Oct 3

Oct 3 Celebrating Ten Years with Litter

GEC students prepare to cleanup Middle School Road in the Adopt-A-Highway program.

This year Greene Early College celebrates a ten-year contractual agreement with NC Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway Program. To celebrate the commitment, over 40 very willing students combed the shoulders and ditches on Middle School Road on Friday September 23 to collect litter. This was only the first of four required yearly cleanups; three more cleanups will be scheduled throughout the year. The recent cleanup marked the 41st cleanup, covering 61.5 miles over the ten- year period.

The Department of Transportation recently recognized GEC’s participation in this state-wide initiative by presenting the school with a plaque and 10-year commemorative stars to attach to the official road sign. Interest in this project began in response to the tornado on April 16, 2011 which completely destroyed the county’ s only middle school. GEC English teacher, Natasha Martin, applied in September 2012 to DOT for the 1.2 mile road to be adopted by GEC. Although, a short stretch of road, it is very historically significant to Greene County. In addition, when schools are in session, more than 1200 students travel the stretch of road to either the Middle School or the Intermediate School on a daily basis. As a side note, the same tornado destroyed GEC’s first community service project: the moving and restoration of the Appie train depot. It had been moved to the Sports Complex in Snow Hill. Students had spent hours repairing the building. But unfortunately, the depot was flattened by the 2011 tornado.

Signage on Middle School Road now recognizes GEC with a 10-year designation attached to the road sign.

Thank you, GEC and Mrs. Martin, for your untiring commitment to help keep Greene County clean.

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