BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — This past Saturday, volunteers in Inez banded together for the CityWalk Creek Cleanup, removing a mix of debris from the creek and surrounding areas along the CityWalk in Inez.

Tires, cinder blocks, furniture, small appliances, toilet seats, water hoses and large pieces of glass were among the many discarded items pulled from the waterway.

“It was a very successful cleanup,” Inez Commissioner Nita Collier said, reflecting on the event co-hosted by the City of Inez and the Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN).

Madison Mooney, LiKEN community engagement coordinator, noted that volunteers also scoured the creek bank and walked throughout the city picking up any visible litter.

“It was a huge effort,” Mooney said. “I would love to do this event on a regular basis if the community is willing to support it. To keep these cleanups going, we’ll need support from the entire community and a larger pool of volunteers.”

Collier mentioned that, aside from the stream, the city itself was not heavily littered.

“The worst part was cigarette butts,” commented Collier.

As a bonus, the volunteer who discovered the most unusual item during the cleanup will receive a VIP seat to the upcoming Noah Thompson show Friday at the Martin County Harvest Fest. Mooney will announce the winner on Thursday.

Mooney will participate in a Kentucky Waterways Alliance cleanup event on Oct. 5 at Warfield Park and the City of Warfield.