Help drag the Valley to a cleaner future

Frontiersman Editorial Board

As the annual Bumper Drag rumbled closer to the Valley this year, some voices were raised in opposition -- or at least in concern. The event, which is at least partially funded by the borough, has helped to remove hundreds of tons of scrap metal and thousands of junked cars from the Valley in recent years. It has cleaned up yards that were long-time eyesores, and it has helped to reduce threats to the environment.

Some of the concerns voiced this year were that the borough shouldn't foot the bill for cleaning up private property, that some people feel they are being forced to clean up their messes and that the National Guard -- that helps perform the work of the clean-up as an exercise -- is pressuring the borough for that opportunity.

Perhaps this is one of those end-results issues. The end result of the Bumper Drag is a cleaner, safer and more environmentally sound community. Our community must decide if that is a desirable enough outcome to justify some community expense. Should people be expected to pay to have their own messes cleaned up on their private property? Of course. Will everyone with junked vehicles and abandoned appliances littering their property do it? Almost certainly not. Sometimes it is because property owners are irresponsible and inconsiderate. Other times, they simply can't afford to have the work done. This free service allows them to do the right thing, and we all benefit.

Even some private businesses -- those wrecking services that take part -- benefit from the annual event. They are paid for the services they provide, and much of that is income they wouldn't likely see if the free service was not available.

The National Guard units that participate in the event also benefit. They use the Bumper Drag as an exercise that helps them conduct live training in the field with critical equipment. Since the guard's most important charter is to protect and help their local communities, the Bumper Drag provides a great opportunity for the guard and their community to interact -- again, everybody benefits.

It's not too late to sign up and take advantage of this year's Bumper Drag event. A list of numbers to call appears on Page 12 of this edition of Frontiersman. If you have junked cars on your property, or any other scrap metal to get rid of, please call one of them and participate in a community effort that will make the Valley an even better place to live.