More than 80 people turned out on Saturday to clean the banks of Richland Creek, Moon Creek and Holley Creek. The event was sponsored by Keep Greene Clean and the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance (MNWA).

Volunteers from Greeneville and Greene County picked up more than 300 large plastic bags of litter and were assisted by others around the area, including members of Girl Scout Troop 139 from Bluff City, who drove an hour each way just to get here.

“We are extremely pleased with the great turnout of volunteers on such a breezy Saturday morning,” said Tim Armstrong, chairman of the MNWA. “We never expected so many people to be here this morning, but this just goes to show you that there are people who not only care about the water quality of Greeneville and Greene County but will put forth an effort to do something about it.”

Ken Chase, who represents TVA and the Boone Lake Watershed Alliance on the MNWA, said that having 20 organizations represented at Saturday’s event is a very good indicator of community interest and involvement.

Chase also noted that almost every age group was represented, from kindergartners (with parents in tow) to retirees.

Appalachia CARES/Americorps, a federal job-training program, won the plaque for the group bringing back the largest number of bags of litter — 30. This group worked along Holley Creek, behind Kmart and Proffitt’s.

The group with the largest number of volunteers was Boy Scouts of America Wolf Cub Scout Pack 94, which had 14 boys helping scour the creek banks.

Susan Vance, director of Keep Greene Clean, said deciding who would receive the plaque for the “most unusual item found” was a “tough” decision. Among the contenders were:

• the Greeneville Hunting & Fishing Club, which found a $100 check and a wallet, which is being returned to the owner; and

• members of Trout Unlimited, who found the innards of an air conditioner under the bridge where Summer Street crosses Richland Creek; they also found a baby bootie and an unopened can of Bud Lite.

Additional items submitted for the most unusual item included a commode, a possum skull, a typewriter, compact discs, a mailbox and several grocery carts.

But the award went to the Greeneville Hiking Club, which found a satellite dish, Vance said.

‘This One Remarkable’

“Keep Greene Clean has participated in a lot of cleanups, but this one was just remarkable,” said Susan Vance, director of Keep Greene Clean and a member of the MNWA. “Despite the bitter temperature Saturday morning, it was amazing the number of bags of litter collected in such a short period of time. The results of this cleanup should be a lesson to each one of us that it truly is amazing what a difference you can make in a short period of time when a few determined volunteers come together.

“This definitely made a major and positive impact on our community.”

The creek cleanup was the first organized event of Keep Greene Clean’s Great American Cleanup.

In addition to the MNWA, the cleanup was sponsored by TVA, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Professional Vending Services, the YMCA and Keep Greene Clean.

Groups participating along with the MNWA included Appalachia CARES/AmeriCorps, Trout Unlimited, Greeneville Hiking Club, Marine Corps League, Wolf Pack 94, Tusculum College’s Service Learning Program, the local chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, Boy Scout Troop 92, the Greene County Hunting and Fishing Club, Junior Girl Scouts, Heritage Gardens, Natural Resource Conservation Services, Town of Greeneville, City of Tusculum, State of Franklin Chapter of the Sierra Club, Keep Greene Clean, and several volunteers who were not officially representing any group.

Bags and gloves were provided by TVA to all volunteers.

Volunteers picked up along Richland and Holley Creeks in Greeneville and Moon Creek in Tusculum during the two-hour cleanup, then returned to the YMCA for lunch, which was provided to all volunteers by McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Professional Vending Services.

In addition to the special awards, door prizes including $100 in cash, provided by TVA, and bright yellow MNWA T-shirts were given away to volunteers.

For more information or to become involved with the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance or Keep Greene Clean, call Vance at the Greene County Partnership, 638-4111.

Keep Greene Clean is a Keep America Beautiful affiliate dedicated to involving the community in developing and maintaining a clean and beautiful environment.