By SCOTT AUST

saust@gctelegram.com

HOLCOMB — The Holcomb City Council voted Wednesday to schedule the spring portion of its biannual cleanup for April 26 to May 10.

Mayor Gary Newman said the cleanup will help spruce the city up before high school graduation.

"This is an initiative we do twice a year to try and keep the city clean," he said. "We do it over a few weekends to give people an opportunity to bring stuff out. It's free to all residents of Holcomb. They can bring anything they want."

The city sets three Dumpsters on a lot at Barber and Railroad avenues on the first Friday. The Dumpsters are emptied at the end of each day.

"On Fridays, we make sure they're absolutely emptied for the weekend. We also work with the high school to get athletes out. It's an opportunity for them to give back to the city," Newman said.

On the weekend of May 4, kids who participate in sports at Holcomb High School will take part in the cleanup. Newman said Jerry Johnson, Holcomb High School football coach, came up with the idea about three years ago to put focus on the students and athletes and getting them out into the community.

"Residents show up at ball games, people who don't even have children in the school district show up for football games, basketball, volleyball, track. So it's an opportunity for students to kind of pay it back to residents and thank them. The kids really work hard," Newman said.

Newman said local farmers and businesses also donate trucks and trailers to help. Residents also can call ahead during the cleanup and have their items picked up if they can't get to the Dumpsters themselves.

"It's also a chance to clean up tumbleweeds. A couple years ago, we had two trucks and all we did was fill them with tumbleweeds. It's a nice opportunity for us to get the city looking good," he said.

This is the fifth year for Holcomb's cleanup. The city does another cleanup in the fall.