Keep Payson Clean celebrates Earth Day picking up trash by Payson Roundup
In only an hour, 18 volunteers cleaned up a storm mess in Star Valley.
By 11:30 a.m., volunteers from the Tonto Apache Tribe and Town of Payson cleaned up all around the Event Center.
Those near Walmart scoured the slopes around the store.
“It’s amazing what we can accomplish together,” said Jesse Barry, the founder of the local movement, Keep Payson Clean.
In all, 150 volunteers on April 20, Earth Day, collected about three tons of trash and recycled about 800 pounds.
“These weights are from Payson Dump and Clean weighing at the drop at the dump and Recyclops being there for the Star Valley site,” said Barry.
Recyclops is a private company that will pick up your recyclable waste for a fee each month.
The mission of KPC is, “Christ-centered, community awareness, personal accountability, and positive progression.”
The group started when Barry decided he needed purpose in his life. After reading the Bible straight through for the first time in his life, he felt energized by Jesus’ admonition to “Go serve.”
His drive has motivated a whole group of younger folks to pick up trash where they see it in Payson.
Out in Star Valley, Raelynee Brownlee (21) and Jax Nelson (19) wore KPC blue shirts as they worked alongside Evelyn Kondo-Cohen (28) and two Forest Service recreation rangers, Ryan Cramer (27) and Aeriel Ang (27).
By 10 a.m., the group broke down the awning and sign-up table in front of a full dumpster.
“It took 18 people an hour to clean up this spot,” said Brownlee.
They planned to head over to the Event Center to see if anything needed more attention.
At the Event Center, volunteers included Tonto Apache Tribal members, employees of the Mazatzal Casino, and town council members.
Vice Mayor Barbara Underwood couldn’t hide her astonishment at how much trash hid in the forest around the Event Center.
“There were bottles, so many bottles,” she said. “And all the metal food cans – so old.”
She noticed a small boy decided to pick up each tiny piece.
Higgins said it was a great turnout.
Scott Flake, called it a “massive well-coordinated effort.”
Tribal members showed off an air soft gun they found in the forest.
“When we found it, we called the police immediately,” they said because it looked so real.
Elle Waterman, an employee at the casino said a lot of them came to help.
Local rancher Cassie Lyman brought her son Haskin to help clean up.
“As ranchers, we see trash in the forest all the time,” she said.
She appreciated the community’s commitment to keeping it clean.
Volunteers also included families from Rim Country Middle School and Payson High School.
“They sent out a notice to all of us,” said Heather Benefield, mother of Haleigh and Mae.
She and her husband Chuck, a Banner Payson employee, brought the kids out to spend some quality family time cleaning up around the Event Center.
They couldn’t believe all the glass, either.
“It’s all broken into shards in a lot of places,” said Heather.
They relaxed in the large Rumsey Ramada after the event waiting for the donated lunch.
“All the Mexican restaurants in town donated,” said Barry.
That included El Rancho, El Rodeo, La Sierra, Alfonsos, and Alibertos. Volunteers noshed on chimichangas, burritos, fajitas, beans, rice, chips, and salsa, while a local musician strummed his guitar.
“The world around us is so beautiful, let’s keep it that way. I feel very fulfilled… after all the cleanup that got done, and it makes me very excited to see the difference after our Saturday event,” said Barry.
Keep Payson Clean has a Facebook page to announce its events. As the weather heats up, the organization plans on more clean up events.
