Webbers set example for community

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Al and Ruth Webber

July 18, 2008

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Anonymous The Commonwealth Journal Fri Jul 18, 2008, 06:19 AM EDT

PRIDE has honored a Somerset couple who regularly picks up litter in the Omega Park area.

Al and Ruth Webber, who live on Bolton Hollow Road, received the PRIDE Volunteer of the Month Award for July for their service.

“The Webbers demonstrate the true spirit of PRIDE, which is taking personal responsibility for the environment,” said Tammie Wilson, PRIDE vice president and chief operating officer. “They don’t wait for someone else to clean up a mess that takes away from their area’s scenic beauty. Instead, they pick up the litter and make a visible difference in their community. Just imagine how clean our region would be if everyone followed their lead. I am grateful for their service.”

“The Webbers are what I call true volunteers,” said Pulaski County Solid Waste Coordinator Gerald Hines, who nominated the Webbers for the PRIDE award. “They do the work to make the community better without seeking praise or glory. They are great examples to all.”

The Webbers have volunteered to pick up litter in the Omega Park area for about six years.

Several times a year, they pick up litter along the roads and take their trash bags to the local fire station to be picked up by the Pulaski County Solid Waste Department.

The couple also volunteers during the annual PRIDE Spring Cleanup, which is held in April, and Roadside PRIDE Month, which is held in October. In October 2007 and April 2008, they volunteered a total of 25 hours cleaning in the Omega Park area.

The PRIDE Volunteer of the Month program recognizes hard work and dedication to the PRIDE initiative.

With corporate sponsorship from TECO Coal, WYMT-TV airs commercials about each PRIDE Volunteer of the Month.

The 12 Volunteers of the Month are considered for PRIDE’s annual Tony Turner Volunteer of the Year Award.

“Volunteers are the backbone of PRIDE,” said Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-5), PRIDE co-founder. “We wouldn’t be where we are without our volunteers. More than 230,000 volunteers have helped with PRIDE cleanup and education projects. We want to thank TECO Coal for helping PRIDE give these generous people the recognition they deserve.”

PRIDE links citizens with the resources of local, state and federal agencies to clean up the region’s waterways, end illegal trash dumps and promote environmental education and awareness.

PRIDE is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

For more information about PRIDE, call the PRIDE office, toll free, at 1-888-577-4339 or visit www.kypride.org.

To volunteer, please call your local PRIDE Coordinator.

In Pulaski County, the PRIDE coordinators are Gerald Hines (677-0320) and Joe Dungan (423-5211). The Burnside PRIDE coordinator is Amy Mink (561-4113), the Ferguson PRIDE co-coordinators are Melody Jones and Janie Ping (679-6800), and the Science Hill PRIDE coordinator is Robbie Gossett (423-4109).

To volunteer with the Friends of Lake Cumberland, please call PRIDE Coordinator Dudley Hosch (561-4399).

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