Byhalia cleanup day a success

The Town of Byhalia held its first cleanup day in about four years on Saturday, April 10.

By all accounts it was a success with about 40 volunteers pitching in to pick up over 50 bags of trash and some large scrap items as well, according to Taylor Dickerson, marketing and events coordinator with the Byhalia Area Chamber Main Street.

The downtown area was covered all the way down Church Street and in areas around the Byhalia School Commons, the walking park and Fuller Street. A section from Highway 178 at Highway 309, all the way up to the Byhalia High School was also cleaned up.

Volunteers ages six to 80 turned out for the spirit-lifting event.

Trash pick-up days are expected to be held twice a year, in spring and in fall.

An Adopt-A-Block program will be created, Dickerson said. Groups will adopt a section or street in Byhalia to maintain. Organizations can sign up through the Chamber and will receive a Cleanup Kit with instructions and materials needed to maintain their areas.

Chamber executive director Sarah Sawyer said the town and Main Street Byhalia have been working a “long time to plant the seeds about beautification.”

“We were pleased to see the enthusiastic volunteers this year,” she said.

Some years volunteers are more enthusiastic about cleanups than others, she said.

“The cleanup we did April 10 was just

great,” Sawyer said. “Kids volunteered and there was community pride and all that.

“This is just part of taking pride and campaigning. We would love to extend it out to the county – a big county with 700 miles of road.”

The million dollar question is how to educate people not to throw out trash, Sawyer said.

“We’ve done education to make an impact on the kids. We’re just trying,” she said.

Telesa Wright, whose heart is in Byhalia, said it “feels good to give back.” She was inspired by Faye Woods, an octogenarian, who was her partner in the picking up.

“My favorite part was being out with Ms. Faye,” Wright said. “She’s an inspiration on how much she loves the community. She’s not just talking the talk. We should all be inspired to do that and to keep it clean.”

Wright’s grandmother, Shirley Smith, who lives on Oak Street, taught her to keep things clean when she was growing up.

“She’s really big on keeping things clean,” she said.

Wright would like to see more people adopting a street and keeping it clean on a regular basis – to take more pride in the neighborhoods.

She thinks people need to make a conscious effort to keep trash picked up. Education is what it will require, she said. People could easily keep a baggie in their vehicle and throw it in the trash at home.

“A lot of times it’s convenience,” Wright said. “Everybody enjoys beauty so help create beauty and keep it beautiful.”

Teri Reagh, vice president of the PTO at Byhalia High School, said her biggest thrill was the turnout of people associated with the school.

“I was very excited to see all the high school ­ the coaches, the principal and the students,” she said.

That group picked up trash along Highway 309 North from Highway 178 to the school and then on to Bubba Taylor Road. They also picked up along some of the side streets, she said.

“It was huge to show up and see all these people and to see the kids,” she said. “We need to get the kids more excited. It was amazing to see the number of high school kids who showed up.”