Tomorrow Friends of Boley will hold their annual cleanup event.
For the past several years the organization has held annual cleanup events along the West Hobolochitto Creek in an effort to preserve its beauty. The idea of the cleanup is just to remove trash from the creek, not vegetation or to disturb the creek in a negative way, Friends of Boley president Keith Kingrey said.
“We’re here to help preserve the beauty of the creek,” Kingrey said.
Saturday they will hold another cleanup event so long as the weather holds out. Even if only a drizzle falls, boats will hit the water. However, weather forecasts for Saturday call for sunny skies with highs in the mid 70s.
If heavy rains do fall, then the event will be pushed back a week.
The cleanup will begin at Long Bridge on Beech Street, and end at the Burnt Bridge boat launch.
Volunteers should show up at Long Bridge early to complete registration. Boats will begin to be put in the water at 8 a.m. Volunteers will be treated to coffee and donuts in the morning by the Civic Women’s Club.
Before volunteers hit the water a safety briefing will be held. Additionally, local EMS personnel will be on hand to take care of any medical emergencies, Kingrey said.
At the end of the cleanup all volunteers will receive a free t-shirt from Renew Our Rivers, which is a partnership by Mississippi Power and Coast Electric, Kingrey said. Lunch will be provided by Sho-Nuff Barbecue through a sponsorship from Coast Electric.
Volunteers can bring their own small watercraft, or borrow one of the many canoes that will be available on site.
Kingrey expects the trip down the creek to take about four hours.
Last year’s event collected close to two tons of trash from the creek.