Viburnum Beautification Day Successful
Johnny Jones, September 2001
September 15th dawned bright and cool, just right for the more than 30 workers who gathered at City Hall to make Viburnum clean and alive.
The "clean" was accomplished by the volunteers from age 4 to their 80's, using bright yellow plastic bags to pick up trash. We always like to pick up trash before the Missouri Community Betterment judges arrive. They will be here Monday, September 17th, at 10 am.
"Alive" would best describe the flowers now adorning the sides of the benches, and in the newly-laid brick beds under the Ministerial Alliance signs.
Wes Lloyd led the group gathered at 7 am in prayer. More people filtered in during the morning.
When the workers got hungry, they could snack on cookies or donuts donated by Casey's; the sodas and water donated by G & W were also popular. Charlotte Reddick and Minnie Yount ran the refreshment table, making sure the workers had what they wanted to eat and drink.
Before we came along with gardening gloves, Bruce and Patty Carmier used landscaping brick to build the bed at the top of Wayfarer Lane, going into the 7th addition. Terry LaRue and Tom Miles built the one just past the ball park going towards the 8th addition.
And Toreen LaRue and Paula Dunn spent their Friday night mixing manure in with the topsoil for the beds.
Paula Dunn planned, hauled, and organized the plantings that adorn the flower beds and pots.
Now when someone comes to Viburnum on Highway 49, from Bixby or from Dillard, she will be greeted by signs proclaiming "Jesus is Lord," and also, beneath the signs, by mums and sedums and ferns and by Viburnum bushes. Our mayor, Steve Ogle, would like to encourage everyone in Viburnum to consider planting a Viburnum bush or two in their own yard.
There is a Viburnum bush beside one of the benches, and there are mums beside each of the benches Stanley Blackwell donated to the public areas of our town, making them even more inviting. Brook LaRue supervised the planting of the pots beside the benches. Brandon Hubbs, with his hand tools, helped get the dirt in the flower pots just right.
The City of Viburnum donated money to enable the project, and Toreen LaRue coordinated it. In fact, it was Toreen who envisioned this project. If you like the flowers, be sure to let Toreen or your City Council representative know. From all of us, thank you for something positive, especially during this week that has been so devastating for our country. And Toreen would like to sincerely thank each of the people who turned out to help.
If you missed this beautification day, don't worry. People felt so good about what we got accomplished in just a few hours, that we may do this again. We'll let you know when!
