By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The search is on for volunteers to help clean-up along the St. Joseph River. Niles Public Works Director Neil Coulston said he was contacted Thursday by Larry Simpson, a retired Niles resident, who plans on picking up trash along the gravel part of Bond Street.
Coulston said Simpson plans to start where Bond Street turns to gravel in the park along the St. Joseph River and pick up along the both sides of the road going south until it meets with Fort Street.
With the recent warm weather, Simpson told Coulston the plants that grow thick and close to the ground along the road will soon cover any trash left over from the winter months.
There is some private property along the road, but Coulston said people should be able to cover the area 20 feet out from the edge of the road all the way past the boat ramp above the damn.
Coulston said Simpson made a call Thursday looking for a way to get help with the job.
In return, Coulston offered to have the Niles Street Department pick up the full bags on Tuesdays and Fridays over the next two weeks on April 11, 14, 18 and 21. Coulston said people should bring their own trash bags and leave the full ones off to the side of the road.
Simpson told Coulston he was going to get started right away, and now just needs a little help.
The city has not organized clean-up along the river in a few years. Instead, Coulston said different groups have stepped up and cleaned along the road.
If anyone - individuals or organizations - is interested in assisting Simpson, they are asked to please grab a heavy duty trash bag and head down to Bond Street or the river and give him a hand.
For additional information, please contact the Department of Public Works at 683-4700. Bags of trash should be placed at the edge of the roadway for pickup.