Page 12 - Nov-Dec 2019 Vol37 No5

TENNESSEE RIVER By Kathleen Gibi
Volunteers Remove 9,400 Pounds
of Trash from Tennessee River

In a kickoff weekend Tennessee Governor Bill Lee declaring Effect Awards presented by Yamaha
celebrating October as October to be ‘Keep the Tennessee River Rightwaters™ included:
‘Keep the Tennessee Beautiful Month.’ City of Knoxville • Adopt a River Mile - Anthony Laurino
River Beautiful Month,’ Vice Mayor Finbarr Saunders and Knox • Conservation - Ijams Nature Center
73 volunteers removed a County Commission Chairman Hugh • Corporation - Waterfront Management
total of 9,400 pounds of Nystrom presented similar proclamations • Standout Youth - Cash ‘The
trash from the Tennessee from Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero
River’s Fort Loudoun and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. Conservation Kid’ Daniels
Lake in Lenoir City and • Keep America/Tennessee Beautiful
Knoxville during river “We’ve got a lot to be proud of with
cleanups. this treasure called the Tennessee River, Affiliate - Keep Bristol Beautiful
and what we’re seeing through KTNRB • Government Department - TDOT’s
Keep the Tennessee Month is that everyone—private citizens,
River Beautiful companies, sponsors, nonprofits, Highway Beautification Office
(KTNRB) hosted the governments, elected officials—are all • Elected Official - Alderman John
events in partnership demonstrating how valuable the river is to
with Living Lands & them,” said Gibi. Stamps of Collierville, TN
Waters, Tennessee • Marina - Hickory Star Resort & Marina
Valley Authority, the Recipients of the 2019 Tennessee Ripple • Beacon - Jake Davis
Tennessee Department of Transportation
(TDOT)’s Highway Beautification Office, Photos by Jeremiah Harris Visit www. KeepTNRiverBeautiful.org/
Keep Tennessee Beautiful, Keep Knoxville upcomingcleanups for information.
Beautiful, and Yamaha Rightwaters™.

Living Lands & Waters brought five
30-foot-long aluminum boats to add to
KTNRB’s 25-foot-long boat. Volunteers
ventured out to various shorelines,
collecting 270 bags of trash (mostly filled
with plastic bottles), 30 tires, 855 pounds
of scrap metal that will be recycled, a
30.5-foot-long concrete dock, and much
more.

In Lenoir City, 30 volunteers removed
5,903 pounds of trash before enjoying a
free lunch sponsored by Calhoun’s at the
Marina at the Riverside restaurant. The
43 volunteers in Knoxville removed 3,497
pounds of trash after enjoying a sponsored
brunch at the Lakeside Tavern, where
KTNRB’s 1st annual Ripple Effect Awards
presented by Yamaha Rightwaters™ were
awarded to nine Tennessee recipients.

“It was a truly inspiring weekend,
with passionate volunteers smiling
the whole time they cleaned the river,
elected officials reading proclamations
for our waterways, and river champion
award recipients getting recognized,”
said Kathleen Gibi, KTNRB Executive
Director.

TDOT Transportation Manager Mike
McClanahan read a proclamation by

12 TPW November/December 2019