Highway cleanup happening this Saturday

By Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter

Each year in May, youth volunteers throughout Wheatland County and across the province do their part to help clean up Alberta’s highways.
This year, the annual highway cleanup takes place this Saturday, May 5.
Many 4-H clubs from Strathmore, Rockyford, Standard, Hussar and Cheadle, and other not-for-profit children’s clubs throughout Strathmore and Wheatland County, will be spending Saturday in the ditches, picking up garbage and cans to help clean up Alberta’s roadways as part of the Government of Alberta’s annual highway cleanup program.
Participants must be at least nine years of age and all participants are provided with all necessary materials including safety manuals, safety vests and garbage bags.
Although safety materials will be provided to the participants, and children must go through a safety manual before cleaning the highway, part of the child’s safety may boil down to the driver’s responsibility to slow down while passing cleanup crews.
Each club is designated a specific section of highway that must be cleaned up on both sides (excluding the median on divided highways) for the total number of kilometres designated.
All sections of highway being cleaned will be marked with temporary road signs facing both directions marking that highway cleanup is underway. All clubs will also run a pilot truck just ahead of the participants with highway cleanup signs on and flashers on to warn approaching drivers cleanup is happening in that area.
However, several 4-H parents noted that drivers slowing down while passing is the key to safety.
“People are way better nowadays; people slow down and recognize kids are out there cleaning the highway,” said Michelle Lalonde, key leader in the Wheatland district with the 4-H Foundation of Alberta.