By JOHN HOWARD

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – In St. John Parish, volunteers gathered at the end of Old Highway 51 Saturday to participate in a community clean up called &#8220Beach Sweep 2007,” an annual clean-up program set up by the Lake Pontchartrain Bain Foundation.

This is the first year that Keep St. John Beautiful, an affiliate of Keeping America Beautiful, joined in the effort.

St. John Parish strongly supported the project providing workers and equipment for the cause.

The LaPlace Rotary Club, St. John Business Association, St. John Sheriff’s Department and several volunteers from among the community were also on hand to participate in the clean-up project.

President of the St. John Parish Business Association O.J. Breech said that this is an important project for this area because if the hurricane had been just a few miles west, LaPlace wouldn’t be here.

&#8220I’d like to extend a special thanks to the Rotary Club to make this a productive and effective mission to keep Lake Ponchartrain beautiful,” said Breech.

Rotary Club Member Richard Stinson explained the importance of the project and keeping the area clean.

&#8220We need to beautify the parish,” said Stinson. &#8220We need to have a good first impression. No one wants to see trash all over.”

The volunteers walked the area near the LaPlace Travel Center at the end of Old Highway 51 and Ruddock picking up trash along the way.

Several younger members of the community made an appearance to show their dedication to keeping the area clean. Mark Bray of

LaPlace was on hand with his wife and four children, ranging from age four to 13, to lend a hand to the cause.

Wesley Bray, Mark Bray’s 11-year-old son, was excited to play his part and felt that his involvement could be an inspiration to other kids his age to do something for the community.

&#8220It’s about helping the environment,” said Wesley Bray. &#8220You can get your friend to get their friends and it keeps going.”

Bray and his family along with members of the Rotary Club began their walk at the gas station and swept the area, filling up trash bags.

The Parish provided workers, a bulldozer and a dump truck to pick up the large trash that has accumulated off of I-55 at the Ruddock exit. Workers also went behind the volunteers and picked up the filled trash bags.

LaPlace Rotary Club President Cheryl Millet said that the clean up was a success.

&#8220They cleaned up real well near Ruddock,” said Millet. &#8220We’re real pleased with the work that was done.”