Morgantown Dominion Post
3 June 2007
By J. Miles Layton
Jason DeProspero photos
Sue Gimbal paddled up in a kayak
I'm proud to be in West Virginia, and I want to do my part to keep it clean," Gimbal said while unloading a pink volleyball, football pads and other trash as a volunteer of the state's Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan on Saturday.
Among the anti-litter programs REAP manages, it is responsible for cleaning rivers and streams across the state. The cleanup spanned streams and rivers in Monongalia, Barbour and Harrison counties.
"Any time we can get the community involved in a cleanup, it is just fantastic," said Chuck Joseph, REAP project manager for the northern district.
A boat approached the dock filled with an assortment of things ordinarily not associated with aquatic life - tires, an empty propane tank, a football, and a large piece of Styrofoam. Frank Jernejcic, a biologist, said he saw a washing machine along one of the river banks, but was unable to get something that large into a boat already stacked high with vehicle tires. Greg Rote, state program manager for REAP, said more than 150 people volunteered in three coun- ties to clear several tons of trash from rivers and streams. In Monongalia County, Rote said, 20 volunteers were able to clear at least 1.5 tons Saturday.
"The more people who know about this, the more people we will get to volunteer next time," he said. Looking at a boat dock filled with debris, Joseph said, "If we foster an attitude of ownership and stewardship, maybe we can motivate people to stop littering."
There were two ducks swimming nearby and sunfish coming up to the surface of the cool water to take a look at the "litter-gitter" crew.
Mary Kay Stiles, 55, from Independence in Preston County, held a long pole with metal fingers that could grip trash, called a "litter gitter."
"I'm having so much fun," she said. "It is a good feeling."
Kate Hoag, 46, of Granville, needed an excuse to try out her new boat.
"If we didn't clean it up, it wouldn't get done," she said.