Fifty Shades of Trash

Transcription

1 Fifty Shades of Trash Vol. 1. No. 1 Quarter 2013 A Quarterly Publication of Keep Graham Beautiful Graham, Texas KGB Salutes Its Volunteers Trash Troopers Kathryn Acklin Mary Braddock Bob Cain Nann Hale Nancy Hays Wanda Knox Robb Krecklow Vicky Labbe Betty Lester Fannie Logan Sheryl Mahaney Teresa Matney Jane McNatt Ellen Morris Becky Ribble Jim Senkel Litterbuggy Legionnaires Bob Cain Derrell Dodson Marcial Hernandez Charles Morris Roy Robinson Jerry Schultz Bruce Street Jimmy Styles Pride Patrol Randy Cantin Derrell Dodson Teresa Dodson Tommy and Marlene Edwards Jeff Glazner Graham Chamber of Commerce Eva Hoffman Lee Hunnewell Littlepage Real Estate Crews McCulloch Elton Montgomery Joe Montgomery Maureen Pettus Tom and Kathy Pierce Cody and Shannon Plowman Roy Robinson Anne Schultz Nathan and Joy Shack Bruce Street

2 Cashing In: Graham Wins $130,000 Landscape Award TxDOT, City, KGB Expect Shawnee Park Project To Begin in Summer 2014 Graham has been recognized by Keep Texas Beautiful as one of 10 winners of the 2013 Governor s Community Achievement Awards for outstanding community improvement. The award is one of the most coveted annual environmental and community improvement honors in Texas. The 10 winners will share $2 million in landscape funding from the Texas Department of Transportation. Graham will receive $130,000 for a landscaping project along a state right-of-way. Graham s award proceeds will be used to enhance the stream drainage through Shawnee Park and Shawnee Spring. Popularly known as Mad Creek, the stream bed is an overgrown trap for debris and litter. The creek flows under Elm Street/ Highway 16 at its intersection with Brazos and Cypress streets and is an eyesore adjacent to one of the city s traffic control lights. City officials and Keep Graham Beautiful directors met last year with engineers from the Texas Department of Transportation regional office in Wichita Falls, seeking options for a highway landscape project in Graham. TxDOT s regional office committed up to $100,000 for a project, to be matched with funds from the Graham community. Improvement of the Mad Creek drainage through Shawnee Park and Springs was suggested by Ed Hinson, a former mayor and current board member of Keep Graham Beautiful. TxDOT engineers developed plans to line the drainage with stamped concrete, simulating a native stone appearance. The project will also replace the partial sidewalk adjacent to northbound highway traffic with a more safe and aesthetic sidewalk closer to the stream. Unsightly chain link fencing on the northeast and southwest corners of the intersection will be replaced with decorating fencing featuring a prominent community logo. TxDOT officials will visit Graham this spring to refine the project s plans, and to possibly extend the reach of the stream bed s decorative lining. Graham Public Works Director David Casteel says the city will soon submit the project s detailed plans to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for permit approval. Construction cannot begin until the corps year-long review and permitting process is completed. Graham s winning landscape award application was compiled and submitted by Keep Graham Beautiful. It highlights successful 2012 spring and fall cleanup campaigns and ongoing initiatives to increase public awareness about unsightly impacts of littering. Anti-litter campaigns established throughout 2012 have since been expanded for The face of Keep Graham Beautiful is a pair of right-hand-drive former postal delivery vehicles, repainted and custom outfitted as Litterbuggy I and Litterbuggy II. The two Litterbuggies scour streets and roadsides for pickup of curbside litter as often as four days per week, weather and wind conditions permitting. Keep Graham Beautiful was reorganized in February last year, after five years of inactivity. KGB s activities are coordinated by a nine-member volunteer board. Officers are Roy Robinson, president; Bruce Street, vice president; and Eva Hoffman secretary/treasurer. Directors are Derrell Category 1 Population Up to 3,000 Landscape Award: $90,000 Collinsville Utopia Munday Category 4 Population 9,001-15,000 Landscape Award: $160,000 Katy Henderson La Marque Category 7 Population 40,001-65,000 Landscape Award: $250,000 Grapevine North Richland Hills Haltom City 2013 Governor s Community Achievement Awards Category 2 Population 3,001-5,500 Landscape Award: $110,000 Port Aransas Sonora Richwood Category 5 Population 15,001-25,000 Landscape Award: $180,000 Alvin Murphy Category 8 Population 65,001-90,000 Landscape Award: $270,000 Longview Sugar Land Angelina County Category 10 Population 180,001+ Landscape Award: $310,000 Austin Irving Garland Dodson, Dortheia Henderson, Ed Hinson, Carter Pettit, Jerry Schultz and Doug Stroud. The GCAA program has recognized outstanding communities since 1969, with TxDOT providing landscaping awards since Graham will receive its award Wednesday, June 18, in San Antonio, during KTB s 46th annual conference. Communities submitted materials to one of 10 population categories and judges chose the winners based on achievements in seven environmental and community improvement areas: community leadership and coordination, education, public awareness, litter prevention and cleanup, litter law and illegal dumping enforcement, beautification and community improvement, and solid waste management. Keep Texas Beautiful, a statewide grassroots environmental and community improvement nonprofit, strives to educate and engage Texans to take responsibility for improving their community environment. KTB and its more than 360 affiliates work with government, businesses, civic groups and volunteers to ensure that every Texan has the opportunity to make Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation. Category 3 Population 5,501-9,000 Landscape Award: $130,000 Graham Navasota Cuero Category 6 Population 25,001-40,000 Landscape Award: $210,000 Copperas Cove Lake Jackson Friendswood Category 9 Population 90, ,000 Landscape Award: $290,000 Midland Lewisville Carrollton

