Carter County Proud has been busy throughout 2016 and recently had a bit of good news come their way Wednesday.
The organization, which delves into clean up initiatives across the county, announced that approximately 15 signs from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) telling citizens not to litter and stating the fines in place by the state.
Over the next six to eight weeks, signs stating ‘Do Not Litter, Fines Up To $3,000 Max’ will be scattered across the county in hopes to deter littering in the county, Carter County Proud co-founder Edward Jordan said.
“I heard early this morning that the signs were approved,” he added. “There was a bit of confusion early on, but we got everything situated. I’m not for certain all the roads that will have signs, but I was given a list with a couple of roads’ names.”
Jordan and other Carter County Proud met at Smoke House BBQ in the Happy Valley during the month of July and heard a presentation from the state’s Division of Water Resources office based out of Johnson City.
Along with discussing the water bodies across Carter and Johnson counties, the organization also continued talks about joining up with Keep Tennessee Beautiful.
Jordan went on to add that Carter County Proud is still working at maintaining their adoptive highway, Milligan Highway, thanks to the “Adopt-A-Highway” program from TDOT.
While adding that it was troubling seeing the continual amount of trash on Milligan Highway, Jordan credited the efforts of Dr. Kevin Ward, superintendent of the Carter County School System, and officials with the systems for making sure schools like Happy Valley Elementary and Happy Valley High School, within Jordan’s area for Milligan Highway, were at a proper level of cleanliness to start off the school year.
“I just really want to thank Dr. Ward and the school system for always doing a great job of keeping our schools clean for our kids,” he said. “The schools were in great condition for the start of the school year.”
Jordan added that the group will be busy in the coming months, working toward being part of Keep Tennessee Beautiful.
For more information on Carter County Proud, visit their Facebook page online.