No pride, no shame
The column about litter in last Sunday’s paper (Partial to Home: Unclaimed baggage) evoked similar observations in Starkville.
For the last five years I’ve picked up trash on Oktoc Road from the roundabout just off the MSU campus to the bridge about one mile away.
The road has been strewn with deer carcasses, toilet bowls, ketchup packets and anything in between. Usually it takes about three 39-gallon bags and two to three hours once every month or so.
For some reason, the county road crews mow and spray this road, so the litter will be more visible, apparently. I asked for no littering signs, to no avail.
The MSU campus is spotless, so the contrast is most acute. The gas station is usually also littered.
What do I get out of this? Good exercise, and not facing the ugliness going to campus or work. No one has thanked me or acknowledged my efforts. Certainly there is no pride left.
And there is no shame either.
Doug Crawford
Starkville
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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