CITY CREWS DESERVE THANKS FOR CLEANUP EFFORTS

Anyone driving around Cape Girardeau this week surely saw all the items put out next to the curb by residents who cleaned out their basements and attics and garages -- and other rooms of the house as well. Huge piles of what might be junk to residents but treasure to others were left for the annual spring cleanup.

Next week, Jackson residents will follow pretty much the same routine, leaving near the street unwanted items to be hauled away by city crews.

It has been interesting to see how much junk is claimed by scavengers before the official cleanup crews arrive. One Cape Girardeau resident, for example, was amazed how quickly an old barbecue grill and bird feeder disappeared from his curbside pile.

These annual cleanups are a big service for residents, and it is clear that folks appreciate the opportunity to get rid of everything from old sofas to nonworking appliances to carpeting stained by family pets.

But the heroes during cleanup week are the men and women on the city crews who operate the large trucks and front-end loaders needed to gather up the unwanted stuff.

Thanks, city crews, for your extra effort and the efficiency with which you get this job done. It makes the rest of us feel better to know we at least made a stab at spring cleaning.