Don't mess with Texas
Sivells Elementary students learn the impacts of littering
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Benjamin Sharp Sivells Elementary School first graders meet "Tex" and "Dot," a pair of puppets that taught the kids about littering. Students, from left, are Zachary Howell, Jasmine Garza, Omar Marks and Emmy Jalufka.

Wharton youngsters got a first-hand lesson on the impacts of littering this week thanks to two small puppets.

Named "Tex" and "Dot" in honor of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the puppets reminded Sivells Elementary School students that tossing trash, even something as small as a piece of gum, out of a vehicle can have a significant effect on state roadways.

"The only thing trash does is make a pretty place ugly and dirty," Tex said during Thursday's session. And cleaning up that garbage costs millions of dollars - money that comes out of the pockets of state residents through taxes.

"Just think of all the toys we could have bought with that money," Dot told the students.

When asked why people litter, the students gave a host of interesting answers:

"Because they want to."

"They can be lazy."

"Maybe they don't know what litter means."

"They don't know there's a trash can there."

The event is part of the state's Keep Texas Beautiful program and was hosted by the city's Youth Advisory Commission. YAC members explained the negative effects of littering, the potential fines that can result, exactly what constitutes litter and what each person can do to improve the situation.Participating YAC members included Shaina Lowe, Jake Jarvela, Seth Roach, Curtis "Bo" Evans Jr., Hailey Welch, Katelyn Douglas, Mariela Delgado, Jay Cantu, Devyn Flynn, Kasey Roades and Tate Lowe. The group's sponsor is Jackie Jansky. After enjoying the puppet show, youngsters were asked Thursday to pledge that they will do their part to help beautify area roads and parks. The students responded in unison:

"I pledge never to litter again, not even gum or a candy wrapper and I promise to pick up one piece of trash every day and put it in a trash can."