2023 Keep Warner Robins Beautiful
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<strong>2023</strong><br />
<strong>Keep</strong> our streets clear, we don’t litter here<br />
Our Mission: To educate the public<br />
and promote interest in the improvement<br />
of the environment in <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong><br />
A Special Publication of :<br />
FREE
The City of<br />
<strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong><br />
is a proud<br />
supporter of<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong><br />
<strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
(478) 293-1000<br />
700 Watson Blvd<br />
<strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong>, Ga<br />
31093<br />
www.wrga.gov
CHAIRMAN’S LETTER<br />
<strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
3
478-929-7258 kwrb@wrga.gov<br />
<strong>2023</strong><br />
<strong>Keep</strong> our streets clear, we don’t litter here<br />
Published By<br />
TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />
BOARD OF DIRECTORS...........5<br />
AWARDS....................................6-7<br />
ADOPT-A-ROAD.........................8<br />
RELEAF GRANT TREE<br />
GIVEAWAY..................................10<br />
WARNER ROBINS<br />
TREE CANOPY...........................10<br />
AROBOR DAY............................11<br />
TIRE AMNEST EVENT.............12<br />
CHUNK-A-JUNK CAR.............13<br />
GREAT AMERICAN<br />
CLEANUP....................................14<br />
SPONSORS.................................15<br />
HISTORY......................................18<br />
LITTER AWARENESS...............18<br />
NATIVE PLANT EDUCATION<br />
CENTER...........................................19<br />
PUBLIC WORKS<br />
APPRECIATION........................22<br />
COMMUNITY APPEARANCE<br />
INDEX.........................................23<br />
RIVERS ALIVE....................24-25<br />
STORMWATER.........................26<br />
PAINT RECYCLING<br />
EVENT........................................27<br />
ENVIROSCAPE........................28<br />
FLOWER SHOW.......................28<br />
COMMUNITY SHRED<br />
DAYS..........................................29<br />
WILDFLOWER PROJECT......30<br />
A D D C H P C<br />
1210 Washington Street<br />
P.O. Box 1910<br />
Perry, GA 31069<br />
478-987-1823<br />
www.hhjonline.com<br />
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR / SALES<br />
Lori Kovarovic<br />
lorik@hhjnews.com<br />
ADVERTISING SALES<br />
Nathan Mathis<br />
nmathis@hhjnews.com<br />
GRAPHIC DESIGN<br />
Kayley Trischan<br />
4 <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>
2022-23 Board of Directors Members: Debbie Hoke and<br />
Alicia Hill pose with volunteers during the <strong>2023</strong> GAC Cleanup<br />
event on April 1st.<br />
2022-23 Board of Directors Members: Debbie Hoke, Jim<br />
Cheshire, Bill Craig, and Jeff Smith (Ho. Co. Public Works) work<br />
together to unload tires during the <strong>2023</strong> Tire Amnesty Event.<br />
BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br />
Tiffany Bowen, Debbie Hoke, Roman Jones, and Tony Greer prepare seedlings<br />
to handout at the <strong>2023</strong> Christmas Tree Roundup/Bring One for the Chipper<br />
Event.<br />
2022-23 Board of Directors Members: Francis Wilson, Kevin Greer, and<br />
Rogie Roberson hold up the Tree City USA flag in honor of the Arbor Day<br />
Proclamation Mayor LaRhonda Patrick presented to KWRB Manager Tiffany<br />
Bowen.<br />
What Are Volunteers?<br />
V - Versatile in the ways you come through;<br />
O - Outstanding in the things you do;<br />
L - Loyal and always full of good cheer;<br />
U - Upstanding in your service all year;<br />
N - Nonstop in the difference you make;<br />
T - Tireless in the projects you take;<br />
E - Enthusiastic to reach every goal;<br />
E - Exceptional in how you fill your role;<br />
R - Reliable and treasured wherever you are;<br />
S - Selfless and giving-like a shining star!<br />
<strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
<strong>Keep</strong><br />
<strong>Warner</strong><br />
<strong>Robins</strong><br />
<strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
Board of<br />
Directors<br />
Francis Wilson<br />
Chairman<br />
Bill Craig<br />
Vice Chairman/<br />
Chairman of Internal Affairs<br />
Jim Cheshire<br />
Chairman of Beautification/<br />
Municipal Operations<br />
Kevin Greer<br />
Chairman of Schools/<br />
Civic Organizations<br />
Roman Jones<br />
Chairman of<br />
Communications/Media<br />
Debbie Hoke<br />
Chairman of<br />
Business & Industry<br />
Alicia Hill<br />
Rachel Preston<br />
Rogie Roberson<br />
Jeff Morgan<br />
Ben White<br />
Community Advisory Board<br />
Sandra Bracy<br />
Dave Buchanan<br />
Regina Palladeno<br />
Ex Officio Members<br />
Keith Lauritsen<br />
(Council Liaison)<br />
Indi Brown<br />
(RAFB)<br />
Carol Dozier<br />
(WR Public Works)<br />
Teena Mathe/Chad Foreman<br />
(HO. CO. Public Works)<br />
Staff<br />
Tiffany Bowen<br />
Manager<br />
Leanne Walker<br />
Administrative Assistant<br />
5
AWARDS<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> Awards Clean Campuses<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> and the Central<br />
Georgia Board of Realtors established a partnership<br />
to give recognition to Houston County schools<br />
within the <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> area who, by their efforts<br />
to beautify their surroundings, contributed to the<br />
goals of KWRB.<br />
Elementary, middle, and high school campuses<br />
were recognized during the school year and the<br />
competition was stiff! Media centers at award<br />
winning schools received a monetary gift from the<br />
Central Georgia Board of Realtors and displayed the<br />
Clean Campus Award sign on their grounds.<br />
During the year, the following schools were also<br />
presented the Clean Campus Award:<br />
CB Watson Elementary, Miller Elementary, Veterans<br />
High, Feagin Mill Middle School<br />
Congratulations to these deserving schools!<br />
Home of the Year Award<br />
Goes to Mr. Jim &<br />
Mrs. Barbara Morey<br />
Selections for the Home of the Month Award<br />
are based primarily on consistent and proper<br />
maintenance of the home’s lawn including edging of<br />
borders, tasteful selection and continued nurturing<br />
of flowers and plants, proper structural maintenance<br />
of the home, and overall appearance of the home and<br />
its surroundings. Homes may only be recognized<br />
