Thursday, May 25, 2006

The Tennessee Department of Transportation and Keep Tennessee Beautiful kicked off the new StopLitter campaign at a press conference in Nashville today.  First Lady Andrea Conte and TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely were present and spoke at the event.  Additional guests included members of the Keep Tennessee Beautiful State Advisory Committee (including Tom Salter and John Evans from Knoxville), several KAB affilitate coordinators and TDOT staffers involved in implementing the Litter Grant and Highway Beautification programs.  Also present were representatives from The Tombras Group, the PR and marketing firm that developed the StopLitter campaign.  The kickoff was interrupted by an outrageous thunder storm and lightning was striking near the State Capitol.  Some pictures of the storm clouds are included.

- posted by KKB Staff at 11:15 PM

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Today was Halls Tribute Trees Project maintenance day.  Once again KKB Board Member Scott Frith organized a super event with dozens of volunteers.  In the two years since the trees were planted only 12 of 230 died.  They have all been replaced.  Today the volunteers weeded curbs, cleaned up ciggy butts, put down new week cloth and mulch around the trees.  I hope Scott gets some well-deserved recognition for this project because this is just a fantastic project and something we'd like to see other citizens do in other parts of the community.

- posted by KKB Staff at 1:30 PM

Thursday, May 18, 2006

The Orchids & Onions Committee met today at Chesapeake's.  It's definitely time to start thinking about nominating Knoxville's most beautiful properties and it's worst eyesores.  Committee members include KKB Board Members Gary Loe, Sam Maynard, Terry Faulkner, Darren Rhines, Edythe McNabb and Mary Lou Horner. 

- posted by KKB Staff at 1:30 PM

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale gave his annual budget address this morning at the Federal Building courtyard.  It was a beautiful day and the County Mayor gave a nice speech.  Keep Knoxville Beautiful receives generous support from Knox County and individual County Commissioners for specific projects.

- posted by KKB Staff at 11:30 AM

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

The Knox County Solid Waste Board met today for a presentation by Lisa Skumatz on the concept of Pay-As-You-Throw waste disposal and how it has been implemented in other communities like Knox County.  Tom Salter of KKB was invited to sit in on the meeting.  At the present time, tax payers in Knox County and the City of Knoxville pay the same amount no matter how much trash they throw away.  There is no financial incentive to reduce the amount of landfill waste.  PAYT systems typically have a big impact on increasing the amounts and types of material recycled.  Communities with pay-as-you-throw systems have much higher participation in recycling programs because recycling is free relative to waste that goes to the landfill.

- posted by KKB Staff at 2:00 PM

Monday, May 8, 2006

KKB staffers Tom Salter, Jack Dennis and Seth Hopper got a sneak preview of the new official State of Tennessee Litter Prevention public service ads.  It is so top secret we can't even tell you the name of the campaign.  We gave the ads our seal of approval.  You're gonna like them!  The ads are meant to replace the old Tennessee Trash ads and are targeted specifically at demographics most likely to litter.

- posted by KKB Staff at 2:15 PM

Saturday, May 6, 2006

Today was a huuuuuge day.  Calhoun's on the River sponsored the annual Trash Bash Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and awards ceremony.  KKB Board Members present included Tim Wheeler, Darren Rhines, Gary Loe, Sam Maynard, Susan Long and Terry Faulkner.  Volunteers included Sharon Cawood, Joyce Seidel Hausman, Larissa Jurand-Salter and Ryan Justice.  Tom Salter and Jack Dennis were there from KKB staff. 

The winners of the 2006 Great American Cleanup™ Poster Contest were announced.  The theme was Don't Throw Down on K-TOWN (of course!).

Poster Winners Elementary School
- 1st Grade: Rose Lawley, St. Joseph Elementary School
- 2nd Grade: Abdul Bhidya, A.L. Lotts Elementary School
- 2nd Grade: Natalie Werner, A.L. Lotts Elementary School
- 2nd Grade: Anna Bullen, Nature’s Way Elementary School
- 3rd Grade: McKenzie Schleicher, Nature’s Way Elementary School
- 4th Grade: Riley Campbell, Sequoyah Elementary School

Poster Winners Middle School
- 5th Grade: Jon Goode, Cedar Bluff Intermediate
- 6th Grade: Lauren Oglesby, Carter Middle School
- 8th Grade: Sara Dean, Vine Middle School

Poster Winners High School
- 9th Grade: Amanda Barton, Bearden High School
- 10th Grade: Bailey Priest, Bearden High School (Most votes of all posters)
- 11th Grade: Kelly Burke, Bearden High School
- 12th Grade: Betsy Johnson, Bearden High School

There were more than 150 distinct litter cleanup efforts during the 2006 Great American Cleanup™.  All groups received a certificate of appreciation.  These top performing groups received special recognition:

- Neighborhood – Old North Knoxville – 145 bags (est.)
- Civic Group – North Knox Rotary Club – 13 people, 50 bags
- Youth Group – Nature’s Way Montessori School – 45 people, 60 bags
- School – Karns AFJROTC – 62 volunteers, 20 bags
- First Time Cleanup – Lonsdale United for Change – 250 volunteers, ~200 bags
- Knox County Adopt A Road Group – Hardin Valley Neighbors
- Family – Futrell/Ellis Families – 4 volunteers, 45 bags
- Girl Scout Group – Troop 338 – 7 volunteers, 6 bags

The Troy-Bilt Chipper Vac we used at the Mabry-Hazen kickoff event was the big door prize.  The winner was Barbara Ayres of Knoxville.  Her family was involved in neighborhood cleanup activities and we want to congratulate her on winning the main prize of the day.

Sponsors of the 2006 Great American Cleanup™ in Knoxville included Coca Cola Enterprises, Clayton Family Foundation, Waste Connections, Knox County, The Tennessee Department of Transportation Litter Grant Program and Keep America Beautiful.

- posted by KKB Staff at 5:30 PM

Friday, May 5, 2006

Today was a great day for Terry Faulkner and the residents of the Bearden Community.  The Bearden Greenway extension ribbon cutting took place in a light rain.  As soon as the ribbon was cut it started pouring.   KKB acted as the fiscal agent in purchasing several historic markers located on the greenway.  Terry designed the markers and raised the money to pay for them.  Congratulations Terry!

- posted by KKB Staff at 3:15 PM

Thursday, May 4, 2006

The KKB Board had its regular monthly board meeting at the Knoxville Coca Cola Training Room at noon.  Board member and County Commissioner Mark Cawood brought his wife Sharon to the meeting as a guest.

Bob Santore dropped by after the board meeting to discuss the purchase of some trees for the South Knox Beautification Committee from the Norwood Kiwanis Club.

- posted by KKB Staff at 2:30 PM

Monday, May 1, 2006

The KKB Executive Committee and Nominating Committees met jointly today at Copper Cellar to discuss board member rotations, new board prospects and officer prospects for next year.

- posted by KKB Staff at 4:30 PM