The Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance will be sponsoring a "Creek Cleanup" Saturday, March 17, from 10 a.m. to noon.

This event will be part of the “Great American Cleanup,” a grassroots beautification, litter prevention and community improvement program led nationally by Keep America Beautiful Inc.

Volunteers are asked to register at the YMCA beginning at 9:30 a.m., when they will receive trash bags and gloves as well as their cleanup location.

A safety orientation will be held at 10 a.m.

All children under the age of 18 will be required to have a parent or guardian complete a release form.

The primary cleanup area will take place along Richland Creek. Based on participation, the cleanup may also include Holly and Moon creeks.

After the cleanup, volunteers are asked to report back to the YMCA for lunch, which will be provided at noon by McDonald's, Professional Vending Services and Coca-Cola.

At this time, volunteers will report the number of bags of litter they collected and any (large) items that need to be removed at a later date.

Once the volunteers have reported on the cleanup, they will be eligible for the cash prizes to be given away during lunch. Awards will also be given to the groups with the most bags of litter collected, the most volunteers, and the most unusual item found during the cleanup.

Bags and gloves will be provided by TVA to all participants.

"This is the first event sponsored by the alliance since its inception, and we are very excited about the opportunity to do something for the community," said Tim Armstrong, chairman of the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance.

In addition to the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance, this event is being
sponsored by TVA, Keep Greene Clean, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Professional
Vending Services and the YMCA.

For more information, call Susan Vance, director of Keep Greene Clean, at 638-4111.