Keep Sidney Beautiful earns recognition at state ceremony

Sidney's representatives fared well at Keep Nebraska Beautiful's held its annual Environmental Awards luncheon on June 27.

Keep Sidney Beautiful received the state's Award of Excellence for their effort during the Great American Cleanup and was recognized with a Gold Affiliates award for programs during the year. KNB also honored the City of Sidney with second place in the Deanie Anderson Award list, earned for overall community environmental excellence.

The Anderson award includes programs for public awareness, adult education, recycling and projects at local schools.

“The number of environmental events, projects and overall efforts in recycling, reducing and reusing are amazing for a community the size of Sidney,” reported KSB's Director, Cheryl Jones, in a press statement.

Keep Sidney Beautiful is an affiliate of the state's organization, as well as Keep America Beautiful. The group includes more than a dozen active volunteer members and works with the community on clean up and education events.

Sidney's office opened in 2002.

Held at the Lied conference Center in Nebraska City, the state's award ceremony recognized the work of both youth and civic groups, businesses, individuals and local communities.

Jones said that KSB expects to add more programs in the coming year and improve existing offerings. This year's Great Trash Race was declared a success.

The group will participate in and promote National Planting Day on September 7. The day will include the planting indigenous plants and flowers. A Scrap Tire Event will be another program in KSB's September lineup.The city and Keep Sidney Beautiful were awarded a $34,000 grant to support the event, which will collect used tires and send them for recycling.

“We will need to continue to recruit volunteers to help with our current and future programs,” Jones noted.