Gary Chamberlain takes pulse of anti-litter efforts on 89A

Sedona AZ (January 29, 2010) – You decide! The virtual community of Folksville USA consists of a group of Americans who have become actively involved in ridding our community of litter. This is their story.

If the “Litter Bugs” who DESECRATE our highways would stop their activities, how much time, energy and money could be saved?

If caught, those who litter should be required to clean up our State Routes and wear appropriate clothing, letting all those who see them know that they don’t seem to have pride in America the Beautiful!

It’s time to employ a Tough Love approach!

The Immaculate Conception Parish in Cottonwood, Arizona, is the Gold Standard for the failing ADOT Adopt-A-Highway program. They are one of thirteen Permittees, who have their names on the signs along our Scenic State Route 89A between Cottonwood and Sedona. They are one of four who honor their commitment to the taxpayers of our state!

Two others, the Sedona Shadows and Sunset Hills Permittees lead by example also. These folks are over 70 years old, and want us to know they still have a pulse. They welcome the youth in the community to join them or another group.

A community in Cornville, Arizona, known as Lower Oak Creek Estates (LOCE or Skunk Hollow), performed our first and historic recycle anti litter effort. These fine folks are a story by themselves.

The Cottonwood LDS Boy Scouts Troop 7021 participated in our second recycle project. They put $515 in their troop pocket for that effort!

Of $7,000, $5K in prizes were donated by businesses in Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Camp Verde, Sedona, Jerome and Cornville to those who helped clean up our Scenic State Route 89A this past year. We also received out-of-state donations in the form of raffle prizes and funding. These out-of-state contributors have faith in us and face similar litter issues in their own states.

I was recently notified that my Army unit might be doing a feature story on our litter abatement movement.

A newspaper in Oregon will soon be telling our story. A national news station is currently monitoring our story. This news should make us all proud enough to beat our chest like “Tarzan” for what we have accomplished in this section of Arizona.

As of November 20, 2009, AZ State Route 260 from Cottonwood to Camp Verde and Scenic State Route 89A from Cottonwood to Jerome joined the Folksville USA virtual community and will link themselves to Scenic State Route 89A between Cottonwood and Sedona.

Road Warriors at work cleaning up Arizona

Our local media organizations should be credited with the success of this movement. Our communities should support these media businesses in every manner possible for they present our voice. Larson News and a former employee, Susan Johnson, at the Sedona Red Rock News wrote the first story about us. The Cottonwood Journal-Extra, the Camp Verde Journal, The Bugle, Sedona Times, Sedonadotbiz, iSedona, the Cornville Chronicle, the Verde Independent, Yavapai Broadcasting, and the Folksville News have contributed to our success. Many of these stories are or will be displayed at Randall’s Restaurant in Cottonwood. Stop by and take a look and tell Randall you appreciate his support for a cleaner Arizona.

I am one of the “Original 8” people who started what is known as the “Road Warriors, Culture Warriors and CSI (Citizen Special Investigator)” movement. As someone who has “skin in the game,” I have invested over 1,000 hours of my own time organizing this movement and picking up litter. We have all been part of an effort that resulted in the removal of 581 bags of litter between April 25, 2009 and December 32, 2009.

I have also spent over $2,000 of my own money in 2009, but this story isn’t about me. It’s about the FOLKSVILLE community movement. With a current supporting cast of 308 people, we are now known as the collective virtual community of Folksville USA. You can email me at 89A.CSI@gmail.com today.

It has been determined that the Adopt-A-Highway program for our 13-mile section of highway is currently on its deathbed. This is based on the Permittee performance records we have received from the state of Arizona. That finding is further supported by our own research and documents, which were developed from our hands-on participation and observations this past year.

Local highway litter           Photo credit Sedona Times

Definitions: The American Heritage Dictionary defines bureaucrat as “1. An official of a bureaucracy. 2. Any official who insists on rigid adherence to rules, forms and routines.” I might add that even they don’t follow their own rules, supporting the phrase, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

Rules: The following bureaucratic rules that aren’t being followed come from an 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheet of paper entitled, “Adopt a State Route in Beautiful Arizona, Volunteer Program & Sponsor Program.” It states, “Volunteer commit to: Pick up litter at least three times a year (or as designated by the district engineer) along a two-mile stretch of ADOT-maintained State Route.” Permittees (volunteers) agreed, in writing, to perform a service in exchange for a State Route sign with their name on it!

The cost of the sign and the labor to install the sign are performed by ADOT; these tasks are paid for with taxpayer dollars.

Are our littered highways that serve as the pathway to tourism killing our local businesses that count on this industry?

Shouldn’t a Scenic State Route require four evenly spaced clean-ups per year?

City Managers, Mayors, and Police departments must step up and enforce Arizona litter and load cover laws. Mayor Rob Adams, City Manager Tim Ernster, and Retired Chief of Police Joe Vernier of Sedona are leading the pack in this effort and their citation reports reflect this commitment to litter enforcement.

Information about how to get involved in this Folksville USA movement may be picked up at Randall’s Restaurant, 891 S. Main Street, Cottonwood, or e-mail 89A.CSI@gmail.com. Randall’s has been supportive of our efforts and  has given us a place to post our news stories for public review. Thanks Randall!

Political signs litter Arizona highways long after election day

The Folksville communities’ greatest reward or thank-you from the public? It’s to get involved by working with one of the Adopt-A-State Highway Permittee groups!

In 2010, I will be stepping back and limiting my direct involvement to this movement. I wish to write stories about those who are involved. I will be offering advice to any government or private sector agency willing to listen. The future of this movement is now in the hands of the citizens of our communities, elected officials, Permittees and government employees.

I will be focusing on litter recovery stories done on February 13, May 15, August 14 and November 20, 2010. These dates have been selected to reduce or eliminate time spent by our ADOT Highway Maintenance Department (a hardworking group of “A+“ people), to reduce taxpayer dollars by saving time and to make a unified statement that the community of Folksville has a common goal. As the spokesman for Folksville, I will be presenting criticism, suggestions and praise to those who detract or contribute to the effort to restore the scenic beauty of our community and Scenic State Routes. I have no more to give!

The proof is in the pudding. As a member of the community, are you going to get involved or sit on the sidelines and expect someone else to clean up your community?

Beaver Creek Trash

Are you going to stand up and literally revolt against those who DESECRATE America?

If the community can have such passion against the Cottonwood Mago statue, how do they view litter and why are they not speaking out on that topic? We all can choose to work together and look at the garbage in our community once and for all. You decide.

I’ve had a few critics this past year. When I ask these critics to come participate and show us a better way, they thankfully and quietly disappear.

So, if you have a solution, please present it and state how you are going to be involved.

This SedonaTimes.com article by Gary Chamberlain, original Road Warrior and co-founder Folksville USA. Email Gary at 89A.CSI@gmail.com.

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