(Johnson City, Texas) – When looking in and around our local waterways, residents notice beautiful landscapes, lively creatures, and, unfortunately, litter.  

RIVER DAY hopes to change that as we invite area residents to join our members in eradicating litter and debris out of Texas waters as part of the  Pedernales River clean up on April 21, 2007.  

River Day expects up to 100 volunteers to help improve local water quality, restore natural beauty, and reduce potential threats to human health and wildlife – in short, pick up trash! Litter blocks storm drains, reduces property values and aesthetic appeal, and injures thousands of animals through ingestion or entanglement each year. With the help of cleanups and great public participation to prevent litter, that can change in our community.

Laura Turner, this year’s River Day Committee chair, says “This is our second annual event by the Pedernales River.  We had such a good time last year that we think it’ll be twice as much fun this year.  There will be prizes for the biggest piece of garbage hauled in, the most garbage collected, and activities and freebies for kids.  The event begins at 8:30 Saturday morning, April 21, with a flag ceremony, and will end with an enthusiastic cheer at noon.  Ten Foot Rooster promises to come play in the shade of the trees by the river.   It’s going to be fun.  Y’all all come.

RIVER DAY is supported by the Lake and River Cleanup Program, a partnership between Keep Texas Beautiful and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  The program assists community organizations, scout and youth groups, schools, local governments, businesses, and concerned citizens across the state as they host waterway cleanups and environmental education activities. The program supports cleanups of all inland freshwater areas, including streams, creeks, ponds, and wetlands, as well as water education activities.

RIVER DAY is locally sponsored and/or endorsed by the Johnson City City Council, IESI, the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce, the Johnson City Townscape Taskforce, the Johnson City Community League, LBJ Middle School and the LBJ MS Pride Club, the Rotary Club,  the Johnson City Public Housing Authority, Girl Scouts – Wildflower Trails Service Unit, Blanco County Master Gardeners, Ten Foot Rooster, Absolute Tax, Inc, Johnson City Recycling, Emancipet, and individuals Camille Borgeson, Levi Deike, www.HillCountryPortal.com  and other caring citizens.  Contributions to help pay for the portable toilets and drinking water can made to River Day at Cattleman’s National Bank in Johnson City -  ask for Camille. All contributions are badly needed and very welcome!  

The Committee’s final organizational meeting for this year will take place by the river, next to the river bridge, on Friday, April 20, at noon.  Anyone interested in helping with the last minute details is welcome to join in – please bring a picnic lunch and a chair to sit on. 

2007 Committee members include Laura Turner, Camille Borgeson, Bonnie Mingle, Pamela Brace, Sherry Justus, Julia McCullough, Julie Storer, Darlene Young, and Teresa Evan. 

For more information on RIVER DAY, please call:
Laura Turner at 830-868-9001, Email: absolutetax@yahoo.com

PS, Please click on Thank You! for results of our 2007 Event.

Click on image to enlarge.