Joe Manchin III, Governor

Frank Jezioro, Director

News Release : April 18, 2005

Hoy Murphy , Public Information Officer (304) 558-3380 hoymurphy@wvdnr.gov

Contact: Debbie Keener, Supt., Beech Fork State Park (304) 528-5794 parks@westvirginia.com

Great American Cleanup at Beech Fork State Park

Results in Three Tons of Trash Pickup

  More than 100 volunteers picked up about three tons of trash during Beech Fork State Park 's Great American Cleanup event, held April 9 at the Wayne County park. Superintendent Debbie Keener says participants included park supporters and campers, who pitched in to help with the project. The Great American Cleanup is the signature program of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. and is celebrating its 20 th anniversary.

  “Most of the garbage was flood debris from last year, which had washed down Long Branch Creek and into the lake, ending up along the shore and in some open field areas,” said Keener. “The park staff thanks all the volunteers and local businesses who donated equipment to help make our park look a lot better. We also thank the Troy-Built company, which chose Beech Fork as one of 146 cleanup projects nationwide to receive a ‘Shredder Vac' in acknowledgement of our previous cleanup efforts. We're proud to be part of the national call to action for citizens to do something that improves our corner of the world.“

  “The goal of improving the quality of life can be accomplished in Beech Fork State Park ,” said G. Raymond Empson, President of Keep America Beautiful, “and the extraordinary efforts of the Beech Fork State Park Great American Cleanup volunteers provide a very public example of how people working together can improve local environments, thereby creating healthier, cleaner and more beautiful communities for all to enjoy.”

  The Great American Cleanup is one of the many programs of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. that encourages people to care for communities through volunteer participation. Keep America Beautiful, Inc. is a national, nonprofit community improvement and public education organization whose goal is to form community partnerships dedicated to engaging individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. Its partner in West Virginia is the West Virginia Make It Shine program of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. For more information contact Chris Cartwright, WV Make It Shine State Coordinator, at (304) 558-3370.

**DNR**