ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 4, 1996 TAG: 9604040042
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER
Trashing Pulaski has become a major problem for the town in recent years.
Indiscriminate littering and vandalism have curtailed the placement of flowers along Pulaski's Main Street in its downtown business section, caused Pulaski County to close the Draper Mountain Wayside and Overlook atop Draper's Mountain leading into the town on U.S. 11, and otherwise tarnished Pulaski's image.
The town hopes to spruce up that image later this month.
Pulaski Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to declare April "Spruce Up the Town" month. Part of that will be using volunteers from civic groups, churches and elsewhere in cleanup efforts on two Saturdays, April 20 and 27, to build on earlier efforts by the town's beautification committee.
The scheduling coincides with state recognition of April as "Operation Spruce Up" seeking ways to encourage good stewardship of Virginia's natural and historic resources.
The Saturday volunteers will pick up and dispose of litter where indiscriminate dumping has occurred. Some citizens believe efforts should go further.
"Enforce the littering law. If the ordinance is not strong enough, then it should be strengthened," citizen Gilbert Barker said in a letter to Town Council.
Barker also suggested publishing trash pickups by the Public Service Authority as well as separate pickups for items such as tires, appliances and brush; publishing the names of people violating litter regulations; and emphasizing the importance of a clean and attractive community to attract more industry and jobs.
Bettye Steger, chairwoman of council's Ordinance Committee, said litter regulations will be studied when it meets again. Councilwoman Alma Holston suggested looking into the possibility of using county prisoners in cleanup work.
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