By THEADORIS MORRIS / Staff Writer

Twice a year, Chilton County and Coosa County residents and neighbors come together as a family to clean up Lake Mitchell.

On Oct. 23, from 8 a.m. to noon, the Fall 2010 HOBO Lake Clean Up will be held at Higgins Ferry Park on Lake Mitchell, and all neighbors are invited to help.

“We have been doing this for eight to 10 years now,” said Lee Bendall, clean up committee chairman. “It really has made a big difference in the lake.”

Bags, gloves, pick-up sticks and boats are provided.

If you have a boat, you are asked to bring it because the committee needs as many boats as possible for the event.

Those interested are asked to arrive between 7:45 a.m. and 8 a.m. After the event, Lake Mitchell HOBO will be providing lunch including: hot dogs, beans, chips and drinks.

“The clean-up brings great camaraderie among the people on the river, Coosa and Chilton counties and the Chilton County government, who also comes out to help us,” said Bendall. “It really makes people appreciate our God-given resources.

Last spring, more than 50 people participated in the event, and they are asking more people to participate for an even bigger turnout this fall.