23rd Annual Shiawassee River Cleanup and Tire Collection to be held on July 28th, 2018

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 People who love the Shiawassee River have much to celebrate in July. The Friends of the Shiawassee River, in collaboration with the Shiawassee County Health Department, will be hosting their 23rd annual Shiawassee River Cleanup and Tire Collection on Saturday, July 28^th – and everyone interested in pitching in is welcome to join the fun.  There will be prizes for the most unique items to be pulled from the river and all event volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and lunch.  Event organizers ask that those interested in attending register at ShiawasseeRiver.org/calendar.

Saturday, July 28th

23nd Annual Shiawassee River Cleanup

9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Volunteers meet at one of the following locations by 9:00 am: 

1. Owosso – Oakwood Street Bridge (behind Little League fields)
2. Corunna – McCurdy Park (near footbridge over the river)
3. Vernon – Crawford Park

Cleanup Volunteer Appreciation Lunch

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Mitchell Amphitheater

219 N Water Street, Owosso, MI 48867

(located on the grounds of Owosso Middle School)

All Cleanup Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and lunch.

 The 2017 Annual Cleanup was generously supported by Waste Management, Oster Manufacturing (Owosso), J & S Tire (Owosso), Matador’s Pizza (Byron and Morrice), Mancino’s (Owosso), Cheff’s Canoe Rental (Vernon), Hankerd’s Sportswear (Owosso) and The Bagelman (Owosso).

 “Thanks to the commitment of our volunteers and generous event sponsors, more than 700 tires and hundreds of pounds of garbage and debris have been removed from the river since our first cleanup more than 20 years ago” said Larry Johnson, Director of the Shiawassee County Health Department.  “This event is a great way for the community to come together and care for one of our greatest natural treasures, the Shiawassee River.  By caring for the river, we’re providing recreational opportunities for the public and ensuring a healthy habitat for aquatic life.”

 In 1996, the Friends of the Shiawassee River was founded by a group of individuals who wanted to continue the work of Owosso resident, Jim Miner. In the 1970's, Miner organized some of the first volunteer river cleanup events in Owosso. These events inspired a generation of river stewards, and ultimately the formation of the Friends.

 Cleanup Volunteers can choose to assist with the cleanup in the river and parks, or paddle stretches of the river via canoe and search for tires. Volunteers should wear old clothes and shoes so that they can walk in the river. Tires collected from the river by volunteers will be recycled free of charge, courtesy of the Shiawassee County Health Department.  Community members who wish to recycle old tires (not from the river) can bring them to the Shiawassee County Road Commission on July 28^th, from 8 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.  Tires will be accepted for a fee of $2 per car/truck tire without rims, and $3 for tires with a rim.  Semi-truck tires will be accepted for a fee of $5 each without a rim, and $10 dollars for each tire with a rim.  No tractor tires will be accepted.  Arrangements for advance tire donation and storage can be made by calling Shiawassee County Health Department  at (989) 743-2392.

 For more information about this event, contact the Friends of the Shiawassee River at ShiawasseeRiver.org,  on the Friends’ Facebook page, by calling (989) 723-9062, or sending an email to info@shiawasseeriver.org.  The Shiawassee County Health Department can be contacted by calling (989) 743-2392, or by visiting their website, http://health.shiawassee.net/Environmental-Health.  The Health Department is also on Facebook.

 For an unprecedented eleventh consecutive year, the Shiawassee County Health Department and the Friends have received grant funding from the Department of Environmental Quality and the Great Lakes Commission Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup program. The funds will support ongoing efforts to improve the health of the Shiawassee River and its surrounding natural resources through events such as the annual Shiawassee River Cleanup and tire collection.

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 The mission of the Shiawassee County Health Department is to prevent disease, protect the health of the public and enhance the quality of life for Shiawassee County residents by providing information and services. The Environmental Health Division’s broad objective is to provide a means of safeguarding the environment.  This is necessary for the health and welfare of the users and all other persons in Shiawassee County. 

 The Friends of the Shiawassee River is501©3 nonprofit organization governed by a local board of directors and supported by a dedicated group of volunteers and generous donors.  The mission of the Friends is to help the community Care, Share, and Enjoy the Shiawassee River.  The Friends are committed to improving the environment, promoting the responsible use of, and enhancing the appreciation of the River throughout its watershed.