Second storm cleanup day set next weekend

December 5, 2010

By BRIAN HAWKINS
sdneditor@bellsouth.net

They lifted, heaved, dragged, cut and raked.
Many of them got covered in sawdust and in pine tree sap while they were doing it, sharing many a laugh with one another as they worked.
But after several hours on Saturday, about three dozen volunteers had made a considerable dent in clearing the amount of debris from Monday’s tornado that remains to be cleared from The Pines Mobile Home Park.
“We were able to accomplish a lot today and help these folks out,” said Geri Jones, a member of the Starkville High School Class of 1975 who helped organized a community work day at The Pines to help in the recovery effort. “There’s still a lot to be done.”
Several industrial-size rubbish trailers and numerous other trailers were filled with tree limbs and debris before the volunteers called it a day on Saturday, leaving at least one street in The Pines considerably cleaner than before.
However, much remains to be done, so Jones and her classmates are already planning a second community work day at The Pines for this coming Saturday. Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the continued cleanup is asked to meet by office building at The Pines at 10 a.m. Dec. 11. Volunteers should bring work gloves, and, if possible, protective eyewear.
Those with rakes, shovels, chainsaws and garbage bags are asked to participate. Much tree and other vegetative debris still needs to be cleared and removed, and, pending approval of the mobile home park’s management, the remains of damaged or destroyed mobile homes may start being cleared, Jones said.
Should inclement weather occur this Saturday, the work day will be rescheduled for another date, Jones said.
“We thank everyone for their continued support,” Jones said.
For more information about next weekend’s work day at The Pines, contact Jones by e-mail at gerip_jones42409@yahoo.com or by phone at (662) 617-3659.