ROTC students assist city in clean-up effort

By RALPH ANSAMI

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RONWOOD - There was no shortage of help Saturday for Fall Clean-up Day on Ayer Street in Ironwood.

A total of 31 JROTC students from Luther L. Wright school assisted city workers and volunteers in the effort, free to city residents.

There are 74 students in JROTC this year at Ironwood and the city requested around 30 helpers, according to Col. Sandy (Bowman) Keefer, who's in charge of the JROTC program at the school.

The turn-out was light for much of the morning, although there was a line of vehicles waiting to be unloaded around 8:30 a.m., according to city manager Scott Erickson.

Trash that ranged from television sets to couches and even a few pairs of skis were unloaded by city workers and the cadets, with the city's garbage hauler, Eagle Waste, cooperating in the effort.

JROTC cadet Eric Tervonen said it was the second recent volunteer effort for the Ironwood JROTC unit. Students also assisted with the Special Olympics bocce ball tournament in Bessemer.

Tervonen said the students enjoy the feeling of accomplishment they receive by helping out.

Keefer is pleased that 26 freshmen are enrolled in the JROTC program this year, a high total.

City residents who brought trash to the vacant lots on Ayer Street mingled with the students and thanked them for participating on a cool, cloudy morning.

A cook-out followed.