Scouts’ ‘leave no trace’

benefits all

 

Dear Editor,

Last weekend, Boy Scout Troop 134, sponsored by Lawrence Chapel UMC, picked up trash between Daniel High School and Jones Mill Road as a service project.

This is a stretch of road that is about two miles long. We have cleaned this section before, and the church has adopted this section of S.C. Highway 133. The Scouts picked up eight and a half large orange garbage bags of trash. What is more disturbing than the quantity of trash picked up is the contents of those garbage bags. The bulk of the trash consisted of beer cans, beer bottles, liquor bottles (full-size and mini bottles), cigarette butts and packaging, and the normal soft drink and fast-food litter.

I quickly came to a few apparent conclusions:

• There is a lot of alcohol consumption on Highway 133 near Daniel High School.

• A lot of people have little concern for their local environment.

• I don’t want to walk barefoot on the shoulders of Highway 133 — there is a lot of broken glass.

• In addition, I thought about the potential for fires being caused by all of those cigarettes that are casually tossed into the leaves and grass from moving cars. I also thought about the dangers arising from so many alcohol-impaired drivers.

Several days later, I drove down Highway 133 from Clemson to Six Mile and a couple of things stood out to me. First, the section of road where we had picked up trash looked so much better, and second, the trash discarded since we had picked up stood out like a red flag, scoffing at us for our efforts.

If you are reading this, I challenge you to adopt the Boy Scout’s “leave no trace” policy and dispose of your trash properly. I challenge smokers to use their ashtrays or quit smoking altogether. I challenge drinkers to not drink and drive, and to not allow their passengers to throw their empties out of the vehicle. Let’s all work together to maintain a clean environment.

Finally, I would like to thank the Scouts and other volunteers who expend their time and energy to clean up our roadways.

Jeff Rosenberger

Six Mile

Still a chance for Easley officials

Dear Editor,

It is welcome news that construction is underway on the Doodle Trail between Pickens and Easley and that it is to be completed this summer.

The trail will be a real asset to the surrounding area, and will provide a significant economic boost for the downtown area — of Pickens. Probably not so much for Easley.

The misguided decision to terminate the Doodle Trail at Fleetwood Drive, well outside the Easley downtown area, will likely result in Easley downtown merchants not seeing the benefit of the trail that Travelers Rest has seen from the Swamp Rabbit Trail, and that Pickens will see from the Doodle Trail. Not many trail users will brave the non-trail traffic to access downtown Easley. I know I won’t.

The Easley planners need to go back to the drawing board and get this right while they have the opportunity.

The Easley downtown merchants ought to be up in arms over the decision to terminate the trail outside downtown.

John Landers

Liberty

Benefit golf

tournament needs help

Dear Editor,

Local business owners and concerned citizens, our organization needs your help!

Friends of Pickens County Guardian ad Litem is having its first annual Friends of Pickens County Guardian ad Litem Golf Tournament, to be held on May 9 at Bear Valley Club.

Friends of Pickens County Guardian ad Litem is an incorporated 501(c)3 volunteer charitable organization that is completely reliant on charitable donations, which are fully tax-deductible. We have been providing financial assistance since 2002 to the neglected and abused children of Pickens County, including children of Helping Hands, Miracle Hill and Pendleton Place group homes.

This golf outing will become one of two significant annual fundraising events to support our annual programs and the growing needs of Pickens County’s maltreated children, which rank among the highest numbers in South Carolina.

We invite you to join us as a sponsor for this event, which we anticipate will be highly successful and well-attended. By becoming a sponsor of this event, not only will you be gaining exposure for your company with the many area professionals who will be participating in the outing, but you’ll also be supporting a very worth-while organization. The resources made available by companies like yours make it possible for us to enrich the lives of the neglected and abused children of Pickens County through assistance with everything from medical needs to summer camps. With your help, the Pickens County community as a whole benefits by changing the life of “one child at a time,” and for that we are forever grateful.

Show Friends of Pickens County Guardian ad Litem, friends, neighbors and colleagues your company’s commitment to the maltreated children of Pickens County and become a sponsor.

We thank you in advance for your support of this cause that is so dear to our hearts!

Please be sure to visit www.friendspcgal.org to view additional information on the first annual Friends of Pickens County Guardian ad Litem Golf Tournament and sponsorship packages.

Stan Whitten

Tournament chair

Member, Friends of

Pickens County Guardian ad Litem Board of Director