LAPEL — The Lapel High School football team conducted its annual White River cleanup service project recently, pulling trash out of the water and off the banks for several miles west of County Road 600 West.

“It’s a fantastic thing,” said Lapel football coach Tim Miller, who accompanies the students on the outing. “Kids get off the PlayStations and get to go help out by cleaning the river up that is in their backyard and at the same time have a lot of fun.”

The Frankton Jr. Sr. High School football team also participates, cleaning east of County Road 600 West to Raible Avenue in Anderson.

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Combined, the teams cleaned about 12 miles of the waterway. This year they retrieved 43 tires, 700 pounds of metal debris and two cubic yards of plastic trash and other items.

The non-profit group White River Watchers sponsors and helps organize the annual cleanup, and helps dispose of the trash.

The group is a non-traditional member of the Madison County Storm Water Quality Partnership. It’s mission is “to protect the White River ecosystem for the present and the future use of all by means of community involvement and education.”

White River Waters meets on the third Monday of each month February through November at Anderson Public Library.

The football team’s cleanup effort, which has been taking place for about 10 years, “truly is one of the highlights of being part of our football program,” Miller said.

For a preview of this year’s Bulldogs gridiron efforts — as well as a preview of Arabians football — turn to Sports, Pages B1-3.