7-20-2024 6:30pm

Most Successful City Cleanup Ever in Alamogordo

Chris Edwards Editor

Commissioner Sharon McDonald and her assignment board

The Alamogordo Citywide Cleanup 2024 had significant hype and outreach this year and was a raging success with multiple huge commercial size dumpsters filled with garbage, debris and trash from around the city.

Coordinating Chairwoman of this annual event was District 5 Commissioner Sharon McDonald that made outreach her priority this year. She and her team passed out thousands of flyers, walking the neighborhoods from the Walker road areas to the innercity to envangelize community pride, unity and cleanup.

Hear an exclusive interview with Mayor Pro Tem Sharon McDonald for the AlamogordoTownNews.org radio edition on KRAZY KALHRadio.org at https://youtu.be/3z8ky7myVGc?si=b83hZJNsXQd9JTzU

And take charge, Mrs. McDonald did with dignity and respect. Those that have said Mrs. McDonald is quiet and unassuming in meetings have never worked beside her on the ground in an effort she is passionate about.

The cleanup of derelict houses and those of the elderly, at risk populations, the poor and lower middle class has always had her as an ally. She has championed her district cleanup for several years, and this year extended an invitation to all commissioners to participate. She had 3 takers in: Warren Robinson, Nick Paul and Mark Tapley.

In addition to hosting dumpster sites, shredding services for documents and more, Mrs McDonalds team captain, the day of cleanup, matches volunteers with homeowners or renters that have properties that need a helping hand in cleanup. A board full of property owners asked for help across the city.

Saturday morning at 7 am till noon over 60 volunteers braved the heat, from diverse communities and political parties putting differences aside and marched, worked, mowed, weed whacked, and picked up literally tons of trash and together were united in community cleanup.

Volunteers even assisted homes in the 2 commission districts who's commissioners did not participate putting politics aside for the good of the community.

There were 5 dumping locations manned by 4 commissioners and volunteers that gathered tons of refuse.

The hub for the day was the Dudley School Community Center. In addition to volunteers cleaning up around the city, community volunteers from Holloman Air Force Base and locals also continued work on the Dudley Building rehabilitation with painting, hanging bead board, cleaning windows, repairing walls and more.

Across the street community volunteers from With Many Hands Alamogordo hosted community gardening tips and continued their efforts to rehab a once shaby street corner with a bountiful community garden.

Volunteers came in all age groups from high school and college aged to several seniors. Fred Sepulveda, age 80 began work wthin the Dudley School at 7 am, then transitioned to weed wack and rack two homes: one in the Walker Road area and one in the city center.

Volunteers from several inner city churches from District 5 such as Corinth, Holy Temple Church of God and others located in the heart of District 5 were there, members of the military and many every day citizens. Truck loads of items needing dumping and carloads from folks not registered as volunteers also were on site.

The event impacted hundreds of citizens and many households with the largest number number of participants and dumpsters ever filled.

City Manager Rick Holden was onhand and engaged wirh citizens, staff and commissioners. Several staff members of the city of Alamogordo code enforcement helped and other staff members. There were even members of the county auditors office on the ground volunteering and pucking up trash and helping neighbors with cleanup.

Bob Flotte owner of KHIIradio.com was on hand with live broadcasting and interviews as was our team from KALHradio.org and AlamogordoTownNews.org getting down and dirty with volunteering and trash removal.

This event was a true reflection of a diverse group of volunteers that were championing beautification, cleanup snd community pride. Afterwards Kenneth and Mary Lou Woods hosted a Cleanup After Party Luncheon for a slew of volunteers with wonderful food and beverages.