Businesses turnout small at cleanup meeting

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BREAKING JAM — In a recent trip down the Hobolochitto Creek Derek Turnage, center, uses a chain saw to clear some debris while Mark Stockstill spots him. The creek is full of downed trees that collect the trash thrown on the side of the road or directly into the creek. There is an effort brewing to rectify the situation. Jeremy Pittari

September 4, 2010

By Jeremy Pittari, Item Staff Writer The Picayune Item Picayune Item Sat Sep 04, 2010, 08:02 PM CDT

PICAYUNE — Even though the effort to clean up Hobolochitto Creek is gathering steam, organizers still help from local businesses.

There was a strong showing at Wednesday’s Boley Creek Cleanup meeting, held at First Baptist Church of Picayune’s Link by those who have been behind the effort all along, and included several more volunteers from the Picayune Fire Department.

Wednesday’s meeting was an effort to recruit businesses to the effort to remove trash from the creek, which will include cutting into some of the major blockages caused by trees that have fallen into the creek. While attendance from local businesses was light, the meeting was productive. Cleanup organizer Derek Turnage said all the effort needs from local businesses is support, not money. He has spoken with several business owners and asked them to make the effort a topic of conversation.

Clea up organizers did learn that a permit will be needed to work at the Burnt Bridge area, since it is part of the National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife biologist Neil Lalonde said the permit is free and could last for up to a year. That permit will be needed since there is talk of putting a dumpster on the site for the volunteers to get rid of the trash collected in the cleanup effort.

“If it’s coming on the refuge, you need a permit,” Lalonde said.

Lalonde said the permit is a way for U.S. Fish and Wildlife to know that what is put on the site will be removed when the cleanup is complete.

The only things the effort will need, other than more volunteers, are boats, ice and ice chests. Keith Kingrey of Mississippi Power said the Renew Our Rivers Program will provide the rest, including food, drinks and T-shirts for the event. Any local businesses that becomes part of the effort will have its name printed on the shirts. The local effort is one of four cleanup programs sponsored by the power company’s program. The local effort will take place on Oct. 16.

Before the official event takes place in October, the organizers plan to head down 5.24 miles of the creek from Long Bridge to Burnt Bridge on Sept. 11, to clear away the major obstructions caused by fallen trees. Organizers ask anyone who plans to help with the cleanup on either day to bring personal protection, such as gloves, life jackets and closed toe shoes that can get wet. Small water craft, such as canoes and kayaks, will be best for volunteers to use inthe effort.

Even after this effort is complete, Mark Stockstill, one of the organizers, said he can see a continued need for cleanup and maintenance efforts for years on into the future.

For more information on the clean up effort visit the Facebook page Boley Creek Cleanup.

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