La Russell Stream Team No. 2945 would like to thank all of the volunteers and corporate sponsors who helped make the cleanup of the Lawrence County illegal dump on Spring River such a success on April 5.

Volunteers began arriving at 7:30 a.m. and didn’t leave until after 3:30 p.m. We even had a film crew join us from Southwest Baptist University, making a short film on environmental issues.

Everything worked smoothly and we picked up more than three tons of trash, five tons of recyclable metal and appliances and 64 tires. Some said that the illegal dump had existed for more than 30 years. Canoeists floating Spring River in the future will remember its beauty, not the ugly dump.

We would especially like to recognize Jim Doty Trash Service, Aurora; Robinson Excavating and Construction, La Russell; Pinewood Nursery, La Russell; Carthage Ambulance Service, Carthage; Everts Farms, La Russell; Carthage Water & Electric Plant and the Missouri Stream Team, for providing equipment and services for the project. We would also like to recognize those groups of volunteers that helped, including: Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, Missouri State University, Springfield; Jasper County Water Watchers Stream Team No. 3320, Webb City; Chert Glades Master Naturalist Chapter- Joplin, and McNamara New Hope Boys Home, La Russell.

If you would like more information about the project or La Russell Stream Team No. 2945, visit our Web site, http://springriverlarussellaccess.

blogspot.com. Together we were able to accomplish much more than we could have done by ourselves.

Eric Ferrell

Carthage