In the midst of a spring snow storm,
37,583 pounds of trash and litter were picked up for the Great American
Cleanup (GAC), held on April 27, 2002.
Some strange items were found. The
human skull found in a field off South Billings Boulevard brought us
national attention. (Any press is good press, or so the saying goes.)
Billings Gazette employees say they
found enough parts to assemble a car--except for one hubcap--at the 27th
Street south Exchange, or so it seemed. Up on the rims, couches,
appliances and other furniture were removed from an illegal dump site.
Including the many groups who postponed
their cleanup until May--when trash could be seen, 11,749 volunteers
took part in this year's cleanup.
Special thanks to the Adopt-A-Highway
groups: First Presbyterian Church, coca-Cola of Montana-Billings, PPL
Montana, Billings Gazette, BFI Waste Systems, D&D Transport/Big Sky
Utility/Connect Telephone, Deaconess Billings Clinic, St. Vincent
Healthcare, Masonic Lodge 3777, Demolay & Rainbow Girls and the Big
Sky Polka Club.
Big thanks also go to the Montana Army
National Guard and JTL Group, Inc. for hauling bagged trash and other
oversized debris to Senior High, the base of operations.
Hats off to the Vietnam Veterans of
American Chapter 334 for braving the cold and providing a fantastic
barbeque for the volunteers.
Ron Hall, manager of Tire Rama in the
Heights, donated hotdogs and buns; Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. and Coca Cola
Bottling Co. provided drinks; and Perkins at 765 South 20th Street West
gave hot coffee. Exxon Mobil donated three dozen work gloves.
Special recognition goes to the
Celebrate Billings Environment Committee for the time and effort it
contributed to the success of the GAC and to Clear Channel Radio
stations and Billings Gazette for promoting the event.
Annual Litter Index: this is a
scientific litter survey developed by Keep America Beautiful to monitor
litter in the community. This survey is taken on an annual basis by
volunteers. Litter has decreased in the Billings area by 31% since 1988.
Gateway Park Development
The park is located on a 3-acre
intersection at one of the entrances to Billings. The area was
landscaped and planted by volunteers and with donated funds. 126 trees
and shrubs were planted on the site. Career Center students sculpted 16
geese and 2 deer for the park. These were adopted out for $500 each. The
money paid for the underground sprinkling system and the trees.
This program was developed by Bright
n' Beautiful before the adopt-a-highway came into the state. Local groups
adopt parks, roadsides or other public lands and clean up the litter four
times or more a year. They sign a contract with Bright n' Beautiful and a
sign is placed on the site with the name of the contracting group. We
have 50 local groups participating.
There are more two-mile sections of
Interstate to be adopted through Yellowstone County.
Certain requirements in the
Adopt-A-Highway program have been amended in Yellowstone County. For
example, groups may now elect to adopt a two-mile section and clean only
one direction.
The program is managed by the Montana
Dept. of Transportation. For information on available locations call
Mary Worden at 252-4138.
The executive director and/or a board
member will go into the schools to educate students on litter
prevention, recycling, waste management and other issues regarding
taking care of our environment.
In the midst of a spring snow storm,
37,583 pounds of trash and litter were picked up for the Great American
Cleanup (GAC), held on April 27, 2002.
Billings Gazette employees say they
found enough parts to assemble a car--except for one hubcap--at the 27th
Street south Exchange, or so it seemed. Up on the rims, couches,
appliances and other furniture were removed from an illegal dump site.
Special thanks to the Adopt-A-Highway
groups: First Presbyterian Church, coca-Cola of Montana-Billings, PPL
Montana, Billings Gazette, BFI Waste Systems, D&D Transport/Big Sky
Utility/Connect Telephone, Deaconess Billings Clinic, St. Vincent
Healthcare, Masonic Lodge 3777, Demolay & Rainbow Girls and the Big
Sky Polka Club.
Hats off to the Vietnam Veterans of
American Chapter 334 for braving the cold and providing a fantastic
barbeque for the volunteers.
Special recognition goes to the
Celebrate Billings Environment Committee for the time and effort it
contributed to the success of the GAC and to Clear Channel Radio
stations and Billings Gazette for promoting the event.
The park is located on a 3-acre
intersection at one of the entrances to Billings. The area was
landscaped and planted by volunteers and with donated funds. 126 trees
and shrubs were planted on the site. Career Center students sculpted 16
geese and 2 deer for the park. These were adopted out for $500 each. The
money paid for the underground sprinkling system and the trees.
This program was developed by Bright
n' Beautiful before the adopt-a-highway came into the state. Local groups
adopt parks, roadsides or other public lands and clean up the litter four
times or more a year. They sign a contract with Bright n' Beautiful and a
sign is placed on the site with the name of the contracting group. We
have 50 local groups participating.
an Affiliate of