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Renae Bracken asked if others on the Altus Oklahoma Opinions and Discussion Facebook page would join her in an effort to ” make Altus beautiful.” The Altus Oklahoma Opinions and Discussion (AOD) has coordinated a group of people to help do just that. On Saturday, July 21, ten volunteers took time out of their lives to help “make Altus beautiful” by cleaning up a section of South Main.

One of the goals of this spontaneously formed civic group is to clean up one block on each side of the street every other Saturday. Even if people can’t get out to volunteer doing the work, possibly they can donate to the cause. Jamey Bitz, one of the group’s original lawn work wranglers, said that Brandon’s Heat and Air donated ten cases of bottled water for the workers. Many people have signed up to rotate bringing ice to the events. If anyone wishes to bring other items, they are welcome to do so.

Paul Brown’s Pest Control donated some chemical spray to help get rid of some of the many weeds that have sprung up along S. Main. People wanting to donate time or equipment such as; old push edgers, weed eaters, edgers, flat shovels, or any item pertaining to edging and cleaning sidewalks. Monetary donations could be used to purchase oil and gasoline for the various equipment, and for more weedkiller. Contact info is available through any AOD admin at “http://www.facebook.com/groups/AltusOpinions/”.

Bitz also asked that landowners along S. Main help do their part. The grass and weeds are breaking up the sidewalks. Bitz said that spraying for weeds used to be done by Parks and Recreation staff, but they do not have the “manpower” to do that anymore.

If enough people show up for this effort, they may be able to have two groups, one working north and one south. This project is to help clean up the town in general, but also to be prepared for the possible site survey team that could be coming to Altus in the fall.

This Saturday, July 28, from 6:30 to 9 a.m., the group will be meeting at the open parking lot across the street from the Jackson County Jail, at 600 S. Main. That’s just over the railroad tracks south of the Altus City Complex.