Residents clean up despite rain

Evelyn Young and Betty Jean Burke are shown in the Millen Cemetery as they participated in the recent Keep Jenkins Beautiful Day. (Photo contributed)

It rained the morning of Saturday, April 26, "Keep Jenkins Beautiful Day," but the day was not a washout. Although most participants were driven home by the rain, the JROTC, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Jenkins County High School (JCHS) Science Club, JCHS Beta Club, GSCA and Friends of the Millen Cemetery persevered through the showers.

Other groups represented were Millen Make-A-Difference, Jenkins County Middle School (JCMS) Drama Club, Millen Better Hometown, Azalea Garden Club, Millen Garden Club and AmeriCorps; and Jenkins County Commissioner Floyd Chance.

"Fifty to Fix," the theme of this year's Keep Jenkins Beautiful Day, was an effort to get 50 different groups to participate in county cleanup. Thirteen organizations signed on, which was a little over one-fifth of the target. Eighteen individuals helped, in addition to the groups, making a total of 120 people who volunteered their time and energy to make the county look better.

Projects included planting, pruning, putting out straw and picking up trash.

April was Keep Georgia Beautiful Month, Keep America Beautiful Month and Keep Jenkins Beautiful Month. The local project was sponsored by Millen Better Hometown, Millen/Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Millen and the Jenkins County commissioners.

Grady Lane and Clay Boulineau helped plan and coordinate the activities.