VOLUNTEERS TO CLEAN UP OHIO RIVER SATURDAY

The news gets better each year for volunteers in the annual Ohio River Sweep.

More than 23,000 volunteers in six states participated in last year's riverbank cleanup, which produced about 9,000 tons of trash. Two years ago, it was 11,000 tons of trash.

The good news is these totals are less than what was found three years ago.

Volunteers are not finding as much litter as in past years, say Elizabeth Thornton and Rhonda Barnes, of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, a sponsor the annual event.

Over the years, coordinators say, they see less litter along the 981 miles of the river from near Pittsburgh to Cairo, Ill., where the river empties into the Mississippi River.

This reflects more public awareness of the importance of rivers, said Jeanne Ison, river sweep project coordinator. People have cleaned up their act, keeping the areas cleaner, not only for recreation and scenic enjoyment, but as habitat for fish and other aquatic life, and as a source of clean drinking water.

Everything from refrigerators to car bodies, and from batteries to plastic cups have been removed from the riverbanks.

Volunteers for the annual river cleanup range in age from toddlers to senior citizens and include such groups as Boys and Girls Clubs, Scout groups, Senior Citizen groups and others. This year's event will be held Saturday.

The Ohio River Sweep has been successful in Illinois. Hundreds of volunteers turn out annually to clear the banks along the 133 miles of Ohio River that touches six counties.

Saturday's sweeps will get under way between 8 and 9 a.m. all along the river. People in Illinois' Pulaski County are urged to show up between 8:30 and 9 a.m. along the levee at Mound City, near Crane Enterprise. Sam Johnson, mayor of Mound City, is coordinator in Pulaski County.

One the largest volunteer groups will be at Metropolis, Ill., where more than 250 volunteers are expected. Terry Johnson is Massac County coordinator.

Bob and Carolyn Mayberry of Cairo are Alexander County coordinators. The group will meet at the Eighth Street levee in Cairo and will conclude at Fort Defiance Park where the Ohio merges with the Mississippi.

The annual river sweep translates into more than 2,700 miles of shoreline -- both sides of the river, along with the Allegheny, Monongahela, Beaver and Kentucky feeder rivers.

Sweep organizers have toured sections of the river by barge in recent days. a lot of "people trash," cans, jugs, plastic bottles, small stuff was noted, but not much big stuff -- cars, refrigerators, etc.

The river sweep started in 1989, with volunteers turning out to pick up trash at some of the more littered spots between Ashland, Ky., and Cincinnati, Ohio. It has grown to cover both shorelines along the entire length of the river and many of the river's feeder streams.

Volunteer teams and county coordinators have planned this year's cleanup. Illinois volunteers are ready along the river at Cairo, Mound City, Olmsted, Brookport and Metropolis.

Gathering spots and drop-off points have been established.

Volunteers will receive a river sweep T-shirt.