GULFPORT, MS – Mississippi Power is teaming with more than 60 corporate, community and governmental partners for a four-day Renew Our Rivers cleanup event, Oct. 13 – Oct. 16. In its fifth year, the cleanup initiative will stretch across four counties to cover more waterways and involve more volunteers.
 
“This event not only serves the environment, it brings people together in an effort to preserve
our natural resources,” said Verdell Hawkins, corporate spokesman, Mississippi Power. “We are working closely with communities across Southeast Mississippi to create a heightened awareness among boaters and water enthusiasts.”

The 2010 Renew Our Rivers will focus on the Pascagoula River, Deer Island in Biloxi, Turkey Creek in Gulfport, the Hancock County Marshlands at Ansley and Boley Creek in Picayune.

Mississippi Power believes the event would not be successful without an education component, and in partnering with Keep Mississippi Beautiful, Renew Our Rivers offers an elementary education coloring book and a coordinated lesson plan called ‘Message in the Bottle - A River Adventure.’ The book talks about how to prevent forms of water pollution and sends a message to respect our invaluable waterways.

Renew Our Rivers 2010 could not be possible without these additional partners:

AA Graf-x, ABC Rentals, Alabama Power, American Association of Blacks in Energy, AmeriCorps, Best Buy – D’Iberville, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Bill’s Quickstop, Biloxi Lions Club, Boudin’s Environmental Services, Carriere Fire Department, City of Biloxi, City of Picayune, Clean Rite Inc., Coast Electric Power Association, Coastal Rivers, Coca Cola, Congressman Gene Taylor’s Office, Cumbest Realty, Cupit Signs, Department of Marine Resources, DMR Coastal Preserves Program, Ducks Unlimited – Diamondhead/Hancock County Chapter, Eco-Tours of South MS, G9 Investments, Glad Force Flex, Gulf Coast Research Lab, Hancock County Roads Department, Hard Rock Casino, Harrison County Beautification Commission, Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, Highland Community Hospital, Jackson County Solid Waste Department, Keep Mississippi Beautiful, Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain, Little River Marina, McCoy’s River and Marsh Tours, MS Department of Environmental Quality, MS Department Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, Merchants & Marine Bank, Mike Hooks Inc., Mississippi HomeCare, MS Export Railroad, Nicholson Fire Department, NOAA, North Gulfport Community Land Trust, Okatoma Outdoor Post, Pascagoula River Basin Alliance, Pearl River County, Picayune Fire Department, Pine Grove Fire Department, Process Pump Repair – Saraland, AL, Puckett Machinery, Roberts Marina, School and Carnival Supply Inc., Silver Slipper Casino, Stonewall’s BBQ, Super Soaker Car Wash, Turkey Creek Community Initiative, U.S. Navy Seabees, U.S. Navy at Stennis, Vice Construction, Waste Management Inc., and Wolf River Canoe & Kayak.

Mississippi Renew Our Rivers has removed more than 122 tons of debris from Southeast Mississippi waterways and received the national Keep America Beautiful Award three years in a row for beautification and litter prevention education.

 Editor’s Note
Mississippi Power welcomes reporters and photographers to ride along throughout the Renew Our Rivers cleanup event. Please contact Verdell Hawkins to secure a spot on any of the following day trips. All cleanups begin at 8 a.m.

            October 13        Hancock County Marshlands, Ansley
            October 14        Deer Island, Biloxi   
            October 15        Pascagoula River, Escatawpa
            October 16        Boley Creek, Picayune 
                                        Turkey Creek, Gulfport

2009 Renew Our Rivers Event Stats
*More than 500 volunteers
*A total of 16.7 tons of debris, garbage and hand trash was collected
*Garbage found included: tires, refrigerators, propane tanks and a large flat screen television
Volunteers are guaranteed to find “party debris,” countless beer bottles and cigarette butts
*Total collected to date (over 4 years) approximately 115 tons