By Gary Chamberlain

The Highway 89A “Road Warriors” have dedicated their July 2009 litter recovery to our soldiers who currently serve our country. It also honors our veterans and community. Litter scars our communities and should be an embarrassment to all Americans who are proud of their country.

If our soldiers can endure the heat and dangers of a war zone, we can gather folks in our community to brave the heat and a few possible snakes.

So, for the past two weeks the Road Warriors have been marching from Cottonwood to Sedona bagging up the litter from those who disrespect our communities and environment and break the law. The big, blue ADOT bags lining 89A should raise awareness of all the litter that ends up along this stretch of road. We have yet to find anyone who believes this littering is acceptable.

The “Road Warriors” have promoted their CSI (Citizen Special Investigators) program as a solution. The CSI program consists of a business card with all local law enforcement phone numbers listed. There currently are 11,500 cards in circulation and another 2,000 cards have been pledged bringing the total to 13,500. The goal is 100,000 and anyone can order them by contacting Gary Chamberlain. It is our hope that law enforcement will support this program that is now being promoted statewide. As American citizens, it is our hope that when we report litter and criminal activity that our law enforcement will look into some of the call-ins and issue the reported violator an appropriate warning.

It’s difficult to understand that if Cottonwood and Sedona have load cover laws that are being enforced why so much trash ends up on the 89A between the two cities. The Sedona police have been contacted and do in fact have records supporting a tough stance on litter issues. Cottonwood will be contacted so their effectiveness can be evaluated. When you consider how much drug paraphernalia and empty alcohol bottles are disposed of along 89A, this is a great place for all law enforcement agencies to start cracking down on illegal activities.

In their effort to make our troops, veterans and communities proud, the Road Warriors have recovered approximately 150 bags of litter during the past two weeks which can be seen when you travel 89A between Cottonwood and Sedona. They currently are at the Sedona water treatment plant and hope to reach their goal (Sedona) this coming week. Property values, tourism, community pride and the environment are undoubtedly negatively impacted by litter.

To their knowledge, the Road Warriors, CSI and the “Lower Oak Creek” Cornville community volunteers have pioneered a concept never before employed in Arizona . RECYCLING! The ” Lower Oak Creek ” volunteers will eventually recycle the contents of the ADOT litter bags for free as a community service. ADOT has been working with the Road Warriors in their VERY out-of-the- box approach. It’s an approach that benefits all parties.

Gary Chamberlain and all Road Warrior invites any and all to be part of this volunteer group. There is no special hand shake as he likes to say. He will be quick to tell you that if you bring criticism and no solutions that you are willing to participate in, the conversation will be short.

The combination of Road Warriors and CSI participants currently is 50 people and growing. They appear to be a well-oiled group of folks on a common mission.

You can reach them by contacting Gary Chamberlain, Road Warrior & CSI manager, PO Box 4180 , Cottonwood , AZ 86326 , (928) 202-1186, E-mail: 89A.CSI@gmail.com.

The Road Warriors and CSI participants want people to know that they welcome all suggestions, comments and concerns regarding improving our community to the PO Box. Contact information is optional. We’re primarily interested in developing the ideas of “we the folks” who look out for one another.

File. July 2009 For the Troops