Community Cleanup organizers hope Saturday’s event draws a record crowd.

Wednesday, April 25, 2001

Community Cleanup organizers hope Saturday’s event draws a record crowd.

And, with that in mind, they need more people to sign on the volunteer dotted line, said Mike Corn.

"We’ve got several Little League teams involved and other people planning, but the main thing we need are workers, he said.

Corn is helping former city councilman Randy Lilly organize the citywide cleanup, which is set to kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday. Volunteer workers will meet at the riverfront, then fan out across the city to clean up streets, plant flowers, put mulch down in plant boxes, generally spruce up the town, he said.

"If we have enough people, we’ll clean up the whole downtown."

Last year, more than 175 Ironton residents, armed with paint brushes, brooms, work gloves and trash bags, took to the streets to begin what many hope is a cleanup tradition.

Lilly said the program started in 2000 because of the news of businesses closing. He said in order to make the city look better to potential employers looking at Ironton, some city beautification projects were needed.

This year, the group would like to not only work on the projects started last year but expand, he said.

Individuals, civic groups, businesses and others may volunteer time and effort for the cleanup.

To volunteer, call Corn at 533-2676, or "just show up at the riverbank at 9 a.m.," he said.

For more information, contact Lilly at 532-0010 or email at http://irontonvolunteerday@hotmail.com