STATE, BUSINESS JOIN TO CLEAN UP CREEKS NEAR MARBLE HILL

MARBLE HILL -- The Missouri Department of Conservation, in cooperation with a local beer distributor and a number of area businesses and organizations, will sponsor a bank and stream cleanup July 13 along portions of Hurricane and Crooked creeks near Marble Hill.

It will begin at 10 a.m.

Brian Todd, fisheries biologist with the department's Southeast Missouri regional office at Cape Girardeau, said this is the first organized, major cleanup of any stream in this part of the state.

Todd said the department has worked with other groups in cleanups along the St. Francis, Black, Current, Jacks Fork, and Eleven Point rivers, and the Bourbeuse and Meramec rivers near St. Louis.

"There's a lot of enthusiasm at this point for the cleanup," said Todd. "I think we'll see at least 100, possibly 200 people, show up that Saturday."

He said the first 150 people who sign up for the cleanup will receive free T-shirts. Todd said volunteers can sign up at any of the participating businesses between now and July 6.

Sign-up locations are: the Missouri Department of Conservation office on North Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, Kohlfeld Distributing Co., the Bollinger County Courthouse, the Marble Hill Eagles Lodge, Rover's Gas-A-Mat, Sonny's Restaurant and Lounge, the Leopold Knights of Columbus, Dorris' Downspout, Bollinger County Civil Defense, Mock's Twin Creeks campgrounds, J & W Chevrolet, Lutesville Ford, and Lemon's Landfill in Bloomfield.

Todd said the project will be coordinated with the Bollinger County Sheriff's Department, Marble Hill Police and the Bollinger County Civil Defense.

The Crooked Creek cleanup will start near Glen Allen and extend downstream to its confluence with Hurricane Creek, near the old railroad trestle pilings.

Todd said the Hurricane Creek cleanup will begin north of the Highway 34 bridge and continue downstream to the creek's confluence with Crooked Creek.

"On the day of the cleanup team members should meet before 10 a.m. at Twin City Park, next to Sonny's Restaurant," Todd said. "Around 10 a.m., the teams will be transported by donated vehicles to their pre-designated cleanup locations on Hurricane or Crooked creeks. The teams will be supplied with Missouri Department of Conservation "Clean Up" trash sacks."

After the cleanup is completed at about 4 p.m., Todd said the teams will return to Twin City Park, where they will be transported to Mock's Twin Creeks camp, near the meeting of the two creeks, for a beach party for participants of all ages.

Todd said if the Hurricane and Crooked creek cleanups are a success, the department will consider future cleanups on the Castor or Whitewater rivers.

"First, we want to see what kind of response we get to the Hurricane and Crooked Creek cleanup next month," Todd said. "If the turnout is good, we'll take a look at some of the other streams next year."

Todd said the idea for the Hurricane and Crooked Creek cleanup was suggested by Mitch Miller of Kohlfeld Distributing Co. of Cape Girardeau.

"Mitch spent a lot of time fishing and playing in the two creeks when he was younger," said Todd. "Their supplier, Coors Brewery, has an environmental awareness program that encourages their local distributors to become involved in local environmental awareness programs."

Although not in as bad a condition as some of the more heavily used streams in the state, Todd said both creeks near Marble Hill "could use some sprucing up."

"As far as I can determine, nothing like this has ever been done on the two creeks, or any of the other creeks and rivers in our 13-county region," Todd said.

"I urge anyone who is concerned about our environment and cleaning up our streams and rivers to sign up for the cleanup. It's really a chance for you to make a difference," he said.