Kelso residents, business owners clean up downtown

Longview residents Tess Princehouse, left, and her dad, Steve Princehouse, joined the Saturday morning cleanup in downtown Kelso.

A group of about 60 people spent their Saturday morning in downtown Kelso picking up cigarette butts, discarded plastic and even a mattress.

The Kelso Downtown Revitalization Association, a recently re-formed group of business owners and community leaders, organized the event.

The group fanned out from Grounds for Opportunity, heading south to the Eagles building, west to the train tracks, east to Grade Street and north to the Cowlitz Way bridge. In two hours, they filled a dump trailer.

Barbara Stephenson, an agent with Windermere Real Estate and member of KDRA, said she has “deep roots” in Kelso. Her father moved to the city in the 1930s.

“It’s a pretty special place. If we treat it that way, everyone else will know, too,” Stephenson said.

Nearly half of the cleanup crew came from Faithful Servants, a faith-based transitional house in Kelso, which provides clean and sober housing for those recovering from addiction or getting out of prison.

Jacob Gregg and Rodney Benneman, both with Faithful Servants, searched for trash in the grass near the Kelso Train Depot Saturday morning.

“We’re here to serve in any way we can,” said Gregg, who has been with Faithful Servants for about five months. “We’re getting help from the community to get back on our feet, so this is our part of giving back.”

Benneman, a self-described Faithful Servants “alumni,” said the group also serves at food banks once a week and cleans up homeless camps every couple weeks.

“One of our biggest things is we serve our community and one another,” Benneman said.

City employees Natalee Corbett and Patty Murray gathered cigarette butts from the crevices along the Maltese Tavern Bar & Grill.

Murray, administration programs manager, said Saturday was her 31st anniversary with the City of Kelso.

“This is a good way to bring everyone together and show support for Kelso,” Murray said.

“I live in Kelso and want it to be beautiful,” added Corbett, the city’s new librarian.

Jackie Hoggatt, who had been with Faithful Servants for two days, said picking up trash can be therapeutic. He said he also picks up cans, bottles and sharp objects at Lake Sacajawea in Longview.

“I have little mental health challenges and it’s helpful to focus on something outward instead of focusing on PTSD,” Hoggatt said. “And I believe in stewardship and discipleship.”

Father-daughter team Steve and Tess Princehouse said they live in Longview but drive through Kelso everyday and want it to be “litter-free.”

“It makes the town look better when you don’t see trash on the side of the road,” said Tess Princehouse, who attends Mark Morris High School.

Lindsey Cope, community engagement director with the Cowlitz Economic Development Council, said she was pleased with the turnout but not surprised.

Lindsey Cope, center left, and Pat Palmer, center right, plan the best route for a cleanup in downtown Kelso Saturday.

Kelso Librarian Natalee Corvett, left, and Kelso Administration Programs Manager Patty Murray, right, search for cigarette butts during a cleanup in Downtown Kelso Saturday.