3 Keep Graham Beautiful Spring Trash Bash Saturday, April 6, through Sunday, April 14 Kickoff 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6, on the Downtown Square Paper Pig Shredding Truck Will Provide Secure Shredding of Paper Documents Courtesy of the Graham Chamber of Commerce Tony Hawkins Will Accept Electronic Equipment for Recycling To Benefit the Helen Hawkins Music Scholarship Fund Passenger Car Tires Will Be Accepted At No Cost for Environmentally Safe Recycling Private Individuals Only, Please (No Commercial Enterprise Tires Accepted) Signup of Volunteer Trash Troopers and Pride Patrol Members At the KGB Registration Table Complimentary Trash Bags and Vehicle Litter Bags Will Be Available from Keep Graham Beautiful Complimentary Soft Drinks Will Be Served from the KGB Registration Booth Other Activities Taking Place Saturday, April 6 Graham Fire Department Will Sponsor A Fishing Derby for Ages 15 and Under Fireman s Park Pond Knights of Columbus Rodeo Parade at 2 p.m. on the Downtown Square United Methodist Church One Great Day of Service Community Beautification Project Spring Trash Bash, Saturday, April 6, through Sunday, April Yard Disposal Containers Will Be Available for Public Access at Five Neighborhood Locations: Old Jacksboro Road Behind Tractor Supply Street at Indiana, Across From the Swimming Pool West Street Between 1st and 2nd Streets Corner of Indiana and Calaveras Carolina/Lindy Between Allison and Hillcrest Brush Drop Will Be Provided at the Parking Lot in Front of the Old Ag Barn in Fireman s Park For Curbside Brush Pick Up, Call City Hall, Adopt-A-Highway Groups Will Clean Entrances Into Graham

4 Did Spring Cleanup 2012 Make a Difference?

5 Keep Graham Beautiful Wants You! Since it was reorganized in February 2012, Keep Graham Beautiful has aimed aggressively to restore our community s unique beauty. You likely have seen Litterbuggy I or Litterbuggy II scouring the curbs in front of your home or business and perhaps you benefitted from the neighborhood disposal containers, courtesy of the city of Graham, in either the spring cleanup or fall brushup campaigns. Thank you for your support in 2012! As Keep Graham Beautiful moves forward in 2013, it needs your continuing support, your awareness of the need for litter prevention and, if you are able, your direct involvement to ensure a cleaner and more appealing Graham. Yes I Will Support Keep Graham Beautiful Sign Me Up For the new year, Keep Graham Beautiful offers two options for you to be directly involved... (()KGBTrashTrooper ) Trooper Iwilcommitfourormorehourseachmonthtopickupliterfromstrets,parksandpublicareasinGraham.KGBwilprovidemewitha distinctivevestandmatchingcap,anezreacherliterpickuptolandatrashbagring.iwilreceiveakgbdecalformyvehicleor busineswindow,an ISuportACleanerGraham yardsignandaliterbagformycarortruck.aquarterlynewsleterwilkepme informedaboutwhatotherfriendandneighborvoluntersaredoingtokepgrahambeautiful. Name HomeTelephone Cel Mailing Address (()KGBPridePatrol ) Patrol MyannualmembershipdueswilhelpoffsetoperatingcostsforacleanerGraham.Myindividualorfamilymembershippaymentof$25 ormycommercialmembershippaymentof$50isatached.asasustainingmember,iwilreceivean ISuportACleanerGraham windowsignoryardsign,amembershipdecal,vehicleliterbagsandtheinformativequarterlynewsleter. Name HomeTelephone Cel Mailing Address Questions? Contact A Keep Graham Beautiful Board Member: Derrell Dodson, Dortheia Henderson, Ed Hinson, Eva Hoffman, Carter Pettit, Roy Robinson, Jerry Schultz, Bruce Street Jr. or Doug Stroud, or call , Or Mail This Sign Up Form to Keep Graham Beautiful, P.O. Box 582, Graham, TX Be A KGB Trooper or Member. And Remember... Graham s Beauty Is Our Duty!