43 Volunteers Clean-Up Dump

A BIG thank you goes out to our sponsors and forty-three volunteers for todays successful clean-up of the illegal dump on Spring River. Volunteers began arriving at 7:30 am and didn't leave until after 3:30 pm. We even had a film crew join us from Southwest Baptist University, making a short film on environmenal issues. Everything worked smoothly and we picked up more than 5 tons of liter. Some said that the illegal dump had existed for more than 30 years. Canoers floating Spring River in the future will remember its beauty, not the ugly dump.

Eight members of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, Missouri State University (Springfield) showed up ready to volunteer. They spent most of the day on the embankment filling green Stream Team liter bags. Several took turns pulling the bags up the 100'embankment.

The bucket truck with a boom-winch was a key to our success. The equipment was used to raise the heavy metal appliances (including hot water tanks, washing machines, chest freezers, multiple stoves, car parts), bales of wire and fencing, and tractor tires. We utilized a crew of six to attach debris with chains on the embankment, and then maneuver it onto the access road. We are grateful to Robinson Excavating & Construction for donating their equipment and services to the project.

Picking up debris on the 63 foot dropoff, 39° degree embankment was challenging, dangerous and exhaustive. This picture illustrates the challenge of maneuvering, securing suitable footing and extra effort to even stand up.


Several volunteers commented on how much they appreciated the ambulance being on site, all day. All volunteers were required to listen to a Safety Lecture before starting work. We feel that this contributed to the success of the event. We really appreciate McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital and Carthage Ambulance providing this service.

We had two Stream Team members assigned to "Water Rescue". They were successful in recovering boat loads of debris. As it turned out they had a 50-50 mix of trash and recyclable metal. We divided all of the debris collected into three categories: recyclable metal (including appliances), tires, and trash.





In addition to a beautiful day with sunshine and upper 60° temperatures, the volunteers were able to enjoy grilled hamburgers, along with chips and brownies for lunch.



This is one of several piles of metal (and appliances) that were segregated out for recycling. Apparently metal prices are high enough that all of the metal from last week disappeared within a couple of days. We were not able to negotiate a percentage of the income from selling the scrap metal, but felt good that it wasn't going into the dumpster.

We are grateful to Jim Doty Trash Service-Aurora, for donating the dumpsters for our clean-up project. I don't think that anyone counted the green Stream Team liter bags that went in, but we went through more than 100 bags today. They weighed 1.87 tons.





This scrap dealer had two trailers filled and couldn't take any more, since they had to wait to sell the scrap metal, on Monday next week, before unloading. We estimated that each trailer had 2-tons of metal on it.


This is the reason for the clean-up. Several volunteers commented that this was the most beautiful view on Spring River. We are grateful to all of the sponsors and volunteers that made this project a success. Thank you from LaRussell Stream Team #2945.

Group's Effort Merit Public Attention, The Joplin Globe, Monday, April 21, 2008, by Jo Ellis.