Volunteers ranging from Fort Riley soldiers and local community members to representatives from the Police Department help spruce up Junction City Friday and Saturday. There were multiple spring cleaning events.
Beginning on Friday, members of First of the 1st - 6th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division worked with Phyllis Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Society of the 1st Infantry Division to pick up trash along Grant Avenue.
Then on Saturday, approximately 120 volunteers participated in a Junction City Main Street downtown spring cleanup, explained Fitzgerald, "helping clean up the Main Street downtown and some of the surrounding areas. " She estimated there more than 50 Soldiers from Fox Trot Company, 1-1 Aviation plus their leadership and the Combat Aviation Brigade commander. Col. Jason Arriaga said the cleanup is part of their outreach "with Operation Victory Wellness that many people have heard about on Post but every Foundation Friday or close to it we try to have an opportunity to engage with our local community."
Command Sgt. Major Scott McGee of the Attack Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade noted that he participated in the cleanup for a one mile stretch on North Washington Street all the way north to Grant Ave.
There was also a Junction City sponsored spring cleanup on Saturday with volunteers working in different segments of town. Police Chief John Lamb worked in the K-18 Highway - Spring Valley Road area. He cited examples of items picked up. "Water bottles, cardboard, paper plates." Lamb added that they found a lot of disposable face masks that were worn during the COVID pandemic.
Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel participated in the effort. He found a lot of items. "I found half of a bed frame, I found part of a car, rubber part." Dinkel feels an event like this always helps the community.