By Monique Roth

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Today the eighth annual St. John Spring Clean Sweep will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and will consist of a parishwide cleanup day involving government agencies, neighborhood associations, civic groups, schools and churches.

The Clean Sweep Committee has targeted major thoroughfares for cleaning but encourages residents to clean areas around their homes and businesses. Churches and neighborhood associations are also asked to pitch in with a focus on neighborhoods in which they are located. All participants are invited back to Highway 51 Park in LaPlace at 11:30 a.m. for free food, refreshments and a group photo in appreciation of the volunteer work and commitment to keeping St. John beautiful.

Numerous local elected officials and community leaders led the charge against litter yesterday morning as they participated in the Leaders Against Litter Golden Litter Grab.

The group traveled from the River Region Chamber of Commerce offices in LaPlace to the Percy Hebert Government Building collecting litter using golden grabbers and wearing gold T-shirts.

St. John the Baptist Parish officials and the Keep St. John Beautiful Committee aim to honor April as Keep St. John Beautiful Month by promoting a cleaner and more beautiful community with the Leaders Against Litter statewide event and the Spring Clean Sweep. Efforts are aimed at bringing awareness to the litter problem in Louisiana.

Sponsored by Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, in conjunction with Keep Louisiana Beautiful and Volunteer Louisiana, the Golden Litter Grab brought Louisiana leaders together to help beautify and clean their individual towns on the same morning. The Keep St. John Beautiful committee, including Chairman Tom Daley and member Greg Maurin, assembled a local team of leaders to join in cleanup efforts in St. John Parish.