2018 School Beautification Grant Winners
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(Dalton, GA, September 21, 2018) – Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is pleased to announce the winners of the third annual School Beautification Grants for 2018. The committee for Beautification and Community Greening established the grant program in celebration of National Planting Day, which took place September 8 and is celebrated through the end of October.
Public and private schools in the Dalton, GA and Whitfield County were invited to apply for funding to implement a project related to planting native plants and beautifying the community. Each project aims to improve the visual aspects of the facility or provide an educational opportunity related to plants. The grants range from $250 to $500 which encompassed $83 to each team of one grade.
This year the following five schools were awarded a grant for their National Planting Day project:
1. Coahulla Creek High School: Creating the Captivating Courtyard of Coahulla Creek
2. New Hope Middle School: Georgia Native Plants Beautification Project
3. Park Creek Elementary School: Berry Beautiful
4. Morris Innovative High School: MIHS Pep Club Garden and Picnic Area
5. Dalton Middle School: Team Trees
Projects will be completed by December 3 and each recipient will submit a project summary by December 21 to showcase their work. Visit Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful’s website www.KeepDaltonWhitfieldBeautiful.org or follow them on Facebook to get updates on the progress of these projects.
National Planting Day is celebrated annually by Keep America Beautiful in the fall as an opportunity to encourage volunteers to plant native species restoring ecological balance to the environment while creating greener, more beautiful communities. Learn more about this event at www.kab.org.
24th Annual Conasauga River Watershed Cleanup
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Whitfield County and Murray County residents are invited to participate in the 24th Annual Conasauga Watershed Clean-up event on Saturday, October 27, 2018 to help keep local waterways clean at one of seven locations.
One of the largest local volunteer events in the community the annual Conasauga River Clean-up is hosted in partnership with several local non-profits, businesses, and environmental organizations during United Way’s Make a Difference Day.
Last year 290 volunteers picked up and removed more than 10,000 pounds of garbage from seven locations. “Volunteers that come out and participate are of all ages and walks of life so it is a wonderful opportunity to get to know other people while doing a service for your community.” Said Amelia Atwell, an event participant.
One of the six most biologically diverse freshwater river systems in the United States, the Conasauga River supports 24 endangered species and a dozen other imperiled species, including the Southern Pigtoe mussel and the Conasauga logperch, a fish found nowhere else in the world.
This year’s event takes place concurrently from 9:00 am to noon at seven different sites across both Whitfield and Murray counties. Be a part of the tradition by volunteering at one of the following locations:
1. Conasauga River at Carlton Petty Road bridge
2. Conasauga River at Highway 2 bridge
3. Conasauga River at Lower King’s Bridge and Norton Bridge
4. Holly Creek, Murray County, on the Chattahoochee National Forest
5. Mill Creek tributary in the City of Dalton
6. Coahulla Creek at Prater’s Mill
7. Lakeshore Park in the City of Dalton
Participants are encouraged to arrive early for on-site registration. Volunteers can expect to spend a couple of hours in the morning picking up trash and, depending on the location, removing invasive plants like Chinese privet. Volunteers should wear sturdy shoes or boots, long pants, and long sleeve shirts. Gloves, and trash bags will be provided at each site. T-shirts with this year’s river cleanup logo will be available on a first come first serve basis.
To learn more about the river cleanup call Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful at 706-278-5001 or visit www.KeepDaltonWhitfieldBeautiful.org to download the event flyer with directions to each site. Join and share the event on Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KeepDaltonWhitfieldBeautiful.
Gretchen Lugthart, a long-time organizer of the event stated, “I think we have made some progress regarding people’s attitudes toward trash in this region, but until everyone respects our beautiful streams and rivers enough to dispose of trash properly, then we will have work to do.”
Event sponsors and organizers include: Shaw Industries, J+J Flooring Group, The Nature Conservancy, Rivers Alive, Dalton Utilities, United Way of Northwest Georgia, Dalton State College, Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, Whitfield County Public Works, Conasauga River Alliance, Limestone Valley RC&D, US Forest Service, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, Murray County and Whitfield County Extension, Keep Chatsworth-Murray Beautiful, and Murray County Public Works.
Landfill, Convenience Centers To Be Closed Monday, September 3rd in observance of Labor Day
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Four Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority facilities will be closed on Monday, September 3, 2018 in observance of Memorial Day.
Locations include:
- Old Dixie Landfill & Convenience Center,
- McGaughey Chapel Convenience Center,
- Westside Convenience Center, and the
- M.L. King Convenience Center.
All locations will reopen on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. For more information visit www.DWSWA.org or call 706-277-2545.
Memorial Day Holiday Schedule:
Saturday, September 1, 2018 - All Locations Open - Normal Hours (7am – 3pm)
Monday, September 3, 2018 – All Locations Closed
Tuesday, September 4, 2018 – All Locations Open (7am – 6pm) (Westside Normally Closed)
Wednesday, September 5, 2018 – Resume Normal Operating Days and Hours (McGaughey Chapel Closed)
America Recycles Day Billboard Contest Announced for Fall 2018
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2017's winner, Lily Woodring's Colorful and detailed billboard.
The Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority is pleased to announce the 9th Annual America Recycles Day Billboard Contest for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders attending public or private schools participating in the Target Recycling at School program in Whitfield County.
Students are invited to design a billboard in keeping with the spirit of America Recycles Day, which is celebrated yearly on November 15. The top design out of the three grade levels will be displayed during the month of November on two billboards in Whitfield County.
Schools in Whitfield County eligible to participate include Eastbrook Middle, New Hope Middle, North Whitfield Middle, Valley Point Middle, Westside Middle, Dalton Middle, Northstar School, Crossroads Academy, Christian Heritage School, and Learning Tree School.
During the 2017 contest, Valley Point Middle School 7th grader, Lily Woodring, won first place overall. Her design includes the phrase, “I recycle! Do you?” which was one of the themes of the contest. The artwork is detailed, neat, and very colorful showing recyclables holding hands around the planet.
(See previous winning billboard designs here.)
Themes for this year are, “I want to be recycled!” and “I recycle with Recycling Ben!” First, second, and third place prizes will be given in each of the three grade levels. The grand prize is chosen from the three first-place winners.
The Contest Guide with two versions of the official entry form can be downloaded at www.DWSWA.org. The deadline for entries is October 16, 2017. There is no entry fee, however, an official entry form needs to be included with the artwork. Only artwork submitted directly from a school representative will be accepted. Winners will be announced on October 23.
For more information contact Amy Hartline, Recycling and Education Program Coordinator, at 706-278-5001 or e-mail: ahartline@dwswa.org. To learn more about America Recycles Day visit www.americarecyclesday.org.