with the award one time each decade.<br />
Contact kwrb@wrga.gov or 478-929-7258 if you<br />
know of a home in <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> you feel is<br />
deserving of this special recognition.<br />
David Perdue Primary was selected by the Central Georgia Board of Realtors (CGBR)<br />
and <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> (KWRB) to receive the Clean Campus Award for their<br />
beautifully maintained campus. Pictured accepting the award from CGBR Kira Weaver is<br />
Principal Kathy Gibbs and Coach Holly Green, along with students Jeremiah, Carlee, and<br />
Isaiah. Also pictured, from left to right, are KWRB board member Jeff Morgan, KWRB<br />
manager Tiffany Bowen, and KWRB board members Bill Craig and Roman Jones.<br />
The home of Mr. Jim and Mrs. Barbara Morey was recognized by <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong><br />
<strong>Beautiful</strong> with the Home of the Month Award. Pictured presenting the award is KWRB Vice<br />
Chairman Bill Craig, also pictured, from left to right are KWRB members Tiffany Bowen, Jeff<br />
Morgan, and Roman Jones. The Morey’s home was selected at the end of the year as the<br />
2022 Home of the Year by <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>’s Board of Directors.<br />
6 <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>
AWARDS<br />
Rigby’s Entertainment Complex was recognized with the Business of the Month Award. Pictured presenting the award to Rachel Preston is KWRB<br />
Immediate Past Chairmen Jim Cheshire. Also pictured, from left to right are KWRB members Jeff Morgan, Bill Craig, and Rogie Roberson. Rigby’s was<br />
selected as the 2022 Business of the Year by <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>’s Board of Directors.<br />
Business-of-the-Year Awarded to Rigby’s<br />
Each month members of <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> identify and recognize the recipient of the coveted Business of the Month<br />
Award or the Beautification Award of Merit. A sign, proclaiming the award, is placed in front of the property throughout the month<br />
and a photograph is published by local press.<br />
Both awards seek to honor businesses and professionals who, by their efforts to beautify and maintain their properties to high<br />
standards, add to the attractiveness of our community and make our business and professional areas more pleasing to our citizens and<br />
our visitors.<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> is dedicated to helping the citizens make <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> the most beautiful, attractive, and cleanest<br />
community in the entire state.<br />
The following businesses were also recognized during the past year: CGR Credit Union, Wild Wing Café, Chic-Fil-A (Russell Pkwy),<br />
Chic-Fil-A (Hwy 96), Pond Restaurant, ASX Auto Repair, and Meadowdale Early Education (Leverette Rd.).<br />
If you would like to nominate a property for a beautification award, please contact kwrb@wrga.gov or 478-929-7258.<br />
GOVERNOR’S CIRCLE AWARD<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> received the 2022 Governor’s Circle Award for outstanding achievements in<br />
community beautification and environmental sustainability. The award, presented by the <strong>Keep</strong> Georgia <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
Foundation, recognizes exemplary performance in litter reduction, waste minimization, and community greening.<br />
To qualify for the Governor’s Circle Award, affiliates must be in good standing with <strong>Keep</strong> America <strong>Beautiful</strong>, the<br />
national nonprofit that oversees state and local programming. Requirements include conducting an annual litter<br />
index, calculating the affiliate’s cost/benefit ratio, and engaging volunteers to take greater responsibility for their<br />
community environment. Additionally, the affiliate must be an active member of the Georgia network.<br />
“We believe that everyone deserves to live in an environment that is healthy, safe, clean, and beautiful,” said<br />
Natalie Johnston-Russell, executive director of the <strong>Keep</strong> Georgia <strong>Beautiful</strong> Foundation. “The recipients of this<br />
award are an instrumental part of that mission, and we are thankful for their dedication and commitment.”<br />
<strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
7
ADOPT-A-ROAD<br />
A Group of volunteers pose before heading out to cleanup Fountain Park and the surrounding creek!<br />
KEEP THE STREETS CLEAR, WE DON’T LITTER HERE!<br />
There is no such thing as “away” when you throw litter out, it must go somewhere<br />
<strong>Keep</strong>ing roadways clear of litter has<br />
continued to be a very time consuming and<br />
Squadron, 402nd CMXG, 402nd EMXG<br />
Military, Sigma Epsilon Omega Chapter,<br />
expensive operation.<br />
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.,<br />
One thing we can all do to help is to<br />
“Cinch-the-Sack.” A huge source of litter<br />
is “loose” debris, particularly tissue and<br />
plastic shopping bags that blow around in<br />
the wind. We urge you to place everything<br />
inside a bag and “Cinch-the-Sack.” Those<br />
who drive trucks can take care to not have<br />
loose litter in the beds of their trucks and<br />
American Legion, Booz Allen, CGTC<br />
Student Veterans Organization, Checkmate<br />
Queens Social Club, The Church of Jesus<br />
Christ of Latter-day Saints, Cinderella<br />
Chapter #406-O.E.S. & Ebony Lodge #433,<br />
CTR Clean Team, Cox Communications,<br />
Community Resourece Network, First<br />
Baptist Church Garmon Street Athletic<br />
to ensure they secure all other loads.<br />
Ministry, Force Support Squadron<br />
Another litter abatement program<br />
Airmen’s Council, Frito Lay, GA-162<br />
Members of the Veterans High School Environmental Club post with their<br />
available is Adopt-A-Spot. <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong><br />
bounty of litter from around the High School and surrounding streets!<br />
AFJROTC Northside High School, Georgia<br />
<strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> appreciates the efforts of<br />
Military College, Houston County High<br />
churches, school clubs, civic organizations<br />
and businesses whose members have worked so diligently during the<br />
year to keep specific areas of <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> clean.<br />
During the past twelve months 701 volunteers contributed 1385 hours<br />
