More than one-thousand volunteers across Kentucky are filling up trash bags and hauling away roadside junk during the 13th annual Commonwealth Cleanup Week that begins today.It’s coordinated by the state Division of Waste Management. Spokesperson Ricki Gardenhire says the spring cleanup continues through March 26. "Last year, we had over 1,200 people walk along the roadways and pick up over 6,000 bags of trash, about 1,400 tires, and they cleaned 11 illegal dumps last year. So hopefully we can beat those figures this year," she said.Gardenhire says civic, religious and non-profit groups can visit the division’s website for more information about this week’s cleanup or coordinating their own effort.(Photo courtesy of Kentucky Division of Waste Management)
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.