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As County Judge of Baxter County, I am pleased to recognize the huge success of the fall campaign, Keep Baxter County Beautiful, as we joined the State initiative for Keeping Arkansas Beautiful.
Keep Arkansas Beautiful – Baxter County – The Fall Outdoor Clean-up Season spearheaded by Juvenile Officer Cristi Koffler, Baxter County Community Service Program.
Saturday, Oct.1, 2022 was a great day in Baxter County, Arkansas with children, teenagers, and adults working side by side to aid in beautifying our community. There were over 80 volunteers and participants who assisted in making this day a huge success. We had parents with their children, Key Club members, National Honor Society Students, Boy Scouts and parents, ASUMH students, “just because” student volunteers, county officials and court kids. It was a good representation among all citizens volunteering to make this happen.
Stan Risley, supervisor with ARDOT, Baxter County assisted in identifying the roadside areas that needed the most attention and supplied signs to set up along the roads to alert drivers of the work being done. Baxter County Sherriff’s Officers, Lieutenant Lee Sanders and Reserve Deputy Mike Rogers; Baxter County Office of Emergency Management Director David Stults, Baxter County Safety Coordinator Joe Quinn and Baxter County 911 Coordinator Mike Shetrompf assisted by following the volunteers with lights flashing to keep the workers safe.
The local mayors of the municipalities in Baxter County contributed by identifying tasks that were instrumental in beautifying their respective towns, for instance,
- Cotter Mayor Mac Caradine provided paint for the Cotter City Park and baseball field posts to be painted.
- The City of Mountain Home had two teams that picked up cigarette butts and trash at identified locations. In four hours over 8,000 cigarette butts were collected.
Highways included: 178 from Lakeview to Midway; HW 126 from Gassville to Midway; HW 5 North to Midway; HW 5 South within the city limits; HW 62 from Gassville to Casey’s store toward Mountain Home; and West Road from Mountain Home toward 126.
There were nine teams canvassing our county to contribute to Make Baxter County Beautiful.
The following contributed to the end of day cookout held at the Cotter Park and Pavilion:
- Town and Country Discount Foods
- Central Heating and Air
- Supply Solutions – Mountain Valley Water
- Air Evac
- Sally & Cole Ezell
- Ultimate Jeep
- Harps
Briarcliff Mayor Keith Lewis announced they will be participating in this endeavor the week of Oct 10th – 15th.
Another workday is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29 to pick up trash along the bypass to conclude our fall clean-up session.
We want to encourage all citizens to keep the spirit of community beautification going all year.
