Our first honoree is Jay Rasco whose efforts have made SEACAB and this website possible. 

The following was printed in the Eastern Arizona Courier.

August 27, 2003

Rasco cleans up

By John Kamin, Staff writer

Safford citizen Jay Rasco has decided it's time to get tough on trash.

Rasco started the Southeastern Arizona Clean and Beautiful Committee, which is dedicated towards cleaning up Graham County.

Rasco said visible trash on local roadways has a negative effect on the community's tourism, which negatively impacts the economy.

"We're looking towards tourism to enhance the economy," he said. "We're looking to bring other industry here too."

One way Rasco plans to clean up the community is by helping businesses volunteer to clean up polluted sections of highways that aren't doing a good job of keeping their highway clean. He said he told business owners that instead of forcing their employees to pick up trash, the business should call Rasco's group and it will help employees clean up their stretch of highway.

"It just brings us together as a community," he said. Rasco hopes to involve as many local organizations as possible to help clean up the community. He hopes to include as many local churches, businesses and local organizations as possible.

Rasco said the committee is another example of Arizonans reducing government and solving problems themselves. He said a similar group saved Maricopa County approximately $1 million.

Rasco gets a chance to see more of the community roadways than others because he is the owner of the J Train Tours. J Train Tours offers a variety of tours throughout southeastern Arizona. Rasco volunteers with the Bureau of Land Management once a week and helps pick up trash and install signs. He also volunteers with the Graham County Chamber of Commerce.

Two of the most polluted areas in Graham County are the land around the 8th Avenue. Bridge and Highway 191 in between Highway 70 and Morenci, he said. The Gila Box Riparian Area also tends to be polluted with beer bottles. Most of the trash found around county roads includes plastic bags, beer bottles and soda cans.

BLM employees such as Bonnie Winslow have helped support his group's efforts to clean up the county. Rasco said Winslow has a passion for picking up trash and cleaning up the county.

Rob Chesley of the Graham County Highway Department is also a member of the group. He said the group's efforts reduce the trash his group has to pick up off the roadway. Chesley runs a six-person inmate crew that cleans up local roads.

"We're being extremely proactive with sites along the river," he said. Local pollution has been on more people's minds since Gila Resources took over the local landfill.

The landfill encourages covers for pickup trucks that bring garbage to the landfill, reducing the total amount of trash on county roadways, Chesley said.

Clel Flake said he supports Rasco's efforts to create and support community cleanups. Flake recently became the group's chief financial officer and participated in an Eagle Scouts cleanup effort that involved his nephew.

Flake said he looks forward to cleanup efforts and is proud to help the group.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to raise some manpower when specific projects come to light and need to be addressed," he said. "I appreciate the opportunity."