If there’s an upside to doing grueling manual labor in the sweltering heat Thursday, it’s that the four Southern Star employees volunteering their efforts did so on Thursday, and not next week, James Gentry said.
“That’s when it’s supposed to get really hot,” he said, with forecasts for temps north of 100 are predicted for much of next week in southeast Kansas.
Gentry joined fellow Southern Star workers Wes Page, Jarick Yelm and Derrek McKarnin all day Thursday at the Lehigh Portland Trails as part of a Southern Star-sponsored community service project.
The quartet spent the day armed with saws and trimmers, cutting away branches and dense undergrowth along trees and bushes lining an east leg of the trail.
Also on hand was trail manager John Leahy, to oversee the work and assist when needed with a tractor, pulling the felled limbs into large piles to be burned later.
The project is part of Southern Star’s emphasis on civic engagement, McKarnin explained.
“We reached out to John at Thrive, and they set things up for us,” he said.
Leahy said the foursome’s work was much-appreciated.
“There’s no way we can keep these trails up without volunteers,” Leahy said.
Other volunteers will have the opportunity to lend a hand as well.
Thrive Allen County has planned two upcoming work days on the trail, on July 23 and Aug. 20.
Volunteers will work to clear natural areas of invasive species, clear large timber debris, and trim areas surrounding the trails.
Volunteers are asked to bring their own water, appropriate work clothing, including hats, sunscreen, bug spray, etc., and closed-toe shoes and long pants.
Work gloves and tools will be provided, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own if they want.
