Over the past three decades, more people than live in Jefferson City have banded together through a single program to make our highways more beautiful.
On the 30th anniversary of Missouri's Adopt-a-Highway program, we commend the estimated 50,000 volunteers who have taken time to pick up trash and keep the Show-Me State clean. They've adopted more than 6,200 miles of roadway.
Their efforts have saved taxpayers more than $1 million in clean-up costs, mostly through litter pick-up and mowing.
Each group adopts a stretch of road between a half mile and two miles long.
Last week, a local ceremony marked the milestone, as well as the 15th anniversary of the No MOre Trash! program.
Gerardo Cornejo, owner of Downtown Realty, picks up trash with his family and employees on the stretch of U.S. 50/63 between Missouri Boulevard and Monroe Street.
"We meet on Saturdays, and it takes us about one to two hours to clean up this stretch," Cornejo said in a Friday News Tribune story. "The best part of our cleanups are the people we run into along the way. We always have people that stop and ask if they can help. The people of this town are truly proud of their community, and this is a great way for them to get involved."
Most people involved do it through not-for-profit organizations or through their workplace.
Mary Jane Ordway, however, adopts a portion of Route J from the U.S. 50/63 overpass to Osage City in memory of her son, Jordan Ordway, who died in a car crash in 2006. For her, it's a way to remember Jordan's legacy. "I think Jordan would be proud that we are putting it out there on how we feel about trash," she said.
The ceremony last week also honored the annual No MOre Trash! Bash, which is celebrating its 15th year and cleans up more than roadsides.
It takes place every spring. Adopt-A-Highway groups pick up during this month, as well as Department of Conservation Stream Team groups that remove trash from rivers and creeks, and others.
Last year, more than 50,400 bags of litter and many truckloads of debris were collected statewide during the bash.
We commend MoDOT and the Missouri Department of Conservation for their administration of the program, and especially the volunteers who make it work.
It's the civic-minded people involved in the program who spend their own valuable time for the betterment of our communities.