Coastal Clean-Up
For Immediate Release

Hundreds of Hancock County citizens will participate in the 20th annual International “Coastal Clean-Up” effort on Saturday, October 18th. From 8am – 11pm, local businesses, civic groups and individuals will collect trash from a dozen stretches of Hancock county coastline, then rendezvous for refreshments and fellowship.

Ellis C. Cuevas, veteran chairman of the event, predicted that the number of volunteers will reach or exceed the annual average turn-out of over 500 participants. Cuevas also added that the Hancock County Board of Supervisors is supporting the effort by assigning County road crews to pick up bags of refuse collected.

“Individuals, businesses, organizations and churches are encouraged to participate,” said Tish Williams, Director of the Chamber. “The ultimate goal is to create a healthier, safer, and more beautiful environment along the Hancock County Coast.”

The motto this year for the Mississippi Coastal Clean-up is “Take a day to leave a legacy.” According to the Ocean Conservancy’s website, the annual Cleanup “provides a direct and tangible way for individuals to make a difference for one of the largest problems we face, trash in the ocean.”

The clean-up effort in 2007 established its own legacy. 264 volunteers in Hancock County alone collected more than 350 bags of debris. Across 159 miles of Mississippi coastline, over 3,400 volunteers picked up 27 tons of trash.

Volunteers will begin the clean-up at 8am and work until 11am, concluding with a cook-out for participants that starts at 10am at the Washington Street Pier (with refreshments and food provided by the Office of Congressman Gene Taylor, the Bay-Waveland Rotary Club, and the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce). A second courtesy tent will be located at Beach Blvd. and Bayou Caddy, with refreshments provided by the Silver Slipper Casino.

The Marine Debris Task Force and other sponsors are providing complimentary bottled water, trash bags, gloves and other items needed for the clean-up. These supplies are available at the Chamber office (412 Hwy 90, in Bay St. Louis), which will be open from 8 am to 1pm the day of the event. A free tote bag will given to each volunteer.

To date over a dozen groups have taken on various strips of coastline and community areas to clean. Individuals wishing to volunteer may call the leaders of each group to sign on for a specific area:

• Diamondhead Community - Susan Jenkins 228-255-7791 or Jim Hunt 228-255-3671

• Bucaneer State Park to Bayou Caddy - David Hilbert/
  Silver Slipper Casino - 228-469-2784

• Mouth of Jordan River to Dunbar Ave - Maria Salter/Hollywood Casino - 228-463-4071

• Bayou LaCroix - Breaths Bayou - Shoreline Park area- Jackie Kidd - 228-466-0599

• Beach Blvd starting at Dunbar Ave to Highway 90, - David Tuminello/Bay St Louis Rotary Club - 228-467-6044

• Beach Blvd starting at US Highway 90 to Bookter Street,
  Dena Somerhalder 228-897-4921

• Beach Blvd from Bookter Street to Bay Oaks - Rachel Davis/Sabic - 228-466-3008

• Beach Blvd from Bay Oaks to Coleman Avenue -
  Charlie Cornelius - 678-485-9620

• Beach Blvd from Coleman Avenue to Buccaneer State Park, David Matthews, 228-305-0211

• Depot District - Old Lazy River Road - Susan Duffy -
  228-342-0223

• Garden Isles Subdivision - Sam Moore - 228-466-0716

• Bayside Park - Hwy 90 - Mike Kane - 228-467-8166

Citizens may also join in by picking up their own streets, yards and neighborhoods. All ages are invited to participate, although anyone under the age of 18 should bring a release signed by their parents. On-line registration is available at www.masgc.org/cleanup.

The following is the listing where the dumpster site will be available

• County Barn Yard, Hwy 43

• Bay Marina, Washington Street, Bay St Louis

• Hwy 603 and Central Ave

• Hancock Dr by Davis Grocery

• Beach Blvd and Washington Street

• Lakeshore Road and Beach Blvd

This year’s Coastal Clean-up is also sponsored by the Mississippi Marine Debris Task Force and the Hancock Chamber Sponsors: Hancock County Board of Supervisors, City of Bay St. Louis, and City of Waveland. For more information, contact Tina Stiglet at the Chamber office, 228.467.9048.