Blackfeet women set an example for all to follow
Great Falls Tribune, September 15, 2009.
It's not a new phenomenon, but it always does the heart good when it happens.

A small group of community-minded people — two Browning women in this case — decide they're going to do something about a problem, and the next thing you know there's a movement.

The idea of this movement — pick up the litter — is simple, but the execution has gotten more complicated.

"I got tired of looking at all the trash," said Patty Welch, who along with Honey Davis of Community Health Representatives started the ball rolling by adopting a 2-mile stretch of road under the state Highway Department's "Adopt-a-Highway" program. "We wanted this reservation to look nice for our children, our grandchildren and all our visitors."

They didn't stop there.

The two women started badgering others — families, organizations, businesses — to do the same thing.

Honey Davis "tracked me down and signed me up, and now I'm responsible for cleaning up a 2-mile section of the highway," said state Rep. Shannon Augare, D-Browning.

"I've been hiding from her," joked Sen. Carol Juneau, D-Browning.

Now there are upward of three dozen groups or individuals taking care of U.S. Highway 89 all the way from Birch Creek to Browning, and U.S. 2 from Cut Bank to East Glacier Park.

There also are unique anti-littering signs painted by Anthony Yellow Owl Jr., and trash barrels housed in custom-built planter boxes are showing up around Browning's business district.

The work was overdue.

Davis said CHR, where she works, took on one of the worst stretches of U.S. 89 northwest of town, and picked up more than 80 bags of trash. She said the Blackfeet Community College crew reported a similar haul on its section of highway.

Commendations are due to Davis and Welch and the dozens of "recruits" they've signed up for further beautifying an already picturesque corner of Montana.

A few stretches of highway still are available for adoption — join the movement.