Hockey Team Sparks Drive Against Litter

by Amanda Compton-Ortiz (courtesy of The Commercial Appeal)

Sporting brightly colored reflective safety vests and with garbage bags and sticks in hand, more than 30 devoted staffers and fans of the Mississippi RiverKings hockey team set out SSporting brightly colored reflective aturday to clean up the neighborhood.

"It's good to see this many community-minded people come out and support this effort; it shows they care about how their highways look ...," said RiverKings media coordinator Bob Bakken. "Roadways are the front door to any community. If they look good or bad, that reflects on the community."

Walking a one-mile stretch along U.S. Highway 51 between Church and Star Landing roads, participants took part in a continuing effort to keep the highway clean and free of litter.

The section of road is the Central Hockey League team's adopted highway under the Mississippi Department of Transportation's Adopt-A-Highway program, which allows Mississippi residents, businesses and organizations the opportunity to become involved in the preservation of the state's natural beauty.

According to online information from Adopt-A-Highway America, roadside litter is an ongoing problem that costs Mississippians more than $2 million annually.

Ab Mattice, director of business operations for the RiverKings, said the organization has undertaken the project for the last six years, with cleanups like Saturday's held twice a year.

"We love doing this. It's a way for all of us to give back to our community," Mattice said. "And we're very happy with the turnout this year. It's one of the best we've had."

Members of Keep Horn Lake Beautiful and Horn Lake High School's Beta Club made up the majority of cleanup participants.

"We made a commitment to do this last year," said Leon Martin, vice chairman of Keep Horn Lake Beautiful.

"This is just an extension of what we do to show our support for this organization and for our community."

The event, which was originally scheduled for May 1, was delayed due to rainy weather.

Those who helped out Saturday were invited for coffee and doughnuts at the DeSoto Civic Center before starting the litter pickup shortly after 8 a.m., and afterwards, a noon grill-out.