Up to 125 loads of rubbish, garbage, trash, debris, refuse, scraps, waste – you name it, there was a huge amount of junk hauled to various dumps on Saturday in Peru.
     Peru State President Dr. Dan Hanson called the event “a wonderful collaborative effort between the City of Peru and Peru State College (PSC). 
    Dr. Hanson, along with a number of others, began planning the “Great American Cleanup – Peru, Nebraska” last November. Others involved in the event which was a part of “Keep America Beautiful”, and is planned to be an annual event, included:  Ken Hastings – President of the Peru Chamber of Commerce, Cindy Moran – City Clerk, Kristi Wemhoff, Angela Allgood, Chelsea Allgood, Terry Clark, Steve Schneider, Peggy Groff, and Elaine Hanson – PSC's First Lady.
    The group noted that almost anything from bagged garbage to furniture to appliances to tv's to used oil to tires would be picked up.  The group identified various sections of the city and the participants were assigned to collect the trash from those areas.  Other participants took trash bags and collected debris from the roadsides and lawns on the main street.
     Approximately 20 trucks were used in the cleanup, which saw nearly 125 loads of discarded junk collected.  Over 100 college students (primarily student-athletes representing all athletic teams other than softball and baseball who were playing on Saturday) and 28 community residents participated in the cleanup.  Two loads of tv's were transported to an Auburn site for disposal.
    Peru State College groups participating which comprised the 100+ students were Rotaract, PILOT, Red Cross Club, Student Senate, and the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).   The Bobcat cheerleaders, along with a few residents, potted plants in the various planters in downtown Peru.
     Next year's event will be held at a similar time of year which will be prior to the College's annual graduation.