Look around the River Parishes and you will see scenic waterways, a river bustling with commerce, many neighborhoods with pricey homes and all the hallmarks of a growing and stable economy. Look a bit elsewhere in the River Parishes and you will see some neighborhoods blighted with trash on the roadsides and vacant lots. Behind the levee, stolen and burned-out cars can often be found. Then, there are the ever-present household goods dumped on dark roadsides, such as refrigerators, sofas, mattresses and hot-water heaters. It’s time we take a long, hard look at the mindset which allows some people to dodge passing deputies and watchful neighbors to trash up the area. There exist programs to collect such items and also old tires and containers of old oil, and not have them polluting our roadsides. We take justifiable pride in our community. There are many signs of an excellent way of life, with caring neighbors, industrious workers, good schools and vigorous business. Yet, there still remain those people who will dump asbestos, scrap lumber, battered sheetrock and bags of household garbage. From time to time community organizations and businesses which have “adopted” sections of highway will go out and work for hours picking up trash. Even before they finish more trash is tossed by passing motorists. Progress is being made in this effort. “Old” U.S. Highway 51 is much cleaner than it was five years ago, thanks to the efforts of a small band of people who care. The same goes for St. Rose Avenue, where area residents keep a watchful eye on who may pollute. Local sheriffs often bring out clean-up crews to help in the effort to keep our highways scenic. However, such efforts must be joined with a new mindset – that of a community committed to a cleaner, more attractive River Parishes region. We urge people to set a good example for their children and not toss their trash and garbage by the roadsides and behind the levees. We urge young people to take this lesson to heart and not continue poor examples into the coming generation. We urge businesses to clean up their own parking lots and roadsides to present a better image to their customers. We urge industry to do likewise and join the continued effort to keep the River Parishes clean. It isn’t hard to place household garbage, building waste, old tires and old white goods into their proper places. One also risks arrest and a fine for failure to obey the law. Even dumping a car’s ash tray out the driver’s window presents a poor image for our entire community. We can do much better, if we all take the time to think first and consider our neighbors and children.

L’Observateur