Rick Simmons - "I have said it many times, community unity works!"
Guyandotte resident, Rick Simmons, reminds us that there are five days remaining until the Saturday, April 4th, Guyandotte semi-annual cleanup day, which someone nicknamed the Guyandotte "Shine Time." The staging area will be at the Guyandotte United Methodist Church at 305 Main Street in Guyandotte. A Hot Dog sale will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rick, reports that the City of Huntington is supplying dumpsters, Goodwill Industries will have a truck on-site, and another truck will be available for collecting and disposing of used tires. In addition, the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) will be on hand with gloves and bags. St. Mary's Medical Center has loaned litter-pickup sticks for use in the cleanup.
One of the many phone calls Richard received about the neighborhood’s scheduled cleanup came from Ms. Connie Miller. She asked if the cleanup would include her neighborhood. She said, “Old tires are everywhere, litter is blowing in the streets and old couches have been dumped right in front of some residences." She reported that three illegal dumps are active where she lives.
Her call for help struck home with Rick. “When Connie told me that the area she was seeking help with is Bellevue Road, which connects and runs into Hilltop Drive, I almost dropped the phone. It instantly brought back old memories of my youth.” Hw continued, “Although my dad worked very hard, my siblings and I grew up in extreme poverty. We lived in a three-room shack on Bellevue Road. We paid forty dollars a month for the little shack that we called home for fifteen years. Year after year, his family and the other residents on "The Hill" felt they had long been forgotten by the city government.” It hit Simmons that he could show the folks on “The Hill” that “there are folks who do care.” He called his friend Jay Bowen, and they immediately drove to the neighborhood to determine the extent of the “mess.”
“It wasn't the worst Jay and I had ever seen, but it was close.” Rich said. “We located the illegal dumps and called the City of Huntington for assistance. We requested that the City install warning signs to illegal dumpers. Within two days they were up and in place.”
On Saturday April 4th, Hilltop and Bellevue Road will get a major makeover. “We have passed out fliers to all the residents there and have asked them to put their unwanted large throw-away items in front of their residence; we have organized a group of volunteers with pick-up trucks to take the heavy loads to the dumpsters located at the church. We counted roughly 300-old tires; we will move them to the church staging area; there the tires will be transferred to a large truck. They will be hauled away for proper disposal. We will give special attention to eliminating the illegal dumps.” Simmons said.
“All of this will be accomplished by community volunteers for the benefit of the “forgotten” residents of the Hilltop Drive area and the other areas of the Guyandotte neighborhood. I have said it a thousand times, community unity works, Simmons added.
One of the many phone calls Richard received about the neighborhood’s scheduled cleanup came from Ms. Connie Miller. She asked if the cleanup would include her neighborhood. She said, “Old tires are everywhere, litter is blowing in the streets and old couches have been dumped right in front of some residences." She reported that three illegal dumps are active where she lives.
Her call for help struck home with Rick. “When Connie told me that the area she was seeking help with is Bellevue Road, which connects and runs into Hilltop Drive, I almost dropped the phone. It instantly brought back old memories of my youth.” Hw continued, “Although my dad worked very hard, my siblings and I grew up in extreme poverty. We lived in a three-room shack on Bellevue Road. We paid forty dollars a month for the little shack that we called home for fifteen years. Year after year, his family and the other residents on "The Hill" felt they had long been forgotten by the city government.” It hit Simmons that he could show the folks on “The Hill” that “there are folks who do care.” He called his friend Jay Bowen, and they immediately drove to the neighborhood to determine the extent of the “mess.”
“It wasn't the worst Jay and I had ever seen, but it was close.” Rich said. “We located the illegal dumps and called the City of Huntington for assistance. We requested that the City install warning signs to illegal dumpers. Within two days they were up and in place.”
On Saturday April 4th, Hilltop and Bellevue Road will get a major makeover. “We have passed out fliers to all the residents there and have asked them to put their unwanted large throw-away items in front of their residence; we have organized a group of volunteers with pick-up trucks to take the heavy loads to the dumpsters located at the church. We counted roughly 300-old tires; we will move them to the church staging area; there the tires will be transferred to a large truck. They will be hauled away for proper disposal. We will give special attention to eliminating the illegal dumps.” Simmons said.
“All of this will be accomplished by community volunteers for the benefit of the “forgotten” residents of the Hilltop Drive area and the other areas of the Guyandotte neighborhood. I have said it a thousand times, community unity works, Simmons added.
posted C. Richard Cobb, Sr. @5:29 PM 