of their time to remove more than 10.2 tons of litter from 2 miles of<br />
walking trails, 130 acres of public parks, 27 miles of roadway and 6 miles<br />
of railroad tracks. These hardworking individuals are helping keep the<br />
roads clear because we don’t litter here!<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> salutes the following organizations for<br />
their commitment to promote a cleaner <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong>: 5th MOB 5/6, 5th<br />
Student Council, International Order of<br />
Rainbow for Girls (Dawn Hughes #6), Intensity Athletics, Kappa Epsilon<br />
Psi Military Sorority, Inc./<strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> Upsilon Chapter, Middle<br />
Georgia Miata Club, Mossy Creek Middle School Student Council, Hope<br />
Church, New Song Missionary Baptist Church, Omega Gamma Gamma<br />
Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Parkwood Elementary School<br />
Clean Campus Club, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.-Kappa Zeta Sigma<br />
Chapter, <strong>Robins</strong> AFB Company Grade Officer Organization, <strong>Robins</strong><br />
AFB, Southside Baptist Church/for the 478, Suffered In Silence, Inc.,<br />
Veterans High School Environmnetal Club, VFW Post 9998.<br />
Combat Communications Group, 52nd SCM, 116 CSS, 461 Maintenance<br />
8 <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>
RELEAF GRANT TREE GIVEAWAY<br />
Early morning participants explore the trees available at the ReLeaf Giveaway Event!<br />
For the third year in a row, citizens of <strong>Warner</strong><br />
<strong>Robins</strong> were given an opportunity to claim a<br />
variety of larger tree species, thanks to a grant<br />
opportunity received from the Georgia Tree<br />
Council and Georgia Forestry Commission.<br />
In December, 280 five to seven gallon trees<br />
were given away at the Native Plant Education<br />
Center with a bag of mulch to citizens of<br />
Houston County. Participants could choose<br />
from a variety of eleven different species to<br />
ensure they received a tree that met their needs.<br />
Master Gardeners and a Georgia Forestry<br />
Commission Representative were available<br />
to answer questions about best care practices<br />
of each available tree. Volunteers from <strong>Keep</strong><br />
<strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>’s Board and Veteran’s<br />
High School’s Environmental Club assisted<br />
in answering questions and loading trees and<br />
mulch.<br />
WARNER ROBINS TREE CANOPY<br />
TREES IN WARNER ROBINS<br />
The planting of crape myrtle trees has been a priority of <strong>Keep</strong><br />
<strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> for many years. More recently, <strong>Keep</strong><br />
<strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> has made all tree plantings a priority to<br />
ensure our city maintains a varied tree population Of course, the<br />
beautiful crape myrtles stand out while in bloom but at the same<br />
time, some areas are conspicuous by the absence of crape myrtles<br />
and trees in general. Tree planting on Watson Boulevard and all<br />
throughout the city will be a continuing project.<br />
Business owners on Watson Boulevard who have already planted<br />
crape myrtle trees have made possible the outstanding appearance<br />
of the city on this major thoroughfare. For this, we are most<br />
grateful.<br />
There are still many open spaces between the sidewalks and curbs<br />
where crape myrtles can be planted to make the city even more<br />
attractive. If you have any open spaces in front of your business/<br />
property, we encourage you to fill them with crape myrtles or other<br />
appropriate trees to help build our city’s tree canopy and add to the<br />
beauty we all enjoy.<br />
If you are interested, please contact the KWRB office at kwrb@<br />
wrga.gov or 478-929-7258. We will be pleased to furnish you<br />
with information concerning cost, color, and spacing of trees that<br />
would be needed in front of your business/property. We will also<br />
coordinate installation of the trees with the traffic engineer.<br />
Again, we wish to thank those businesses who have planted<br />
crape myrtle and other tree species, for making the attractiveness<br />
of Watson Boulevard possible and adding to our tree canopy. If<br />
you have not planted crape myrtles or other tree species, we hope<br />
you will join with us in helping make <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> as attractive<br />
as possible while creating the best possible environment for your<br />
business and customers.<br />
In celebration of National Arbor Day and Earth Day, Cherry Blossom trees were planted<br />
throughout the city, starting with the Municipal Complex.<br />
<strong>Beautiful</strong> Crape Myrtles in bloom line Watson Blvd.<br />
10 <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>
Members of KWRB’s Board hand out tree seedlings to patrons of Kroger.<br />
During February, local residents were invited to celebrate<br />
Arbor Day by planting a tree. Thanks to Flint Energies, Redbuds<br />
and Tulip Poplar seedlings were given to patrons of Kroger on<br />
Highway 96 by members of the KWRB Board and Veterans<br />
High School Environmental Club.<br />
ARBOR DAY<br />
Members of KWRB were available to answer questions about<br />
planting and caring for the seedlings. For the past thirty three<br />
years Arbor Day has been celebrated in <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> by the<br />
members of <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>.<br />
In 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board<br />
of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of<br />
trees. This celebration was to be called Arbor Day and would<br />
recognize the importance of trees in our lives. The first Arbor<br />
Day in 1872 was a great success. Over one million trees were<br />
planted and the idea spread to neighboring states. Today, 150<br />
years later, Arbor Day is celebrated in all 50 states and even in<br />
countries throughout the world. J. Sterling Morton’s dream of a<br />
greener tomorrow is still alive. Our cities are becoming greener<br />
and healthier places in which to live, work, and play. People<br />
everywhere are more aware of the need to plant trees. For, as J.<br />
Sterling Morton said, “…trees are a joy forever.”<br />
The Department of Agriculture estimates that one acre of<br />
forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four<br />
tons of oxygen, enough to meet the needs of 18 people. That<br />
same acre will also remove 13 tons of particulate pollution<br />
and potentially harmful gases. During this program 1,000 tree<br />
seedlings found new homes with people who promised to plant<br />
and nurture them.<br />
<strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> will be...greener because of Arbor Day!<br />
Congratulations...<br />
Now celebrating over 35 years of<br />
<strong>Keep</strong>ing <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> and 32<br />
consecutive years as a Tree City USA!<br />
BILL CRAIG<br />
REALTOR® CRS, GRI, ABR<br />
Office: (478) 953-2244 x2104<br />
Cell: (478) 318-2455<br />
<strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
Real Estate Services<br />
11
TIRE AMNESTY EVENT<br />
Every other year, <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> partners with Houston County Public Works to put on a Tire Amnesty<br />
Event. During this event, citizens of <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> can bring all of their scrap tires to one of three locations to dispose of<br />
free of charge. The tires are then taken to a recycler, thanks to a grant program offered by the E.P.D. This year, more than<br />
5,000 tires (124 tons) were collected and recycled from Houston County, keeping our streets clear because we don’t litter<br />
here!<br />
Volunteers worked together to quickly unload tires.<br />
Trucks and trailers full of tires lined up for two days to take advantage of this community partner event!<br />
12 <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>
CHUNK-A-JUNK-CAR<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> (KWRB) is pleased to once again partner<br />
with <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> Wrecker & Towing Service to host the Annual Chunk-<br />
A-Junk Car Program throughout the month of May in celebration of the<br />
Great American Cleanup.<br />
Persons requesting this FREE service will be required to:<br />
(1) provide name, address, telephone number, and<br />
vehicle description, and;<br />
(2) sign a release authorizing removal/disposal of the<br />
vehicle by <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> Wrecker Service.<br />
Owners who wish to have a junk vehicle removed from their property, free of charge, are urged to contact <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> Wrecker Service at<br />
478-922-1172.<br />
Our continued commitment to the community is supported<br />
by our on-going efforts in recycling and shredding.<br />
Cardboard Shredded Paper Magazines<br />
Newspaper Electronics Glass<br />
Aluminum and Other Metals<br />
www.happyhourservicecenter.org 1-478-929-6600<br />
Proud sponsors of <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
<strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
13
GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP<br />
KWRB Launches <strong>2023</strong> Great American Cleanup<br />
Volunteers Take Action to Clean, Restore and Renew <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong><br />
Volunteers clean litter from Watson and Commercial Circle.<br />
During Nation’s Largest Community Improvement Program<br />
GFL Environmental volunteers pose with one of the trucks donated to the GAC event. Several<br />
GFL trucks were filled with illegally dumped waste at no cost to <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>.<br />
Volunteers gather supplies before heading out into this year’s target cleanup area.<br />
The 25th anniversary of <strong>Keep</strong> America <strong>Beautiful</strong>’s<br />
Great American Cleanup, the nation’s largest community<br />
improvement program, kicked off in <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> with<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> (KWRB), Houston County<br />
Habitat for Humanity, and <strong>Robins</strong> Regional Chamber<br />
collaborating to host a massive cleanup of Commercial<br />
Circle to North Pleasant Hill.<br />
The Great American Cleanup, which takes place annually in<br />
an estimated 20,000 communities nationwide, engages more<br />
than 5 million volunteers and participants, on average, every<br />
year to create a positive and lasting impact. KWRB, along<br />
with <strong>Keep</strong> America <strong>Beautiful</strong>’s more than 600 communitybased<br />
affiliates and partnering organizations, plan volunteer<br />
events and education programs that help to renew parks,<br />
trails and recreation areas, clean waterways, remove litter<br />
and debris, reduce waste, improve recycling, and plant trees,<br />
flowers and community gardens.<br />
“We were thrilled to once again kick off the Great American<br />
Cleanup with our friends at Houston County Habitat for<br />
Humanity, while addressing community needs in a new<br />
location with the <strong>Robins</strong> Regional Chamber,” said <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong><br />
<strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> Manager Tiffany Bowen. “Representatives<br />
from several different organizations, sororities, fraternities,<br />
businesses, and city departments came together through hard<br />
work to create meaningful and lasting change in our local<br />
community. Thanks to grappler trucks, roll offs, and a rear<br />
end load donated by GFL Environmental, participants were<br />
able to fill more than fifty bags of trash, they were also able<br />
to fill dump trucks several times over with illegally dumped<br />
items! The Great American Cleanup has been largely successful<br />
because our local government, along with businesses, civic<br />
organizations and dedicated volunteers, all work together to<br />
make sure our neighborhoods come together to be the cleanest<br />
and greenest possible.”<br />
The <strong>2023</strong> Great American Cleanup is a call-to-action to<br />
engage more volunteers and participants in public space<br />
cleanup, beautification, and recycling events conducted<br />
by <strong>Keep</strong> America <strong>Beautiful</strong> affiliates nationwide. Once an<br />
individual becomes a Great American Cleanup volunteer<br />
with their local <strong>Keep</strong> America <strong>Beautiful</strong> affiliate or partner,<br />
the national nonprofit’s goal is that they will be inspired to<br />
take that experience home to organize a similar, smallerscale<br />
event in their own neighborhood … even on their own<br />
block.
