Krista Corner
Havre Daily News
kcorner@havredailynews.com
Spring is in the air, and as many residents emerge from their basement and attic cleaning, the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, the downtown businesses, and Mayor Bob Rice are encouraging residents to clean up yard and street trash, and take pride in their neighborhood.
Saturday is Havre Pride Day, the annual spring-cleaning effort held across town.
Local Realtor Kim Cripps said the cleanup started 12 years ago. She said some downtown business owners recognized a trash problem in the area and decided to do something about it. She said the project grew bigger with each passing year to include city-wide business owners and land owners. She encourages residents to clean up yards as well.
“This is not just for street trash,” she said. “Please come and fill up the Dumpsters.”
Rice added that nice weather should encourage residents to participate. Cripps said everyone should eat breakfast, then come out and clean up. The Havre Shriner's club will serve breakfast tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Havre VFW Club.
Cripps added that eight children serving community service time are available to help residents for the day.
“If anyone wants to adopt one of the kids for the day, give me a call,” she said. Her cell number is 265-0905.
Cripps added that it is the hope of participants that Havre residents will pick up trash year-round.
“Every time you see a piece of trash, please bend down and pick it up,” she said this morning.
Havre Area Chamber of Commerce president, Tom Rygg, said he thinks the first impression visitors get is the most important one.
“It's important for the town to look good because it's the first impression,” he said. “We want people to come back because it's clean. People (also) have more pride in their own town when it looks good,” he added.
Rice said he hopes people include the area going out to K-Mart as it is often littered with trash. He said that last year he loaded up a truckload of trash from along U.S. Highway 2 West. This year, Rice will be out with a garbage truck to pick up trash from Havre's residences.
“If you want me to come by and pick (trash) up call me,” Rice said. His cell phone number is 808-6289.
