4/2/2007 8:33:00 AM Cleanup effort under way in Rocky Fork area Community Alliance president counting on residents to exhibit pride in community
The Highland County Board of Commissioners last week declared the month of April as Clean-Up, Fix-Up and Pick-Up Month. The initiative was established by the Rocky Fork Lake Community Alliance in an effort to assist with improvements of the residential and lake area. Pictured are: (back row, l-r) Paint Township Trustee Randy Mustard, Marshall Township Trustee Tim Sheeley, Highland County Recycling Director Dori Bishop, RFL Community Alliance Treasurer Margie Brunner and RFL Community Alliance President Dan Cowdrey; (front row, l-r) Highland County commissioners Gary Heaton, Mike Rector and Rich Graves.
By GARY ABERNATHY The Times-Gazette
The cold, snow and ice of late January through early March may have turned the Rocky Fork Lake region into a picturesque winter wonderland, but it also left behind damage and debris that lake volunteers are now ready to tackle.
Last week, the Highland County commissioners declared April "Clean Up, Fix Up and Paint Up" month for Paint Township and the Rocky Fork Lake area, and members of various lake associations are asking residents to get involved in sprucing up the area now that the snow has melted and the temperatures are warming.
Lake organizations like the Rocky Fork Community Alliance and the Rocky Fork Homeowners Association are combining forces to urge neighbors to help clean up debris, fix damaged structures and otherwise restore the lake to its usual warm weather beauty.
"Our motto is 'Don't pass it up, pick it up,'" said Earl Hughes, vice president of the Community Alliance.
The ice storms that struck the area in February left a particularly large amount of damage around the lake area because of the preponderance of trees and plants surrounding the waterways.
Countless tree limbs were felled by the heavy ice, and other trash and debris long hidden by snow and ice are now visible and scattered across yards, fields, parking lots and beaches.
State park officials offer several suggestions for lake area residents and visitors to keep Rocky Fork beautiful and maintain its attractive appearance throughout the summer, including:
• Keep small disposable bags handy - in the car, with luggage, and among camping or picnic gear. Use these to stash trash and recyclables until finding a trash or recycling bin.
• Secure outdoor trash and recycling bins to keep wind and animals from spreading discards around the neighborhood.
• Set a civic-minded tone by refusing to litter, and pick up and properly discard some of the litter that may be encountered.
Ohio laws are strict in regard to lake area littering. Boaters are subject to fines for littering on the lakes, and even for failing to retrieve litter which accidentally falls from watercraft. Likewise, dumping oil, human waste or the remains of dead animals is punishable under the law.
As the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Web site warns, "You can litter without knowing it. The loose receipt that falls from your grasp - or the empty box that blows from the bed of your truck - is litter. Whether you intended it or not, it contributes to the degradation of your surroundings, and Ohio's litter laws make no exceptions for accidents."
Hughes is counting on lake residents to exhibit the pride in their community to make Rocky Fork more beautiful than ever. Community activists will be distributing information around the lake about the spring cleanup drive, and both businesses and residents will be called upon to clean up their properties, repair damaged structures, and add a coat of paint to a worn or rusted barn or storage bin.
"With neighbors working together, we'll get it done," said Hughes.
Reader Comments
Posted: Saturday, June 28, 2008
Article comment by:
Patricia L Cordy
We are greatfull for the clean up project in the Rocky Fork area. However some of the residents in the Rocky Fork area are concerned about the weather. There is no way of warning us if there was a tornado in are area. We also would like to know if there was a tornado where would we take cover. So what we would like to know is how could we get a tornado siren and a few storm shelters in are area and what can we do to make this happen for the residence of the Rocky Fork area. So not only should we keep the area clean. we should also keep it safe for the residence and the visitors.