SPONSORS<br />
NATIONAL SPONSORS<br />
New Song Baptist Curch<br />
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church<br />
Southside Baptist Church/For the 478<br />
Boy Scout Troop 550<br />
VFW Post 998<br />
Houston County Library (Perry)<br />
Veterans High School Environmental Club<br />
PARTICIPATING GROUPS<br />
Booz Allen<br />
<strong>Robins</strong> AFB Honor Guard<br />
Ebony Lodge #433<br />
Cinderella Chapter #406<br />
Dawn Hughes Rainbow Assembly #6<br />
S&K Aerospace Business Unit<br />
<strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> Alumnae Chapter 07 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc<br />
LOCAL SPONSORS<br />
Intensity Athletics of <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong><br />
<strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> Raiders<br />
American Legion<br />
CRSA Probation<br />
Centerville Headstart<br />
Omega Gamma Gamma Chapter Omega Psi Phi<br />
<strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong><br />
Wrecker Service<br />
Blades<br />
of Glory<br />
Landscaping<br />
Post 9998
<strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> (KWRB) was<br />
established in 1985, with a mission to educate the<br />
public and promote interest in the improvement of<br />
the environment in <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong>. Each year KWRB<br />
expands a little bit more, adding beautification sites,<br />
trees, educational programs, and cleanup events that<br />
underline the importance of this mission.<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> our streets clear, we don’t litter here<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong><br />
<strong>Beautiful</strong> partnered<br />
with Houston County<br />
to collect 124 tons<br />
of scrap tires to<br />
be recycled, a cost<br />
savings of $38,719.65<br />
to citizens of Houston<br />
County during this<br />
year’s “Tire Amnesty<br />
Event”.<br />
Over the past year, KWRB hosted several<br />
“Rivers Alive” events to cleanout different<br />
portions of the Bay Gall Creek.<br />
478-929-7258<br />
kwrb@wrga.gov<br />
KWRB Board members pose with the Mayor and the<br />
City’s first ever Live Christmas tree!<br />
Volunteers from the Georgia Forestry Commission,<br />
Master Gardeners of Houston County, and Veterans<br />
Environmental made giving away 285 containerized<br />
trees and bags of mulch a breeze during the ReLeaf<br />
Grant Giveaway!<br />
Veterans Environmental Club assisted KWRB with handing out 1,250 tree<br />
seedlings during an Arbor Day Event held at Kroger Nixon Market Place.
Public Works assisted KWRB in<br />
planting the City’s first live Christmas<br />
Tree at the Municipal Complex<br />
Thanks to grant funding, <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> was able to offer<br />
the city’s first Paint recycling event, where 7,293 POUNDS of paint were<br />
collected. This grant also allowed for the collection of electronics to be<br />
recycled, bulk waste and a makeup shred day!<br />
Each year KWRB “Rounds<br />
Up” live Christmas trees<br />
to be recycled. More than<br />
1,000 tree seedlings were<br />
exchanged for Christmas<br />
Trees at this year’s round up.<br />
December 2022 marked the first year<br />
of KWRB’s “Best Decorated” Christmas<br />
Competition. Categories for this Competition<br />
included best decorated home, best decorated<br />
apartment porches/balconies, and best<br />
decorated businesses.<br />
<strong>Robins</strong> Financial Credit Union<br />
sponsored two Community Shred<br />
Days, where KWRB volunteers<br />
collected more than 17 tons of<br />
paper to shred!<br />
Participants of the Spring Senior Citizens Flower Show<br />
proudly display their winnings!<br />
G.F.L. donated grappler trucks, dumpsters,<br />
and rear end loaders for our April<br />
G.A.C. event, allowing KWRB to clean<br />
up illegally dumped items from Commercial<br />
Circle to S. Pleasant!
HISTORY<br />
As some of you may know <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
is facing its 38th anniversary! One of the most common<br />
questions addressed by KWRB is “How did you get<br />
started?” We’d like to take this opportunity to answer.<br />
On December 11, 1985, the City of <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> was<br />
officially certified by <strong>Keep</strong> America <strong>Beautiful</strong>, Inc. to<br />
implement the Clean Community System, an innovative,<br />
behaviorally-based waste management program. Since<br />
certification, <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> has remained<br />
a member in good standing of <strong>Keep</strong> America <strong>Beautiful</strong>,<br />
Inc., a nationwide network of clean community systems,<br />
and a state affiliate of <strong>Keep</strong> Georgia <strong>Beautiful</strong>. Focus<br />
items include recycling education, litter prevention and<br />
eradication, community greening and beautification,<br />
waste reduction, community involvement, and public<br />
awareness.<br />
The organization was created by ordinance #65-85<br />
of the City Code and was originally named the Clean<br />
Community Commission. Members appointed by then-<br />
Mayor Ralph Johnson included Wiley Bowman, Sharon<br />
Cox, Curtis Dempsey, Ed Dyson, Ann Greer, Paul Hibbitts,<br />
LaVerne Norris, Carolyn Prince, Al Satterwhite, Nedra<br />
Spurlock and Leo Turner. Ed Martin, who also served as<br />
Mayor of <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> 1988– 1991 was appointed to<br />
serve as Executive Director.<br />
Since that time, KWRB has evolved into a 22-member<br />
volunteer organization, staffed by a full-executive director,<br />
and is located in the old bank building next to City Hall<br />
within the department of Community and Economic<br />
Development. KWRB continues to work closely with<br />
other city entities, including Code Enforcement, Public<br />
Works, Storm Water, and Recreation, to fulfill its mission<br />
to “Educate the public and promote interest in the<br />
improvement of the environment…”<br />
LITTER AWARENESS<br />
As we look around our beautiful country, we<br />
all too often see plastic bottles, cans, glass bottles,<br />
polystyrene containers and cups, plastic, paper<br />
and a whole lot of other rubbish littering our<br />
streets, our parks, alongside our highways, our<br />
neighborhoods, our shopping areas, our rivers<br />
and many other places in our environment.<br />
No city/county department or waste company<br />
can keep a community clean when residents<br />
continue to randomly litter and dump trash<br />
illegally. If citizens join in to clean up their<br />
environment and then keep it clean, we will have<br />
