Despite chilly and windy conditions, hardy souls from the Lake Mitchell Home Owners and Boat Owners braved the weather to remove more than 1.5 tons of garbage from Lake Mitchell.

The cleanup was part of the Renew Our Rivers campaign, a twice-a-year event held to spruce up the water and riverbanks.

The 2,600 pounds removed over the weekend adds to the 3,200 pounds removed in the spring cleanup.

Cleanup organizers believe they are making a difference — the amount of trash picked up has decreased drastically from the first cleanup, when three tons of garbage was removed from the lake.

Students from several local high school participated as part of a program HOBO sponsors that offers scholarships each year to students from Chilton and Coosa county high schools.

HOBO wanted to thank everyone who came out to help with the event.

“Every one of them should receive a medal for braving the wind and cold,” said Judy Murchison with HOBO.