 Somerset’s main drag will get a clean sweep, just in time for tourist season.
On Friday, April 17, businesses and other volunteers will pick up litter along US 27, from traffic light #1 to #29. All volunteers will receive a free T-shirt, lunch, redbud seedlings and a chance at door prizes.
The PRIDE Clean Sweep of US 27 will last all day. Volunteers can work at their convenience. At noon, they can enjoy a free cook-out with door prizes at The Center for Rural Development, with special guest Congressman Hal Rogers. In case of rain, the cleanup will be postponed until April 24.
The PRIDE Clean Sweep of US 27 is sponsored by PRIDE, the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, The Center for Rural Development, and TOUR Southern and Eastern Kentucky (TOUR SEKY).
“Based on the outpouring of support so far, people are tired of the litter on US 27, and they are ready to do their part to clean it up,” said PRIDE’s Karen Engle. “At our first planning meeting, I was amazed by the businesses and organizations offering their time and resources. We are grateful for those who already are on board, and we invite you to join the excitement. Let’s make this a real community event.”
“This is the community where we all live, work and play,” said Jack Keeney, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. “I know there is a tremendous amount of community pride in Somerset and Pulaski County. We must show it! Working together, we CAN make a difference!”
“I want us to become concerned about our litter and our environment 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day,” Keeney added. “I am glad we are making a start on April 17, but let's challenge everyone to continue to be aware of this growing need all year round.”
“Now is the time to tackle the litter problem, before tourists begin pouring into Somerset in April for Redbud Month, Somernites Cruise and Lake Cumberland,” said Jeff Crowe of TOUR SEKY, the region’s tourism development organization. TOUR SEKY will give free redbud seedlings to all volunteers, as well as two redbud trees to each of the five businesses with the most volunteers.
“We share the same vision as our affiliates and the Chamber in that we want Southern and Eastern Kentucky to be as clean and beautiful as it can and should be,” Lonnie Lawson, president and CEO of The Center for Rural Development, said. “The Center is very proud to be a partner in this great effort, and we encourage all local businesses and citizens to take part as well.”
If your business or organization can commit to clean a section of US 27 on April 17, please contact the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce at 679-7323 or info@spcchamber.com. Before the cleanup, you will receive trash bags, gloves, safety vests and T-shirts.
Volunteers also are welcome to check in at The Center on April 17 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. They will be assigned a section of roadway and will receive their trash bags, gloves, safety vests, T-shirts and redbud seedlings.
So far, volunteer commitments to clean along US 27 include 15 businesses, the Friends of Lake Cumberland, and the Pulaski County and Southwestern High School ROTCs. Somerset High School will clean streets in downtown Somerset. Somerset Community College will pick up litter along Monticello Street from Oak Hill Road to US 27.
The Kentucky Department of Transportation-District 8 will clean the medians along US 27, which will allow volunteers to concentrate on the roadsides. The department also will pick up the filled trash bags.
The Pulaski County Sheriff Department and Somerset Police Department will patrol US 27 heavily throughout the day to protect volunteers while they work.
For the luncheon, SouthEast Telephone will donate and grill hot dogs. Wal-Mart will donate other food.
The next PRIDE Clean Sweep planning meeting, which will include a safety briefing, will be held at The Center on April 7 at 1:30. For more information, please call the PRIDE office at 677-6150.
The PRIDE Clean Sweep is one of many opportunities for volunteers to clean roadsides and beautify the community during PRIDE Spring Cleanup Month in April. For a complete list of local Spring Cleanup activities, click here and then click your county on the map at the bottom of the page.
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