a cleaner, safer, and more hygienic city to enjoy.<br />
Does It Matter If We Litter? With so many<br />
other important issues such as crime, health<br />
concerns, abuse, and joblessness, should we care<br />
about whether we put our litter in the bin (or<br />
recycle where possible)? Should we care if the<br />
environment in which we live is kept clean?<br />
YES! It does matter and we should care. <strong>Keep</strong><br />
America <strong>Beautiful</strong> recently conducted a study<br />
estimating 50 billion pieces of litter along U.S.<br />
roadways and waterways. That equates to 152<br />
pieces of litter for every U.S. resident! Together,<br />
we can tackle this number in our town to <strong>Keep</strong><br />
<strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>.<br />
WHY? Litter is both an environmental and a<br />
social issue.Read more<br />
• It’s unsightly. It reduces the aesthetic appeal<br />
of public places including streets, parks and<br />
waterways.<br />
• It costs the community huge sums of money<br />
and time to clean up every year.<br />
• It causes blockages of the drainage system and<br />
causes flooding which costs millions of dollars to<br />
repair. This is money that can be better spent on<br />
housing and education.<br />
• When it gets into our waterways - rivers, dams<br />
and the ocean - it can kill aquatic life directly and<br />
indirectly through its impacts on water quality.<br />
• It decreases oxygen levels when it decays in<br />
water.<br />
• It kills rivers, and because water is such a precious<br />
resource and we have a limited supply, we need to<br />
preserve and cherish our rivers and waterways,<br />
which are the lifeblood of the environment.<br />
Waterways provide homes for wildlife and plants,<br />
water supplies for homes, industries and farms,<br />
and places of recreation and enjoyment for us all.<br />
• It can be dangerous to people, particularly when<br />
it involves items such as broken glass, rust, and<br />
other penetrating objects.<br />
• It can be a fire hazard, such as when lit cigarettes<br />
are thrown out of passing cars.<br />
• It harms birds because they may choke on<br />
plastic, chewing gum, or any other litter that gets<br />
stuck in their throats.<br />
• It breeds rats which carry diseases, destroy<br />
and eat crops and food, and chew electrical and<br />
telephone cables.<br />
• It promotes illness.<br />
• It encourages crime since. Areas that appear<br />
uncared for are seen to be unprotected and,<br />
therefore, easier targets.<br />
• It manifests a culture of disrespect for others in<br />
public areas.<br />
• It diminishes the pride people have in their<br />
environment.<br />
• It creates a culture of lack of caring.<br />
• It costs the municipalities a lot more money to<br />
clean up the litter than it costs them to empty<br />
bins.<br />
KEEP THE ROADS CLEAR,<br />
WE DON’T LITTER HERE!<br />
18 <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
LOCALLY OWNED<br />
HARDWARE | NURSERY<br />
GARDEN CENTER | ANIMALS<br />
NURSERY<br />
GARDEN CENTER<br />
HARDWARE<br />
ANIMALS/SEASONAL<br />
478-923-9707<br />
602 GA-247, Bonaire, GA
NATIVE PLANT EDUCATION CENTER<br />
PLANT EDUCATION CENTER<br />
PARTNERSHIP IS GROWING<br />
The <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> Native Plant Education Center is a<br />
community collaboration that began with just a few volunteers<br />
from <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> and the <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong><br />
Campus at Georgia Military College. The city generously<br />
allowed use of property located at 155 Prince Street, directly<br />
across from the campus and GMC assisted with maintenance.<br />
The vision of the WR Native Plant Education Center is to<br />
promote the stewardship and conservation of Georgia’s native<br />
plants and their habitats through education and research<br />
utilizing the involvement of individuals and organizations.<br />
These efforts include community organizations, local<br />
volunteers, and GMC students involved in research, plant<br />
propagations, restoration of native plant communities, and<br />
other conservation efforts.<br />
You will find a diverse selection of native plants- perennials,<br />
shrubs, and trees at every spring, summer, and fall plant sale!<br />
Students and faculty members will be available to answer<br />
questions and provide recommendations for the best plants<br />
to suit your landscape needs. Come find the perfect colors for<br />
your yard and help us <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>!<br />
Welcome to the Native Plant Education Center!<br />
Planting natives is a step in the right direction to repairing the pollinator<br />
population.<br />
<strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
19
PUBLIC WORKS APPRECIATION<br />
KWRB Board Members Alicia Hill and Debbie Hoke begin filling gift bags for Public Works.<br />
During the holidays volunteers enjoy decorating gift bags<br />
and filling them with goodies and treats provided by the<br />
community. Each employee of the Public Works Department<br />
is given and custom-decorated bags accompanied by a KWRB presents a cake to Public Works at the Annual appreciation Luncheon.<br />
heartfelt “Thank You!”<br />
The Public Works Appreciation Picnic is another tradition KWRB members look forward to each year in the spring. It is a<br />
special opportunity to express appreciation to the hardworking men and women for their efforts to keep the City of <strong>Warner</strong><br />
<strong>Robins</strong> neat and clean. It is also a time to once again thank them for the outstanding support they continue to give to KWRB<br />
throughout the year.<br />
Each time help is requested, it is given on time, every time, and always with a cooperative attitude. The annual Public<br />
Works Picnic is but a mere token of the board’s appreciation for these fine people!<br />
Public Works Annual Appreciation Luncheon.<br />
22 <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>
COMMUNITY APPEARANCE INDEX<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> (KWRB)<br />
conducted the Litter Index Survey, a tool<br />
designed by <strong>Keep</strong> America <strong>Beautiful</strong>, Inc.<br />
to visually assess the overall appearance of<br />
communities through indicators such as<br />
litter, illegal signs, graffiti, abandoned/junk<br />
vehicles, and outside storage. Flint Energies,<br />
Inc. and the <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> Recreation<br />
Department provided in-kind sponsorship<br />
which allowed a team of community, business,<br />
