News : Dry weather brings new clean-up climate for Cedar River volunteers

After five solid hours and four full truckloads and trips to the city dumps, 11 volunteers finally sat down, to pull off their mud-laden boots and muck-covered gloves. A collective sigh was shared by everyone.

The day began with layering their winter clothes against the 30+ temperatures and a hot cup of coffee, and then it was straight to work, climbing down the riverbank, bags in hand. The first sandbar at Wyman’s produced several 42-gallon trash bags of glass, metal, plastic, Styrofoam, a lawn chair, tee shirts and scrap metal of every shape and size. The first sandbar/section of riverbed done, meant the first full truckload taken to the Vinton City Dump Days.

From Wyman’s all the way down to the Vinton Parks Ramp, the pattern continued, climb down the banks, and start walking and collecting. Stops along the route included Behounek’s sandbar, Coots’ sandbar, Celebration Park/River Bridge sandbars and ending at the Vinton Parks sandbars.

This group of 11 volunteers (and 1 photographer for a while) removed the mystery piece of farm equipment (which is still a mystery), the wooden spool, yards and yards of siding, bicycles, little red (formerly red) wagons, barrels, 9 tires (with 2 still out there), wheelbarrow pieces, pillows, sections of culvert, mufflers, insulation, tubs/buckets, windows and more, all of that, in addition to 30+ 42-gallon contractor bags of smaller trash/debris. Four full truckloads.

Eleven people…….twenty-two hands and twenty-two feet, accomplished that in only 5 hours. Imagine what even a few more can do!

During this age of green energy, recycling, and eco-friendly materials, every effort to educate and demonstrate the effects of pollution (old and new) continues to improve the quality of life for the Cedar’s natural flora and fauna, as well as the safety and quality of Cedar River recreation.

Grass roots efforts such as the ones from these volunteers are part of what makes life in a small town so great. People see a need, and they take action. A few calls are made and the result is a job well done. I didn’t know some of the volunteers too well before we started, but by 3:00 on Saturday, I had some really great new friends. I’d walk a riverbed or nature trail on a clean up project with any of them any day.

For more information on the results from our October 6th clean up, or to help plan the August 3, 2013 clean up, please call 319-558-7476.

A conscientious community is a thriving community. If you see a need, make a call. The only results will always be positive.