North Augusta shows up for Trash Bash event

Samantha Winn, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read

Sep. 18—North Augusta residents lined up along the Greeneway to clean up the Savannah River.

The challenge, the Trash Bash at the Border, worked to see which border city has more volunteers and cleanup efforts.

"We are so excited that people came out to support this event," Keep Aiken County Beautiful organizer Kandace Cave said. "It is a friendly competition, but the benefit of it is that the river will be cleaner (and) the lands around it will be cleaner. Any trash that is on the ground that doesn't get picked up always ends up in a body of water, so the healthier we can make the land around the river, the healthier the river will be."

The event was organized by Keep Aiken County Beautiful and Keep Augusta Beautiful.

"I think the earlier we can get people to not pick up the littering habits, the better we all are," Cave said.

The winner of the competition between North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams and Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis Jr. will take home a mayor's cup. Results will be tallied and announced Monday, Sept. 21.

"I don't even have to tell you what an incredible jewel the Savannah River is," Williams said. "There are so many communities in this state and in this country that would love to have water on its banks, and we do. I am thankful for these two organizations for being willing to inspire this fun little contest and I think the real winner is the community and, of course, this river."

North Augusta had 93 volunteers show up today for the event with lunch provided by Chick-fil-A to volunteers.

"It shows us that people care about what the green spaces within their cities and counties look like," Michaela Canady, an environmental technician with North Augusta's stormwater department said.

Council member Pat Carpenter was excited to see the community come out in support of the event.

"I just think that shows that people want to help and people want to be together and ... it makes our city a better place to live...," Carpenter said.

Samantha Winn covers the city of North Augusta, with a focus on government and community oriented business. Follow her on Twitter: @samanthamwinn and on Facebook and Instagram: @swinnnews.