Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
"One People ... One Planet" was the theme of Earth Day '99 held Saturday at the Center Lake Pavilion.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kosciusko County residents packed the pavilion to celebrate Earth Day and to participate in environment-related activities. Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District sponsored Earth Day again this year.
Local companies involved in recycling and related areas were on hand to demonstrate to the public what they do for the community in regard to the environment.
Stafford Solid Waste had two trucks at Central Park for residents to inspect. The trucks are used to haul recyclable goods. Bittersweet Farms, Etna Green, sold annuals and perennials. Allied Waste Industries had a model of a working landfill on display.
Other companies and local agencies on hand were Warsaw Bonsai Club, Kosciusko County Soil and Water District, Superior Excavating, Water Watchers, Kosciusko County Master Gardeners, KCSWMD and two local radio stations.
Alvon Abbott displayed his art made of recyclable products. His art is made of corrugated cardboard, egg cartons, newspapers, shopping bags and other products most people throw away. He said he is on his 25th year of making the art pieces.
"I've been recycling stuff longer than that," he said.
There were 27 different entries in the KCSWMD contest, "What is the most creative or useful thing you can make from an old milk jug?" Samples of the entrees include a skeleton made of milk jugs while another was used as a planter. There were five contest categories with prizes from Eastlake Skate Center, North Pointe Cinema and Poly-Wood, Inc.
KCSWMD also sponsored a recycling-relay game at the Center Lake Pavilion. Participants had to select which products were more earth-friendly and put them in a bag. Then, after filling their bags, contestants sat in a chair and threw aluminum pop cans into a recycling bin. The first contestant finished won. All contestants won T-shirts.
KCSWMD also gave out balloons with a world map on them.
