Othello group continues beautification efforts
Othello group continues beautification efforts
OTHELLO — Sandi Dodge and Ann Sperl were seeing too many weeds and trash on their town's main streets. They wanted to see their city sparkle.
The two Othello women are part of the Othello Beautification Committee leading the charge to turn the streets into a nicer place. In January, they decided to form a committee. Now with six members, the committee is slowly but surely working to improve storefronts and green belts. They said it has been kind of fun to see it all come together.
"We got together and decided we needed to do something to make Othello a better place," Dodge said.
Dodge and Sperl don't know where they got the idea, but said they've worked together for years. Most of their committee's work is done when funds and time are available, but both Sperl and Dodge can be found on the city's main streets picking up litter each Wednesday morning.
Their work brought shrubs, basalt pillars, benches, plants, and a host of other devices to spruce up to different corners of the city. The group is hoping to have a sense of consistency, with benches, and metal herons inserted in their work. Some projects allowed for the installation of a few benches, but they said they are looking for a bench source.
"Basically we want to be proud of our town, proud of our city," Dodge said.
The committee is encouraging city involvement, and recruited Othello City Administrator Ehman Sheldon as a committee member. The group receives part of its funding through the Othello Chamber of Commerce.
The group found the help of Boy Scouts and Dodge said two of the group's projects have specifically been Eagle Scout projects. Local churches, businesses and civic organizations have also donated their time and money.
Their biggest project was completed earlier this summer, when volunteers installed basalt pillars and boulders alongside benches on a section of Main Street between 13th and 14th streets. Volunteers also installed an underground sprinkler system and 65 shrubs and five plants on the roadway. About 40 people helped on the project, with all the items donated from residents and organizations.
Dodge said they felt that if they got out and put in the time to make a section look nice, others would too. The group is now getting a number of compliments for their efforts, and hoping their efforts spawn more improvements by others in the community.
They're going to slow down for the winter, but the committee will be encouraging beautification efforts, and hopes other groups join in as those efforts continue further. Sperl said they're going to fix up the city until the Adams County Fair, and then halt efforts until they meet again next spring.
"We're going to start again," Dodge said. "We're not done."
The Othello Beautification Committee is always looking for more volunteers. Those interested can call Sperl at (509) 488-3898 or Dodge at (509) 488-2053.
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