and government representatives to conduct<br />
the visual analysis using a four-point Likerttype<br />
ordinal scale. The scoring system ranged<br />
from 1-4, with the lowest score being the best,<br />
with the least amount of litter documented.<br />
KWRB learned that the score of 1.41<br />
represented a 24% increase in litter from last<br />
year, the figure indicated an overall 8.51%<br />
decrease from the baseline established in<br />
2002. According to Francis Wilson, KWRB<br />
Chairman, “Our Litter Eradication efforts,<br />
such as those that target illegal dumping, work!<br />
Results from this study continue to help us<br />
pinpoint areas that are in decline, out of code<br />
compliance, or in need of specialized attention.<br />
While we experienced an increase in score this<br />
year, we have greatly increased the amount of<br />
programs offered to combat illegal dumping<br />
and continue our litter abatement goals.”<br />
According to <strong>Keep</strong> America <strong>Beautiful</strong>, the<br />
survey is designed to gather data annually with<br />
the intent to use results in development of a<br />
local plan to change attitudes and behaviors<br />
regarding litter and related community<br />
improvements issues. Information is used by<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> America <strong>Beautiful</strong> to identify national<br />
trends regarding community improvement<br />
issues.<br />
<strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
23
RIVERS ALIVE<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong><br />
<strong>Beautiful</strong> participated in the<br />
statewide Rivers Alive cleanup<br />
program. Hosting a total<br />
of five cleanups throughout<br />
the year, more than 100<br />
volunteers collected supplies<br />
and followed sections of the<br />
creek. Trash, limbs, and debris<br />
were removed, clearing the<br />
waterway of obstructions.<br />
Rivers Alive targets all<br />
waterways in Georgia,<br />
including streams, rivers,<br />
lakes, beaches, and wetlands.<br />
The mission of Rivers Alive<br />
is “…to create awareness<br />
of and involvement in the<br />
preservation of Georgia’s<br />
water resources.” You may be asking yourself, “What does<br />
Rivers Alive have to do with Bay Gall Creek?” That question<br />
can be answered asking another, “Where does our rainwater<br />
go?”<br />
Our rainwater and runoff is collected primarily by Bay<br />
Gall Creek and ultimately flows into the Ocmulgee River,<br />
which converges with Oconee and Ohoopee Rivers to form<br />
the Altamaha River, the largest river system east of the<br />
Mississippi. Although we may<br />
not be close neighbors with<br />
citizens living in Darien, its<br />
entire community is directly<br />
affected by measures that we,<br />
the citizens of Houston County,<br />
take to control stormwater<br />
issues. For instance, any loose<br />
soil, pesticides, fertilizers,<br />
motor oil, litter, animal waste,<br />
etc. generated in our area will<br />
find its way to the community<br />
of Darien, and ultimately into<br />
the Atlantic Ocean. It is the<br />
responsibility of not only our<br />
community, but also of each<br />
community between <strong>Warner</strong><br />
<strong>Robins</strong> and the Atlantic<br />
to ensure that only what<br />
we would be willing to drink is what is deposited in our<br />
stormwater system.<br />
Georgia has 70,050 miles of streams and rivers that need<br />
our help! Our waterways provide us with fresh drinking<br />
water, offer recreational opportunities, and serve as a pleasant<br />
respite from our busy day-to-day lives.<br />
If your group or organization would like to become<br />
involved with Rivers Alive, contact kwrb@ wrga.gov or call<br />
478-929-7258.<br />
24 <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>
RIVERS ALIVE<br />
The Veterans’ High School Environmental Club cleans up the Bay Gall.<br />
A group of volunteers cleaning the waters of the Bay Gall Creek.<br />
Volunteers treck down the Bay Gall Creek, picking up litter along the way.<br />
<strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
25
According to the City of <strong>Warner</strong><br />
<strong>Robins</strong> Stormwater Management Plan<br />
(SWMP), management of stormwater<br />
runoff has become an increasingly<br />
STORMWATER<br />
WARNER ROBINS STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM<br />
Lake Joy Elementary third grade students learn about storm<br />
drain stenciling.<br />
important responsibility for local<br />
governments. Federal stormwater<br />
regulations, combined with aging<br />
infrastructures, have resulted in the<br />
development and implementation of<br />
a more comprehensive stormwater<br />
management program to address<br />
local drainage system issues.<br />
In general, all developed properties<br />
in <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> contribute<br />
stormwater runoff to the public<br />
drainage system, and in some cases<br />
to recurring drainage problems.<br />
Stormwater runoff is rainfall that<br />
drains off houses, rooftops, driveways,<br />
sidewalks, parking areas, roads and<br />
other features that prohibit infiltration<br />
of rainfall. This runoff then flows into<br />
city drainage systems, as well as into<br />
natural streams and channels.<br />
Where is rainwater from our city<br />
eventually deposited? Our rainwater<br />
and runoff is collected primarily by Bay<br />
Gall Creek and ultimately flows into<br />
the Ocmulgee River, which converges<br />
with Oconee and Ohoopee Rivers to<br />
form the Altamaha River, the largest<br />
river system east of the Mississippi.<br />
To help satisfy an educational<br />
component of the SWMP, <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong><br />
<strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> provides hands-on<br />
training to many organizations. City<br />
storm drains are cleared of debris,<br />
marked for documentation purposes<br />
and stenciled with the message: NO<br />
DUMPING, DRAINS TO CREEK.<br />
If you would like more information<br />
on this program, please contact kwrb@<br />
wrga.gov or 478-call 929-7258.<br />
26 <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>
PAINT RECYCLING EVENT<br />
Thanks to grant funding, <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> was able to offer the city’s first Paint recycling event, where 7,293 POUNDS of paint were collected. This grant also allowed for the<br />
collection of electronics to be recycled, bulk waste and a makeup shred day!<br />
<strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
27
ENVIROSCAPE<br />
28 <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
