×

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection recognizes Mid-Ohio Valley youth, groups

(Capitol Notes - Graphic Illustration/MetroCreative)

CAIRO, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Youth Environmental Program presented close to $15,000 in cash awards to youth groups from around the state for their efforts to better the environment in the Mountain State.

Groups were recognized during the 61st annual Youth Environmental Day recently at North Bend State Park in Ritchie County.

The YEP honored 4-H clubs, scout troops, schools and other youth organizations who completed environmental projects that benefited the state and their communities. Projects included tree plantings, roadside litter and stream cleanups, recycling drives and environmental education.

During the past year, groups enrolled in the YEP collected 875 bags of trash. They recycled more than 9,000 pounds of aluminum, 62,000 pounds of plastic, 100,000 pounds of steel and 80,000 pounds of paper. They also planted more than 500 trees and cleaned trash from 210 miles of roadways, in addition to community areas and streams.

In total, the amount of volunteer hours accumulated by YEP groups equaled an estimated savings of $11.3 million for the state.

In addition to recognizing youth groups, the YEP also presented the Rick Vecellio Memorial Conservation Scholarship to Carter Takarsh, a senior at Winfield High School and a member of the Winfield Scotts 4-H Club. The $10,000 college scholarship is presented annually to an active YEP member with exemplary conduct throughout his or her school years. The scholarship is made available by the Vecellio Family Foundation Inc. of Beckley.

Award winners from the Mid-Ohio Valley include:

* Callie Dixon, Belleville 4-H, was one of two winners of an award from the Go-Mart Corporation for essays entitled “My Action Plan to Become a Better Environmental Steward in my Home or Neighborhood.”

* Karson Pigott, Belleville 4-H, was one of five winners to receive a $100 prize for a poster depicting an environmental theme. The funds were made available by Leo Vecellio Jr. in memory of his mother, Evelyn Vecellio.

* The Arvilla Wide Awakes 4-H Club in Pleasants County received the District Coordinator award for District 6 and a $200 prize in recognition of their overall community environmental efforts.

* Belleville 4-H received the $300 Wildlife Management Award, which is presented to a youth group completing a wildlife management project that encompasses food, water and cover for West Virginia’s wildlife, especially during the winter months.

* Morristown Mountaineers 4-H, from Wirt County, received the $200 R.E.A.P. Adopt-A-Highway Award, presented to a youth group with an Adopt-A- Highway/Adopt-A-Spot that has been maintained with three reported cleanups.

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today