As part of their continued community service efforts, both the Keuterville Livestock and Greencreek Active Workers 4-H Clubs have decided to continue volunteering at the Idaho County Recycling site in Cottonwood. The Keuterville members/parents help on the first Saturday of every month while the Greencreek members/parents help on the second Saturday.
Keuterville club member Tate Uhlenkott (who reads every word of the Cottonwood Chronicle every week) saw the Cottonwood recycling site’s request for volunteers in the March 12, 2022 issue of the Cottonwood newspaper. He thought his club might be willing to help out as a way to give back to the community that gives so much to the 4-Hers. Tate worked up a proposal which he then presented to his club as well as the other area 4-H clubs. Both the Keuterville and Greencreek clubs voted to add this to their volunteer efforts starting in May 2022.
During the past two years, these two clubs have combined to help at recycling for a total of 384 hours (125 kids and 67 parents x 2 hours each = 384 total volunteer hours). This does not include the hours that the Keuterville club additionally contributed towards scraping and painting the two recycling platforms last July.
The Idaho County 4-H Program requires all county 4-H clubs to perform some sort of community service during the year. The clubs then illustrate their efforts by way of a poster or display which is then judged at the Idaho County Fair in August. In 2023, both the Keuterville and Greencreek clubs were awarded a Top Community Service Projects Award. First place went to Keuterville for their help with recycling as well as scraping/painting the platforms, cleaning roadside ditches in the Keuterville area, and creating homemade cards with encouraging messages for delivery to area care facilities. Second place went to Greencreek for their help with recycling, cleaning roadside ditches in the Greencreek area, and refreshing the large white “G” seen on a hillside upon coming into the town of Greencreek. According to the Greencreek club leader Leslie McIntire, this involves kids and parents hiking up to the “G” (on John Schumacher land) with 5 gallon buckets of lime and water to apply the white mixture to the rocks forming the landmark. As part of these two community service awards, Idaho County 4-H paid for a pizza party for each club at a time and location of their choice. Idaho County 4-H head Jill Bruegeman commented: “I love to see the 4-H'ers give back to the communities. The community service projects allow them to do that, while giving them the ability to be creative -choosing whatever project they would like. The pizza party is a fun way to reward the kids for going above and beyond.”
Greencreek combined their party with their annual opening club meeting at the Greencreek Community Hall on Sunday January 28, 2024. They had 4-5 kinds of pizza along with lemonade and water. According to 4-H parent Johanna Stubbers, no one went away hungry and the party helped create fellowship amongst the club members. Member Landon Riener said that he was shocked they won the award as he did not expect any reward from doing these things - they “just did them”. He was “surprised and happy” to win though. Member Aubree Riener commented that they will try to win again next year now that they know there is a competition. Both Rieners agreed that it was really good, cheesy pizza.
Keuterville had a combined pizza and swim party at the Super 8 Motel in Grangeville on Thursday, November 8, 2023. Their party lasted for a couple hours and was great fun, according to member Sarah Lustig. She said there were lots of kids there and the pool was full. Member Alaina Lustig emphasized that she would help with recycling even if there was no party.
Recycling hours are 9-11 AM every Saturday (except for major holidays) at the Cottonwood site off Broadway across from the grain elevators. We accept cardboard/chipboard (like cereal boxes), newspapers/magazines/catalogs as well as tin/aluminum cans. Note that recycling sites are also available in Grangeville and Kooskia. If you or any group you belong to would like to help cut our county trash/hauling costs by volunteering or donating (donations are our only income) to the recycling program, please contact the site manager Kristin Frish at 208-962-3858.