‘A better place to live:’ Students get head start on Logan Martin Lake cleanup
Published 12:19 am Sunday, April 9, 2017
- The winning 2016-2017 Eden Elementary School yearbook cover is pictured, selected by popular vote. Photo courtesy Laurie Funderburg.
Thanks to the 2017 Renew Our Rivers Logan Martin Lake Cleanup, over five tons of trash was collected, according to Mike Riley, Logan Martin Lake Protection Association (LMLPA) chairman of the Lake Cleanup.
Logan Martin Lake is a reservoir built in 1965 by Alabama Power, who coordinated the cleanup along with the LMLPA.
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Volunteers came from throughout St. Clair, as well as Calhoun, Jefferson and Talladega counties—joining together to help with the effort March 25 to April 1.
However, the annual event got an unofficial day’s head start thanks to the Nature Club at Eden Elementary School in Pell City.
“I am proud of our students and that they’re helping out the community,” said Eden Elementary Principal Laurie Funderburg.
Eden Elementary School’s Nature Club gathered March 24, the Friday morning before their spring break, to help clean Logan Martin Lake. The students then enjoyed the afternoon at Wolf Creek farm, while learning about farm life from the Bowman family.
“I liked seeing the fish and knowing that cleaning up the trash was making the water cleaner—and a better place for them to live,” said student Bella Kate.
This is the third year that Eden’s Nature Club has participated in the Renew our Rivers program. Students learned firsthand the importance of not littering and the negative effects it has on the environment.
“We helped the environment. We did a good thing,” said student Hayden Whitten.
Riley was in attendance on behalf of the LMLPA, providing trash bags and instructions to the group.
“Everything that’s not collected would end up in the lake,” said Riley to the students, while motioning towards the garbage gathered that morning.
Tammy Whitten and Shirley Skeivelas sponsor Eden’s Nature Club throughout the year.
”We are so proud of our students—they are learning to care for the environment and we hope this practice continues into their adult life,” remarked Skeivelas.
The next Saturday on April 1, the official cleanup concluded with a picnic at Lakeside Park for all volunteers, including a performance by local musician Steve Shafer.
The 2018 Renew Our Rivers Logan Martin Lake Cleanup is planned for March 17-24.
For more information on the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association (LMLPA), visit their website here.
For more information on Renew Our Rivers click here or contact Mike Clelland at MBCLELLA@southernco.com.
