SHELBY — A group of Shelby Middle School students has helped recycle 14,000 pounds of electronics in the past two years.
Promoting environmentally-friendly habits throughout their school, the Shelby Middle School Eco-Whippets recently earned a first-place trophy for their electronic recycling drives.
The club, which is in its eighth year of existence, was given its award on Sept. 12 during the 14th annual Take Pride! Earth Stewardship Awards in Mansfield’s Central Park.
Mindy Rowlands, the club’s advisor, said club members have always had an interest in community outreach — which led to the inception of an annual electronic recycling drive.
“We’ve done it six full years in a row,” Rowlands said of the drive. “In the last two years, we’ve done a countywide drive, so anyone from the county is invited (to bring electronics to be recycled).”
Rowlands told Shelby City Council on Monday that the group typically has anywhere from 20 to 30 students involved. She thanked the club members for the amount of time and energy they devote to being advocates for the earth.
“They (students) do a fantastic job,” she said. “We really are appreciative of the kids and the giving of their time.”
Shelby Flower Girls claim Star Award, first-place trophy
The Eco-Whippets weren’t the only winners representing Shelby.
The Shelby Flower Girls, a group of residents who help beautify the city by planting flowers in parks and throughout downtown, earned first place under the Neighborhood category — along with one of five Star Awards.
No representatives from the group were present at Monday’s meeting, but Shelby Mayor Steve Schag still took the time to highlight their accomplishments and thanked the group for its efforts.
“They have certainly beautified the City of Shelby in so many areas,” the mayor said of the group. “But you cannot help but see what they’ve done in the downtown district.
“As you enter the Black Fork Commons area and come across the bridge with those beautiful flowing flowers, it’s almost like a brief trip through our own version of Kingwood Center for a few moments.
“We owe them a debt of gratitude for making Shelby look so beautiful.”
In other action Monday, City Council:
— postponed a final vote on five pieces of legislation until council’s next meeting on Oct. 6. Councilman Steve McLaughlin made the motion in order to allow Councilman Derrin Roberts to have a vote on the ordinances. Roberts was absent from Monday’s meeting.
— amended the annual appropriations to increase expenditure in the hospitalization fund line item.
— accepted the amounts and rates, as determined by the budget commission, and authorized the necessary tax levies and certified them to the county auditor.
— authorized the mayor to apply to the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement and/or Local Transportation Improvement Program(s) for financial assistance for capital improvements to public infrastructure for the West Main Street and South Long Street sewer and water main replacement project.
— authorized the mayor to accept the material terms of the New National Opioid Secondary Manufacturers settlements pursuant to the memorandum of understanding and consistent with the terms of the New National Opioid Settlement: Secondary Manufacturers. Council intends that any financial proceeds from the proposed settlement be deposited into the DARE fund.