Haywood County’s Big Sweep, a long-standing initiative to “sweep” local waterways across the state for litter every fall, is inviting volunteers to weild gloves and a trash bag on Saturday, Sept. 12. 

Haywood Community College and Haywood Waterways Association are organizing the event. 

• Volunteers to clean up of Richland Creek will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Bi-Lo parking lot in Waynesville, led by Shannon Rabby, instructor at HCC. Long pants and close-toed shoes are required, and waders will be helpful. 

• A cleanup of Lake Junaluska will start at 9 a.m., leaving from the pool area of the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center and led by Christine O’Brien of Haywood Waterways. 

The work should take two to three hours, with trash bags and gloves provided. RSVP for either event by contacting O’Brien at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 828.476.4667.

Volunteers needed for Franklin river cleanup

 A cleanup of the Little Tennessee River in Franklin will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, with a call to the community of “all volunteers on deck.” 

Land Trust for the Little Tennessee is heading up the BigSweep event, coordinated by Guy Gooder for the 10th year in a row. 

“I hate the thought of someone enjoying a day on the river kayaking or fishing and looking down to see a beer can or tire,” the Franklin native said. 

Volunteers should meet in the lower parking area at Big Bear Park along the greenway. Canoes and boats will be helpful but not required, and gloves and bags will be provided. 

828.349.4097.