The Clearfield Paddling Club will conduct a river cleanup using club members as well any community volunteers on Saturday. Volunteers will meet in Lower Witmer Park at 9 a.m. to receive bags and assignments. Then they will report to their assigned areas.

"The Clearfield Paddling Club is dedicated to promoting the paddle sports as well as protecting local streams, especially the West Branch of the Susquehanna.

"A clean river is a tremendous asset to our community, and a clean river is also a far more pleasant paddling experience. Our volunteers are dedicated to this task because a cleaner river is a healthier river," said Dan Kennedy, coordinator of the cleanup.

National River Cleanup, sponsored by American Rivers, is a series of community-based stream cleanups happening nationwide. This popular annual event raises public awareness of the magnitude of trash accumulating in the nation's waterways.

The Clearfield Paddling Club will be participating along with tens of thousands of volunteers taking part in hundreds of cleanups across the country to remove trash from local rivers and streams.

Learn more about National River Cleanup at www.AmericanRivers.org/cleanup.

"The West Branch of the Susquehanna is very important to our community. We have to take every opportunity to take care of it. Some people treat the river as if it is a trash can or a dump. I am saddened that some of those people who enjoy the benefits of the river also treat the river poorly," explained Mr. Kennedy.

"For years now, I have picked up empty quart beer bottles in the same location on the west side of the river. It is frustrating and discouraging. But we will not stop cleaning up the river because some people will not stop littering," he said.

The Paddling Club is sponsoring this cleanup with help from Clearfield Borough, the Recreation Board, the Solid Waste Council, U.S. Canoe Association, and the Clearfield Watershed Club.

For more information or offers to help, call Mr. Kennedy at 765-7539.