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Friends of Shiawassee River to hold cleanup
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Tuesday, August 5, 2008 5:01 PM EDT
OWOSSO - In countless cartoons, anglers are often depicted catching a tire or a boot instead of a fish. However, that may not be as far from the truth as some people would like to believe.
Friends of the Shiawassee River Director Heidi Frei said tires littering the Shiawassee River are a real problem.
“We always get a lot of tires out of the river,” Frei said. “You have to pay to recycle tires and that is why they end up in the river.... Especially in some of the rural areas.”
But the Friends of the Shiawassee River is looking to change that by holding its 11th annual river cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon today.
FOSR is a non-profit organization founded in 1996.
“The big thing is getting people in the river. Right now is an ideal time because the water is low, clear and there is no danger of high water,” Frei said.
Volunteers are to meet at one of four locations: Henderson Park north of Owosso, Oakwood Street Bridge in Owosso, McCurdy Park in Corunna and Geeck Road Park near Bancroft.
Tires collected will be recycled free of charge by the Shiawassee County Health Department at the Shiawassee County Road Commission. This was made possible through grant funding provided by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Great Lakes Commission Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup program. The grant is for a little more than $2,000, according to Frei.
“The river is not important just to Owosso, but to Corunna as well. It runs through so many of our communities,” Frei said. “It's a recreational asset, and I feel like Owosso and Corunna really developed around the river.”
She added that the cleanup is also important ecologically for the fish in the river.
After the cleanup, there will be a River Celebration at the Owosso Amphitheater. Local bluegrass band Scrambled Eggs will be playing and there will be a free meal provided by Mancino's. Also, a $25 gift certificate to Kroger Food and Pharmacy to the volunteer who has the “most unusual river find.”
Some past winners have found objects ranging from a one-legged Spongebob Squarepants doll to a very large woman's bra over near the Owosso Middle School which “made it even funnier,” said Frei.
FOSR Board Chair Andrea Berry said they are expecting between 100-200 volunteers to show, but anyone is welcome to join. Volunteers are required to fill out a liability waiver, which is available at the cleanup and the FOSR Web site shiawasseeriver.org.
Berry added that volunteers should bring bottled water, sunscreen and bug spray. Trash bags and buckets will be provided, but people are welcome to bring extra.
“It's just a win-win situation. You get the enjoyment of being outside and you will gain an appreciation for the river,” Berry said. “We hope that everyone can come out and clean up our river. It'll be a good time.”
- Contact Michael Peterson at 725-5136 extension 223 or mpetersonarguspress@gmail.com.