The Fannin County BEES enjoyed an encouraging sign at their monthly meeting May 13, when two new visitors circled the hive and stopped by to see if they might join forces with the Beautification, Education and Enforcement Strategies Committee to help remove unsightly trash along the roads, ditches and creeks in Fannin County. The visitors were welcomed with open wings.
Sue Taylor and Ruth Ann Thomas had first contacted Bonham City Planner Mike Walthall about initiating a Beautify Bonham Program. In another very healthy sign of cooperation between the City of Bonham and Fannin County, Walthall mentioned that the BEES meet in the county annex on the second Tuesday of every month at 9:00 a.m. and he suggested Taylor and Thomas stop by to see if there might be strength in numbers as concerned residents across Fannin County fight the blight of illegal dumping.
Fannin County is very fortunate to have the award-winning BEES Committee, one of the top programs in Texas. BEES were recently recognized in Austin for being an outstanding local deterrent to illegal dumping and the committee placed fourth in the state among civic groups that fight littering and illegal dumping.
Because of their success, BEES have received three grants from Texas Commission for Environmental Quality, administered through Texoma Council of Governments (TCOG) to help pay for costs incurred in removing illegal dump sites. TCOG representative David Trout attended the BEES meeting May 13 to assist.
Anyone interested in helping make Fannin County a cleaner and healthier place to work, live and visit is encouraged to contact one of the committee members or call 903-583-2039, 903-640-6471 or 903-583-7453. Regardless of whether you want to make a particular city or community cleaner, or if you want to stop illegal dumping in rural areas, BEES welcomes your new ideas and contributions to a problem that continues to take a toll on tax dollars. As the name implies, one phase of this committee is law enforcement and anonymous information regarding illegal dumpsites is welcomed, too.
The visitors to the BEES meeting May 13 were interested in periodical clean-ups in Bonham. The committee was able to provide information about state and regional programs that assist local clean-ups and subsequent costs incurred to remove the trash and debris.
"We will do anything we can to help," stated BEES chairman Dewayne Strickland.
The BEES Committee meetings are a fantastic place to pick up new ideas concerning recycling, proper disposal of hazardous waste and much, much more, although most people's schedule would make it difficult to attend the 9:00 a.m. sessions. If you would like a representative of BEES to attend your class, service organization or group discussion to show a power point presentation or just talk about how we can all work together to improve our environment, please call 903-583-2039, 903-640-6471 or 903-583-7453.
BEES is also trying to enlist local businesses to help sponsor this very worthwhile endeavor. Several have expressed an interest in making Fannin County a better place for the generations that will follow. And, speaking of the children, no one underestimates the influence youth have in helping us all change old habits for new practices that improve the way we live. Children seem to instinctively understand that the environment must be considered when it comes time to get rid of trash or hazardous waste. Invite the BEES to enlist the services of your class. If we teach our children well, they will spread the word and repay the favor forever.
Almost everyone knows people that stopped smoking because their children explained that tobacco was an addictive drug that affects our health and diminishes all our lives. Well, we need the kids again, only this time we need them to help us learn to keep Fannin County clean and recycle to preserve our precious resources.
BEES also has a program that allows residents to adopt county roads, creeks or parks. About 850 miles of county roads are still waiting for the right person to step up. For more information about adopting county roads, creeks or parks, contact Fannin County Agrilife Extension agent Jordan Torrey at 903-583-7453.
For more information about an award-winning committee that is committed to improving the environment we all share, visit the BEES website at
http://www.co.fannin.tx.us/ips/cms/localarealinks/Fannin_County_BEES.html