Port of Paducah, Kentucky No. 85

Hundreds Volunteer to Clean Up River

Friday, June 25^th, 2010, over 150 volunteers met in Paducah, Kentucky, along the Ohio River for the 4th Annual River Challenge Cleanup.  As it turned out, much of the trash along the shore of the Ohio River had been washed ashore from the May 1 floods. 

 

Some though, organizer Chad Pregracke noted, had been dumped.  "Whatever the reason it's out here and we're out here to do something about it," Pregracke said.

 

Volunteers collected so much garbage, eight tons in fact, it took 15 boats to get it back to shore, with each of those boats making several trips. 

 

"It's a lot of work, a lot of teamwork," Pregracke said.

 

Trash collected will be sorted out.  What can be recycled will be and the rest will be sent to a local landfill.

 

Marquette Transportation Company provided lunch for everyone again this year, and Ingram Barge Company received the travelling trophy for having the most associates participating.

 

PHOTOS BY JEFF YATES