MRPC News Release
April 27, 2006
For immediate release
For more information, contact:
Bonnie J. Prigge or Tammy Snodgrass (573) 265-2993
SOLID WASTE DISTRICT ANNOUNCES WINNERS IN EARTH DAY POSTER, TRASH ART CONTEST
ST. JAMES—The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District’s 2006 Earth Day Poster and Trash Art Contest received more than 475 entries. Students from 14 schools in Belle, Rolla, St. James, Hermann, Cuba, Vienna, Owensville, Salem, Potosi, Cadet and Bourbon created posters and trash art. This is the fourteenth year for the contest.
First place poster contest winners included:
Kindergarten—Dean McKenzie, Potosi Elementary;
First Grade—Easton Parmeley, Maries R-I at Vienna;
Second Grade—Evan Thierry, Maries R-II at Belle;
Third Grade—Bethany Gillam, St. Joachim School at Cadet;
Fourth Grade—Catelyn Snitker, Maries R-II at Belle;
Fifth Grade—Rebekah Strode, Maries R-II at Belle;
Sixth Grade—Megan Abrahamian, Maries R-I at Vienna;
Seventh and Eighth Grade—Hanna Nelson, Maries R-I at Vienna;
Ninth Grade—Michelle Pearson, Crawford R-II at Cuba;
Tenth Grade—Ellie Nothaus, Salem High School;
Eleventh Grade—Patrick McConnell, Salem High School;
Twelveth Grade—Lauren Sanborn, Bourbon High School
First place trash art winners included:
First Grade—Skyler Price, Maries County R-II at Belle;
Second, Third, and Fourth Grade—Konnor Lansford, Maries County R-II at Belle;
Sixth Grade—Kelsey Schmidt, St. George School at Hermann;
Seventh Grade—Cullen Thompson, St. George School at Hermann;
Eighth Grade—Liz Abraham, St. George School at Hermann;
Ninth and Tenth Grade—Rachel Kissir, Salem High School; and
Eleventh and Twelfth Grade—Kelsey Leigh Tucker, Rolla High School.
The contest was open to students in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties.
Earth Day was April 22, and winning entries were exhibited at UMR's Earth Day celebration April 20 on the Rolla campus.
In the near future, the winning exhibits will also be featured in a photo gallery on MRPC's web page at www.meramecregion.org.
“The poster contest has always been well received, and this year, we decided to encourage the students to think outside the box and create trash art, a three-dimensional art project made entirely from recycled materials, like empty cans, used paper, cereal boxes and the like,” said Tammy Snodgrass, environmental programs manager for Meramec Regional Planning Commission. MRPC serves as administrator for the Ozark Rivers District. "We were amazed at the creativity of some of these students," Snodgrass said.
This year's theme was "Recycling: Plant a Seed and Watch It Grow.” Both contests were open to all grades, and students could enter both contests. First-place winners received $50 savings bonds, and second-place winners received earth friendlyprizes. Certificates were also awarded for honorable mentions. Every student that participated will receive a small gift.
Area banks helped co-sponsor the contest by providing the savings bonds. Banks participating included The Bank of Salem, People's Bank, citizen's Bank of Newburg, Central Federal Savings and Loan, Bay-Hermann-Berger Bank, Regions Bank—Rolla, Phelps County Bank, Maries County Bank, Bank of Crocker, Legends Bank, People's Savings Bank, Unico Bank of Potosi and Irondale, First State Community Bank of Potosi, First State Community Bank of Sullivan, Community Bank of Dixon, Bank of Crocker-Richland, Regions Bank, Town & Country Bank and First Bank of Owensville.
This contest is a part of the district's effort to increase awareness of the solid waste problem and to generate interest in reducing the amount of waste deposited in area landfills. Education and awareness are key components of the district's solid waste management plan. Missouri citizens generate approximately five million waste tires annually and an estimated 2.7 million tires remain in illegal dumps across Missouri.
The Ozark Rivers District has developed a solid waste management plan to reduce by 40 percent the amount of waste deposited in area landfills. The district is now updating its plan, which focuses primarily on recycling, education and assisting large generators with waste reduction. Persons needing solid waste information should contact Tammy Snodgrass or Bryan Rogers at (573) 265-2993.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: A complete list of winners follows and/or is attached if received by email.