Keep Covington/Newton Beautiful (KCNB) announces the return of Rivers Alive on Sat., Oct. 8. Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. at LongHorn Steakhouse, 6112 Pavilion Way in Covington, before splitting into teams to clean local lakes, rivers and streams.

Created by the Department of Natural Resource’s Environmental Protection Division and Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, Rivers Alive targets waterways as part of an ongoing statewide campaign to clean and preserve more than 70,000 miles of Georgia’s rivers and streams.

Volunteers in Covington/Newton will support the statewide campaign by helping to prevent the pollution of the County’s waterways, including Turner Lake, the Alcovy River, South River, Yellow River and their tributaries. KCNB encourages civic and neighborhood groups, businesses, schools, Boy and Girl Scout troops, churches, youth groups, individuals, businesses, and families to participate in the countywide cleanup.

“We appreciate all of the volunteers who participate every year and we welcome those new to the event. Our goal is to continue to grow the Rivers Alive event each year and bring greater awareness to the necessity of litter and pollution prevention,” KCNB Director Laurie Riley said.  “We also want to thank all of our local sponsors who gave generous donations to support our event.”

Cleanup supplies including gloves and garbage bags will be provided and volunteers will receive free breakfast and a t-shirt for participation while supplies last.

Volunteers are encouraged to return report forms and leftover cleanup supplies to the KCNB booth at Covington First Methodist Church’s Change the World event, which will be held the same day from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., at 1113 Conyers St. in Covington.

KCNB encourages volunteers to wear comfortable boots or tennis shoes and long pants as they work along the rivers. Registration forms are available online at www.kcnb.biz and will be accepted via email to [email protected] , or fax to 770-784-2082.

The deadline to sign up and reserve cleanup supplies is Sept. 30.

Local event sponsors include the City of Covington, Newton County Board of Commissioners, Newton County Water & Sewerage Authority, Mamie’s Kitchen – Brown Bridge Road location and LongHorn Steakhouse of Covington.

For questions about Rivers Alive, please email [email protected] or call 770-784-2015.