Keep Lincoln County Beautiful officials are once againencouraging citizens to take part in the Great American Clean Upduring the next two weeks.

The local campaign is part of a national effort to raise publicawareness by getting volunteers, church groups and civicorganizations to choose a particular road or street for clean up.The event is scheduled for April 7-19.

“The ultimate goal is to get litter off our roads,” said RonnieDurr, the county’s solid waste litter coordinator.

As an incentive for litter clean-up participants, organizers arehiding “Gold in the Litter.” Jane Kees, coordinator, saidapproximately 60 gold eggs containing prizes will be put out inlitter around the county.

“They’ll be evenly distributed throughout the (supervisor)districts in the county,” she said.

Kees said the eggs, which have been painted by students in theBrookhaven High School art department, were to be put out eitherSaturday or Sunday. The eggs will have certificates that can betaken to the chancery clerk’s office for prize pick-up.

“We’ve gotten some really nice things,” Kees said, mentioningprizes such as gift certificates to local businesses orrestaurants.

Kees said 450 flyers had been sent to various organizationspublicizing the clean-up campaign, which is being sponsored by theLincoln County Master Gardeners program. Durr said fundingassistant is also coming from the state Department of EnvironmentalQuality.

“With the Tour of Homes coming up, we would like to make aspecial effort to clean up our roads that welcome residents andvisitors to the community,” Kees said.

To assist litter pick-up efforts, Durr said the county has alimited number of bags available at the District 2 barn on oldHighway 51. He said groups may call the barn at 833-0905 or come byto pick up litter bags.

Clean-up organizers are also placing trash containers in severalcommunities during the two-week campaign. This weekend, containersare in Bogue Chitto at the intersection of Brister Street andHighway 51.

“It’s a way of helping people get rid of some junk,” Durrsaid.

Items that can be put in the container include clothing, lumberfrom homes and trash. Larger items, such as tires, refrigeratorsand other white goods are asked to be placed beside the containersfor pick up.

Durr said waste tires may also be placed beside the containers.He said old tires can be left at any time at the District 2barn.

“We’re encouraging people to dispose of the tires so they don’thold water and pose a possible problem with mosquitoes,” Durrsaid.

Household garbage, dead animals and commercial trash or buildingsupplies cannot be placed in the the containers, Durr said.

“That gets us in trouble when we do that,” Durr said aboutputting garbage items in with trash. “That’s supposed to be pickedup every week anyway.”

On April 12-13, the trash container will be placed at theintersection of Brignall Road and Howard Road. The followingweekend, April 19-20, the container will be at the intersection ofHurricane Lake Road and Springview Trail.

“We hope we get a good response,” Durr said.

Durr said organizers are looking forward to and hoping for asuccessful litter clean-up campaign.

“We’ve got a beautiful county,” Durr said. “Let’s keep itlooking good.”