25 years ago: Local children help with river clean-up

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 7, 1989:

Windy conditions and forty-degree weather did not deter members of Pinckney Elementary School’s Brownie troop from showing up early Saturday morning to pick up litter along the north bank of the Kansas River. The Brownies had joined about 40 others who participated in the River Area Cleanup, sponsored by Sort Our Recyclable Trash, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Pinckney Neighborhood Association, and the Community Mercantile. Young Astrid Baker, 7, expressed her environmental concerns this way: “I want to be able to breathe fresh air…. I don’t want them to bring in special fresh air machines. Even though it’s cold, I’d rather be here than at home watching TV. I want to keep America clean, the good, beautiful way. (And) this is fun. It makes me feel so good, I could just scream.”