ORGANIZED EFFORT TARGETS LITTER IN STREETS

Litter along certain Cape Girardeau streets continues to be a problem, one the city and Chamber of Commerce are attacking with renewed vigor.

Things are getting better, but some areas remain covered in food wrappers, cigarette butts and soda cans. In an effort to further improve the situation, the chamber's Beautification Committee met last week with city officials. The committee discovered the Public Works Department already has taken some first steps toward cleaning up the littered areas.

On Nov. 9, the first group of prisoners and court-sentenced community service workers picked up trash on Good Hope and around Central High School. The prisoners may be available for future litter control. That depends on having a city employee who can supervise them.

Another option is reviving the city's Adopt-A-Street program started five years ago. Several groups signed up to adopt a street and take responsibility for cleaning up litter. Only one -- St. Mary's Cathedral's Early Childhood Program -- is continuing the work.

It was suggested that public schools be approached about keeping streets around the schools litter free. If schools adopt streets, chances are much better that the streets will be picked up. And it offers students a sense of community pride.