Grand Islander's enjoy a high quality of life and can rightfully take pride in the many blessings that make our hometown special, yet like every community, ours has its own unique problems and challenges.

A creeping blight is encroaching on every corner of the town and county in the form of litter.

Certainly this isn't Grand Island's biggest problem, but it has become one of the most visible. Nearly a mile of trash festoons the north side of the eastern entrance to the community just across the highway from the brand new Public Safety Center and jail. To the West trash is clearly visible along the entire length of Highway 281 in town.

The long, windy winter has contributed to the litter problem, but except for the efforts of a few groups and private citizens, the roadways, fence lines and ditches of the district have become repositories for the carelessness others including used tires, full garbage bags, empties from last night's rolling beer party, plastic bottles, construction waste and drink containers and lunch bags blown out of pickup beds.

Much of this material will find its way from drainage ditches into the area's waterways, ponds, etc. The lighter stuff; plastic bags, insulation, etc. will end in up in farm fields vacant lots, fences and trees.

Volunteer groups like the scouts have found that clean up efforts are now more problematic due to increased risks associated with handling the dangerous types of refuse. In addition to broken glass, toxic chemicals from drug lab dumpings, needles and an increased volume of containers with unknown but potentially harmful contents require special handling and disposal.

We are confident that as the weather improves the good citizens of Grand Island will mobilize to clean up their hometown.

With Grand Island taking center stage as host of the state's oldest and most revered events, renewed attention to keeping the community litter free fits with its welcoming progressive image.

As the saying goes, "you never get a second chance to make a first impression."