Saturday, June 2, 2018
Bonnots Mill River Access on the Osage River - Bonnots Mill, MO

This was our first time cleaning up the confluence of the Osage and Missouri Rivers since 2008. Our crew member Soda Popp hosted the clean-up crew camp at his home, across the Osage from Bonnots Mill River Access, where the clean-up was based. 

Just as the first volunteers of the day started signing in and picking up their t-shirts, the storm clouds opened and people headed for cover. It was a deluge, with unnervingly close lightning. The land itself turned into a river for a moment, and we couldn't see across the Osage River at times. 

As the storm moved past, we suddenly realized that the parking lot had filled up with vehicles and over 50 smiling people came striding up to register. Those smiles were the theme of the day. The dicey weather meant we lost some volunteers, but those that showed up were nothing but solid gold. With positive attitudes and smiles, they got more work done than most cleanup crews twice their size. 

We are grateful to all the Missouri River Relief Crew who made it happen and to Soda Popp for hosting our crew at his paradise riverfront across the Osage from the clean-up. And we are very grateful to all of our sponsors and partners listed on the right. 

Thanks to everyone who ignored the weather and pitched in!

Trash Tally

118 Bags of Trash!!! Plus all of these:

44 tires on rim
5 tires w/out rim
1 tractor-trailer tire on rim
1 tractor-trailer tire w/out rim
1 small tractor tire on rim
1 inner tube
1 250-gallon fuel tank
1 car gas tank
1 tractor seat cushion
2 large pieces sheet metal
5 wood planks
5 metal signposts
1 10’ length guttering|
1 plumbing pipe sealer
1 culvert 6’ x 2’ diameter (perfect condition)
1 television
2 refrigerators
1 mini refrigerator
1 55-gallon hot water heater
1 residential hot water heater
2 hose lengths
36 large chunks Styrofoam
3 55-gallon metal barrels
2 & 3 halves 50-gallon plastic barrels (one trimmed like a daisy)
2 5-gallon metal buckets
8 5-gallon plastic buckets
1 Tiki torch
1 rug backing
5 coolers
2 cooler lids
1 milk crate bottom
1 completely assembled Little Tykes playhouse 5’ x 5’
1 birdbath
7 assorted flip-flops
1 top half of vinyl toolbox
numerous balls (basketball, softball, football, tennis, juggling)
1 snowboard
1 life vest
1 snow boot
1 20” fluorescent light
numerous light bulbs (oven light bulb, spotlight, sodium vapor light, antique flash bulb)
1 Rose art pen
1 Old Spice bottle
1 Ameren trash bag
1 kettle lid
2 plastic fruit (pineapple suspiciously clean, pear also clean)
1 turkey baster
1 Krazy String can
1 water bottle
1 charcoal starter fluid can
1 bunch fishing line with lures and bobber
1 zippo lighter
1 bottle sunscreen
1 toy wagon axle with 2 wheels
1 toy truck cab (blue plastic)
1 turtle shell with expired turtle inside
1 skeletal segment with very small teeth (most likely prehistoric)