VOLUNTEERS TAKE PART IN SPRING CLEAN-UP; `SPRUCE UP' HAS JACKSON PITCHING IN

Diana Culver donated her time Saturday to clean up trash around the swings at Jackson Park during the city's clean-up day.

Katheia Foust, a member with the Jackson Noon Optimist, spent her time picking weeds and planting flowers around Jackson Park's new Safety City Sign.

Mike Annis, a member of the SEMO Home builders measured and finished the foundation for a scale model building in the new Safety City village at Jackson Park.

The Jackson Park Department's "Spruce Up for Spring" event drew volunteers from throughout the city to assist in a spring clean up of Jackson City Park.

The event was held in conjunction with the 100-year anniversary celebration of Jackson's park system. Citizens, civic groups and other organizations turned out bright and early April 8 to pull weeds, paint signs and do other fix-up work at the facility.

"We had about 100 people there taking part in the event," said Jackson city manager Steve Wilson. "The weather was superb and it was the biggest event anyone there could remember."

Groups such as the Southeast Missouri Home Builder's Association, local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and members of the Jackson Noon Optimist Club were among the several interested groups and individuals taking part.

In addition, representatives of the Missouri Department of Conservation were on hand to restock the recently refurbished Rotary Lake. MDC fisheries experts restocked the facility with crappie and other game fish.

Work culiminated with a noon luncheon provided by Schaper's IGA in Jackson.