Viewpoints
Gravina Clean Up
By Jerry Cegelske
May 24, 2007
Thursday
I noticed the Society of American Foresters cleaned up their
section of N. Tongass on the 19th and it looks great as many
people have mentioned. Thanks guys, your work is appreciated.
There was another group out on the 19th, cleaning up on Gravina,
doing much the same but with different material being collected.
It is amazing how much stuff has been dumped there. It is also
amazing how much a group of dedicated people can accomplish when
they set their minds to it.
Volunteers enjoy a
picnic lunch after a morning of picking up trash
Members of the Ketchikan Youth Court, the public, and Borough
employees were out in force cleaning up Gravina and were rewarded
for their efforts. Old liquor bottles, glass floats, plates,
and other treasures were found and collected. We were also rewarded
with a view of Ketchikan that reminds us of why we live here.
When the day was done, one young lady remarked how she wanted
to come back and clean up more trash.
After a picnic lunch of hamburgers, hot dogs chips and sodas,
the group attacked a cove loaded with trash. They collected
fuel tanks, drums, batteries, an electric generator, boat parts,
a chain saw, outboard and hundreds of other items. When they
were done, there was a boat overflowing with trash and another
pile was created about 15-20 feet square, 3 feet high of trash.
The work Saturday leaves two short areas south of the airport
to be cleaned up yet and then we will start picking up trash
on the north end of the airport.
Although the clean up is organized by the Borough, the clean
up is funded through a grant by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administrations Marine Debris Program with matching in-kind contributions
by the Borough. Public participation is greatly appreciated
and needed.
Jerry Cegelske
Ketchikan, AK
Received May 24, 2007 - Published
May 24, 2007
About: "Jerry Cegelske
is the Gravina Island Clean Up Project Coordinator and Code Enforcement
Officer for the Borough"
A Ketchikan Youth Court
member picks up trash in back of a pile collected on Gravina
Susan Walsh with a
glass float she found ten minutes after starting to pick up trash.
Borough manager Roy Eckert with Borough planner Jonathan Lapping
picking up trash
More trash collected
by volunteers
A boat load of trash
collected from a cove on Gravina Island
Another pile of trash
including a chain saw, outboard motor, electric generator, fuel
tank, fuel drums, nets, lead acid batteries, and much more.
Ketchikan from Gravina
Island
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and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
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