Adopt a Highway program celebrates 30 years
by Karin L. Nauber
There are more than 3800 volunteer groups throughout the state of Minnesota that spend a couple of days a year—once in the spring and once in the fall—donning yellow vests and combing through the ditches for trash.
Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Clarissa has been a part of Adopt a Highway since 2007 and renewed their contract in 2019.
Currently, they are the only church of the Highway 71 Lutherans that are involved in the program.
“When we first became involved it was through the youth group, as a part of a community service outreach,” said Shepherd Secretary Tammy Riedel.
But as the years progressed, the church soon realized that adults needed to be a part of the event as more and more hazardous materials were being listed on the summary of potential hazards.
“Because of this, adults have become much more involved, although our youth still help. We clean the ditches twice a year, spring and fall,” noted Riedel. . .