PEA RIDGE — Cub Scouts, their siblings and several Boy Scouts scoured the county roadsides around Pea Ridge picking up litter under the watchful eyes of their leaders and parents. The wee Scouts in bright yellow shirts and orange vests bagged the litter to be picked up later by county employees.

The young Scouts, firstthrough fifth-graders, met at the Primary School to receive instructions, gloves, vests and trash bags. Josh Billis, pack leader of Pack 911, told them:

◊Stay off the road.

◊Wear your vest.

◊Wear the gloves.

◊Don’t pick up metal or glass or anything sharp. Call an adult.

“The cleanup for our pack was a huge success,” Billis, also director of the Benton County Office of Emergency Communications,said. “We had an very large turnout and the Scouts did a great job. I would also say that we were also grateful for all the sibling and parent support through the event. We completed the entire length of Harris Road as well as Ryan Road.”

“While we worked on those roads, County Judge Bob Clinard and his administrative staff cleaned the entire stretch of Lee Town Road from Arkansas Highway 94 to Arkansas Highway 72,” Billis added.

Both cleanups were part of the Kiss Every County Road and Bridge Litter Campaign which kicked off Saturday in partnership with Keep America Beautiful and Keep Arkansas Beautiful.

For seven days, from Saturday, March 19, to Saturday, March 26, the County Road Department, in coordination with our Adopta County Road Program, volunteers will be cleaning up litter along more than 1,400 miles of county roads.

According to county officials, they will also “KISS” county bridges cleaning off graffiti and debris. Crews will cut back brush aroundintersections. Since recycling is important to our environment, everything picked up that can be recycled, will be taken to therecycling center.

For more information on how to help, call the Environmental office at 271-1083.

News, Pages 1 on 03/23/2011