Arizona Roundup:
AAH News from throughout the State

Any invention that can make picking up litter more efficient is a welcome development. In Phoenix, Jeff Knapp and Ken Klippert offer the Klippert 1600. It's a PVC pipe with rubber foam grip used to hold your trash bag open, even in windy weather.

They pick up on SR 87 at milepost 216. Their group works in memory of Knapp's daughter, Tarina Brooke Knapp who passed away in 2003. Klippert at first used a stick to hold his bag open, but the PVC is lighter and won't tear the bag.

“I got flustered with the wind out there, and thought there has to be a better way,” says Klippert. “People are doing a good thing picking trash, so why not make the job a little easier.”

You can make your own Klippert 1600 with materials from any hardware store. Or you can have Knapp and Klippert make you one for the minimal charge of $1.00. For more information, call Jeff Knapp at 480-827-2166.

Double duty in Prescott

In Prescott, special recognition goes to Richard and De Maloney who pull double duty for AAH. They have participated with the Payson United Methodist Church AAH program on SR 87, MP 252-253 since 1998. In addition, Richard and De Maloney have had their own AAH location on SR 87, MP 258-259 since 2001. Between these two locations, they pick up trash an average of eight times per year. Richard also does volunteer work for the Forest Service and on behalf of Habitat For Humanity.

On the road again in Flagstaff

Chuck King reports that Flagstaff volunteers are starting to hit the roads for cleanup now that the weather has become more mild. The AAH phone line there is warming up as well, with two to three calls per day coming in from people interested in volunteering. According to King, everybody seems to have a hand in creating the litter including truckers, travelers and locals. So it makes sense that more people are pitching in to help. Two groups in particular stand out for their stellar efforts. They are El Cristo Rey Catholic Chapel-Grand Canyon on SR64 and Keep Sedona Beautiful on SR89A. Here's to a job well done.

Triple team in Yuma

Ladd Bouts reports that pickups slowed down for the summer in Yuma. Nevertheless, he does want to recognize the good work of all 89 AAH volunteer groups in the district, covering a total of 151 miles. In particular, he gives special notice to three groups. The first is Vietnam Veterans of America, who are always out there, in any weather, picking up trash. They work a particularly challenging stretch of Interstate 8, where litter from produce haulers abounds. The Bahai of Yuma also do great work, picking up three to four extra times a year. In addition, the employees of the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge are extremely effective, not only picking up trash, but hauling it away with them.

Holbrook: Kiwanis make
cooperation their priority

The Painted Desert Kiwanis has been dedicated to AAH in the Holbrook District since 1989. That in itself is a solid track record of consistency. But they've also been extremely accommodating of the community at large. Twice they have relinquished mile sections in order to allow others to participate. The first time, in 2000, was for a family who had lost their mother in a fatal accident, and so felt a particular connection to that stretch of road. Then again, in March 2006, the Kiwanis moved to accommodate the widow of a Superior Court Judge who wanted a section for its proximity to the county court house. So kudos to the Kiwanis for doing a great job, while considering the priorities of others as well.

Holbrook has 168 groups who cover 402 miles of road. But without a doubt the most popular section of road is SR 87 South between Winslow and Clints Well, preferred for the cool shade of its tall pines!

Sold out in Safford

Here's a problem we love to write about. In fact, we wish every district had the same difficulty. Armando Membrila tells us that AAH is so popular in Safford there are simply no more miles available at this time. Typically, if an area does becomes available, it's usually snapped up pretty quickly by someone else. Now that's community spirit in action. Congratulations to Safford. Enjoy riding those well-kept roads, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are making the difference.