Hobolochitto creek will be a little bit cleaner after Saturday.

Members of the Friends of Boley will begin cleaning the creek along a five mile stretch from Long Bridge to Burnt Bridge beginning at 8 a.m. Everyone is invited to join in the effort, which will feature free food and a T-shirt for all who help in the cleanup effort.

On Thursday, FOB members met to hash out a couple of minor details for the event. Vice president Derek Turnage said he and other members of the group were going to take a trip down the creek to ensure that the creek was passable by canoe, and city employees Daryl Smith and Tommy Hart said they would smooth out the launch area at Long Bridge and have the grass mowed at the staging area prior to Saturday.

One volunteer who was instrumental last year will not be able to make it. Turnage said the owner of the aquatic track hoe will be out of town on business this weekend, but Turnage believes the event still will be successful.

President Keith Kingrey said the food will include fresh fried fish, hush puppies and cole slaw. Snacks also are expected to be available for volunteers while they clean the creek.

Jerry Bounds said at a previous meeting that he was going to be able bring life jackets, but he has since learned that those life jackets have been donated to another group, so Turnage asks volunteers to bring their own life jackets.

Transportation back to Long Bridge from Burnt Bridge will be provided by a van. Keith Brown said the van may be driven by a firefighter, unless a major emergency occurs in the city.

After this cleanup Kingrey said he hopes to begin working with the Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce and local land owners to develop the walking trail between the two bridges that Friends of Boley have been discussing.

One concern the group has is the likelihood of alligators, but FOB members seem certain that the reptiles will be frightened away by groups of people.