Throughout the State of Georgia and the nation, the realization is<br />
dawning: Water is our most precious resource! When you consider<br />
that we are drinking the SAME water the dinosaurs drank, we ALL<br />
live downstream, and water is NOT a renewable resource, it is easy to<br />
understand the need to conserve and protect our water resources.<br />
Since we all live downstream from someone, water pollution is<br />
everyone’s concern. With pollution coming from a wide variety of<br />
sources, it may surprise you to know there are things you can do to help<br />
prevent it, and to conserve and protect our water resource.<br />
EnviroScape is an exciting and interactive educational tool that<br />
addresses “point” and<br />
“non-point” sources of water pollution. Everybody plays, and<br />
everybody learns from this one-of-a-kind demonstration project. The<br />
portable, three-dimensional EnviroScape uses “rain” from a spray bottle<br />
to show pollution coming from urban, rural, and industrial areas. The<br />
rain carries soil (cocoa), fertilizer (candy sprinkles), and pesticides<br />
(powdered drink mix), and oil (chocolate syrup) downhill to a lake,<br />
where the effects of the pollution become plainly visible. The watershed<br />
model then shows ways to help prevent non-point source pollution.<br />
The objective of the EnviroScape presentation is to use a balanced<br />
approach to clearly demonstrate individual responsibility for water<br />
pollution and its prevention. For according to Baba Dioum, from<br />
Senegal, “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love<br />
Children gather at the Perry Library for a “World Oceans Day” EnviroScape Demonstration. only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are<br />
taught.”<br />
We are pleased to report that during the school year volunteers hosted 19 demonstrations for 310 youth and 36 adults. Youth also learned the value<br />
of proper storm water management by assisting with the marking of 94 city storm drains. If you would like to schedule an EnviroScape or Storm<br />
Drain presentation for your group, school, or organization-please contact kwrb@wrga.gov or 478-929-7258.<br />
FLOWER SHOW<br />
Each year, in celebration of<br />
<strong>Keep</strong> America <strong>Beautiful</strong>’s Great<br />
American Cleanup, <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong><br />
<strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> (KWRB) enjoys<br />
sponsoring the Senior Citizen<br />
Flower Show for members of the<br />
Senior Citizens Social Club.<br />
Cheryl Taylor, retired KWRB<br />
board member, chaired and emceed<br />
the event. Awards and prizes were<br />
provided by members of KWRB.<br />
Accredited Master Flower Show<br />
Judges were Donna Hunt and<br />
Lakesha Carter.<br />
Categories for the flower show<br />
include Cut Specimen, Floral<br />
Arrangement, and Container<br />
Grown. First through third place<br />
winners were selected for each<br />
category, with a Best of Show award<br />
KWRB Board Member Roman Jones is pictured with First<br />
as well.<br />
Place Floral Arrangement winner Lita Magerkurth.<br />
Roman Jones (KWRB) presents the Best In Show Award to<br />
winner Patty Panarese.
COMMUNITY SHRED DAYS<br />
<strong>Robins</strong> Financial Credit Union sponsored two Community Shred Days, where KWRB volunteers<br />
collected more than 17 tons of paper to shred!<br />
<strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
29
WILDFLOWER PROJECT<br />
Medians of Russell Parkway are in full bloom with almost thirty different species of<br />
wildflowers this year!<br />
Did you know there are at least 32,000 different kinds<br />
of flowering plants that grow wild in the United States?<br />
Wildflowers are native to where they grow, meaning they<br />
are conditioned to thrive there without interference. With a<br />
continuously declining pollinator population, wildflowers are<br />
more important now than ever. <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong><br />
has partnered with Public Works and Storm Water to bring<br />
wildflowers to the medians of <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong>, starting with<br />
Russell Parkway!<br />
Why should you care about the Wildflower Project?<br />
The wildflower project will do so much more for the<br />
environment here in <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> than just bringing brightly<br />
colored flowers to your daily drive. While these flowers will<br />
provide natural beauty to our town, they will benefit our<br />
environment in a multitude of ways. An immediate and lasting<br />
environmental impact will be reducing the mowing workload<br />
Public Works carries-a time consuming burden that comes<br />
with a hefty carbon footprint. However, this is not the only<br />
environmental impact, our native pollinators will see significant<br />
benefits as well.<br />
Over the years, as development continues to boom and<br />
invasive plants have been introduced, many wildflower species<br />
have been lost, leaving countless pollinators without a habitat.<br />
A devastating fact, as pollinators are a keystone species in<br />
every ecosystem on earth. With a third of the world’s food crops<br />
depending on pollinators to reproduce, restoring and enhancing<br />
pollinator habitat should be a goal on every city’s mind! In<br />
order to honor this commitment to our environment, <strong>Keep</strong><br />
<strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong> has taken the necessary steps to have<br />
<strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> designated as a Bee City.<br />
Members from Public Works and Community and Economic Development mix wildflower seed with sand for an even casting.<br />
30 <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>
Help <strong>Keep</strong> <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong> <strong>Beautiful</strong>!<br />
The mission of Middle Georgia Orthopaedics is<br />
to provide quality healthcare for each individual<br />
patient. We are dedicated to providing the most<br />
advanced technology and effective services for all<br />
ORTHOPAEDIC<br />
SURGICAL<br />
DIAGNOSTIC<br />
and<br />
REHABILITATIVE<br />
NEEDS.<br />
It is our goal to effectively support and care for all<br />
patients as they strive to maintain a<br />
healthy quality of life.<br />
Specializing in YOU<br />
Scott Malone, MD<br />
Jeffrey Easom, DO<br />
Derrick Phillips, MD<br />
David Wiley, MD<br />
William Wiley, MD<br />
www.mgo.md<br />
Daxes Banit, MD<br />
Call Us At (478) 953-4563 or 953-4611<br />
3051 Watson Blvd., <strong>Warner</strong> <strong>Robins</strong>, GA 31093 1013 Main St., Perry, GA 31069