People along the river in South Point may have noticed a crew, hard at work, traveling along the riverbanks over the last week.

Living Lands and Waters, a nonprofit, based in Illinois, is in the region with its “garbage barge” and others from its fleet.

The group is taking volunteers along the banks of the Ohio on both the Ohio and Kentucky side, picking up trash such as tires, plastic containers and other items, which are then taken to the barge for recycling.

They wrapped up a series of clean-ups in South Point on Saturday and are now set to do work in Ironton beginning this weekend.

These will take place at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 9-10 and 16-17, and at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11 and 18.

Those who are interested in joining the effort and volunteering can visit the group’s website at www.livinglandsandwaters.org and click on the ‘volunteer’ tab, where there is a section for community river clean ups and registration. They can also contact the group at 309-236-0728.

We encourage everyone who is able to get out there and join this group in their work, which helps to ensure a clean river and community for all.