Mr. and Mrs. Guy and Rita Blakeman of Atlanta, Michigan, are visiting their daughter, Susan Martin, of Meadowcrest Community. They come south each year for several weeks because of the amount of snow in their area. Guy and Rita walk a lot for their health, and have been shocked over the amount of roadside litter they have seen in Crenshaw County. From the creek below Meadowcrest Apartments to the parking lot at Piggly Wiggly, which is a short distance, they have picked up seven large bags of litter from both sides of Hwy. 331.

Guy and Rita spoke of the litter laws that are strictly enforced in their home town and county. They have an ordinance of 10 cents on each bottle and can. Therefore, you do not see them thrown out.

This energetic couple says they are always amazed at what they find when picking up litter. Guy picked up a Gatorade bottle near the branch close to Piggly Wiggly and it was filled with a snake. Guy thought it was hung in the bottle and he gave the bottle a flip and out popped the snake, crawling, and disappeared in the grass. They are always cautious and watchful, using a stick with a nail on the end for picking up the litter.

Rita made a comment that rings so true: “This is God’s Country and we should keep it clean.”

Litter is a problem in our city and county, and will be until our law enforcement personnel decide to make it a priority to enforce the litter laws that are already on the books.

Hopefully, these visitors from Michigan will inspire others to organize a clean up in their neighborhoods. If it does, please at all costs, use extreme caution for safety, and please make pictures. This writer would like to send them to PALS (Partners Against Littered State).