraged to attend. Those interested can contact the Arlee CDC through its Facebook page or by calling Makenzie Felsman at 406-726-5550.
