WestCare

Working to change lake’s trashy reputation
By Russ Cassady
Staff Writer
Appalachian News-Express
June 11, 2008

County officials are calling this past weekend’s Friends of Fishtrap annual cleanup a success, but say they’re looking for more next year.

Pike County Deputy Judge-Executive John Doug Hays said Monday that 114 volunteers signed in to participate in the cleanup on Sunday, which resulted in four tons of trash being cleaned up around the lake area.

That number, he said, only takes into account the man-made trash picked up at the lake, which includes two water heaters, two refrigerators and several tires.

One of the most effective groups at the cleanup, according to Hays, was a 14-member group from Westcare of Kentucky, the rehabilitation center located at Elkhorn Creek.

“They picked up, themselves, approximately 3,000 pounds of garbage,” Hays said. “We appreciate so much their help.”

The Pike County Detention Center also had a crew at the cleanup, Hays said, which was responsible for picking up about 800 pounds of trash.

However, Hays said there was an absence of civic groups and organized groups like boy and girl scouts working at the cleanup.

“I noticed a lack of that,” he said. “We did good this year ... but we’ve got to get our community involved because 114 people just won’t cut it.”

Planning will begin soon for next year’s event, at which Hays said he would like to see some changes.

The cleanup is led by the Friends of Fishtrap group, of which Darlene Thacker is president, Hays said, but the county government lent its assistance this year on an organizational level.

Hays said all participants were entered into a prize drawing for items donated by local businesses, but he would like to see more money prizes awarded next year.

“But, it’s not about the prizes,” he said. “It’s about cleaning up our environment. (Fishtrap) ought to be something we’re proud of.”

Another addition Hays said he wants to see next year is more boaters cleaning up on the lake, some of which occurred this year.

Hays said any civic groups interested in participating next year can contact him and be placed on a list. He said he would like to see something like the groups buying a trophy that would be passed each year to the group that picks up the most trash.

Pike Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford said whatever happens with the cleanup, it’s important.

“We just want to get it cleaned up,” he said, mentioning the “garbage lake” label the body of water has received over the years. “We’re going to make it Fishtrap again.”

WestCare is a 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Organization