Staff Report
A group of locals headed by Lorrie Steely and the Mojave Communities Conservation Collaborative recently spearheaded a successful community cleanup in eastern Apple Valley.
The event, which was held on Feb. 27, included completely filling three trash bins and one 40-foot-long bin — with tires only.
"We had more trash than the bins could accommodate," Steely said.
In addition to local residents, San Bernardino County Code enforcement brought out more bins and used Work Release Program enrollees to clean up the mess.
"There is a lot of illegal dumping taking place all over the desert, and our area has been targeted as well," she said.
Steely is working to stop the illegal tire dumping, which appeared to come from a business.
"We are working with the County and our State Assemblyman Jay Obernolte to enforce the law and stop this activity."
Besides cleaning up eastern Apple Valley, Steely has helped Chuck Bell and Millie Rader in Lucerne Valley bring awareness — along with rolling up their own sleeves — to the local illegal dumping issue. In the Victor Valley, longtime resident Michael Stevens has led a highly successful "Don't Trash Our Desert" campaign.
MC3 and Steely are calling all volunteers to joining in a County of San Bernardino Community Clean-up Day from 8 a.m to noon on Saturday, April 2. The staging area will be at Desert View Road and Laguna Seca about 1.5 miles south of Milpas, then 1.5 miles west on Desert View.
"The County has made signs for our area, and we will be installing them to advise illegal dumpers that we are watching and reported," Steely said. "Please come out, meet your neighbors and be part of the solution."
For more information, call Lorrie Steely at 760-985-8744.