Orangeburg County leads the way in state’s biggest-ever litter clean-up

She and others signed a pledge to participate in “The Greatest American Clean-Up,” which is a joint effort of Keep America Beautiful and the America 250 Commission.

Then, within a short amount of time, they filled 22 bags with litter from nearby roadsides.

“We are on a journey until July 4, 2026, to make America cleaner, greener, and more beautiful,” said KAB President and Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Lawson of Connecticut.

“We are beyond thrilled to be here,” Lawson said. “Things happen when we do things together.”

Lawson asked every American to pick up 250 pieces of litter in the coming two years. “That seems pretty do-able, right?”

She said KAB has 750 affiliates “from coast to coast,” including Keep South Carolina Beautiful, which is an arm of PalmettoPride.

“Grab a bag and pick up some trash – it’s just that easy,” PalmettoPride Director Sarah Lyles said.

Lyles said emphasis will be placed on “cleaning up areas along the Liberty Trail and the communities around them.”

Appropriately, the pledge-signing ceremony was held at a Liberty Trail site – the Eutaw Springs Battle Monument Park on Old Number Six Highway.

The event was organized by the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust along with the Eutaw Springs Battleground Association Inc.

The trust’s mission is to protect, preserve, interpret, and educate the public about historic military sites, said Rick Wise, executive director and CEO of the trust.

The Battle of Eutaw Springs took place on Sept. 8, 1781. It was the American Revolutionary War’s last major battle in the South, Wise said.

About 2,000 Patriot troops under the command of Gen. Francis Marion and Gen. Nathanael Greene attacked about 2,000 British troops under the command of Col. Alexander Stewart.

The attack left 119 Patriots and 85 British dead. About 430 British soldiers were captured, and the rest retreated toward Charleston the next day. The war effectively ended one month and 11 days later.

“This hallowed ground has so much history,” said Molly Fortune, executive director of the South Carolina 250 Commission. She pointed across the highway to a “witness tree” – a tree that has stood since before the battle took place.

Evette said everyone “wants the best things for South Carolina; we want it to prosper and grow,” but sometimes we wonder what we can do as individuals.

Picking up litter not only beautifies the state, but it sets an example for your children and your fellow citizens, Evette said. “When people see you doing it, it becomes infectious.”

So, after hydrating with bottles of ice-cold water donated by Bells Marina, the volunteers picked up grabbers, gloves, bags, and bright orange safety vests – courtesy of Orangeburg County – and fanned out.

Evette and several others picked up litter along Moncks Corner Road between Old Number Six Highway and Belvedere Drive.

That stretch of roadway connects the Eutaw Springs Battle Monument Park to a park that is being developed by the Eutaw Springs Battleground Association Inc. and the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust.

The new park will be named in memory of Jim Capers, said Wise, the trust’s executive director and chief executive officer.

Wise said it will be the only known park in the United States honoring an African American Revolutionary War soldier.

Capers was wounded in the Battle of Camden, but then joined up with Gen. Francis Marion’s forces and became the drum major.

“Drummers and fifers were the communications branch of the army – the signal officer of the day,” Wise explained.

At Eutaw Springs, Capers suffered a saber cut and was shot three times, but he recovered quickly enough to travel to Yorktown and witness the British surrender. According to his pension record, Capers lived for 111 years, Wise said.

KAB representatives attending the program included the national director of affiliate development, Mallory Biering Coffey, and representatives of KAB affiliates in Bamberg, Charleston, Conway, Kingstree, and Lancaster.

Keep Orangeburg County Beautiful’s Executive Director Lisa Rigden and Education Coordinator Diane Curlee were also in attendance.

For more information:

Keep Orangeburg County Beautiful: Lisa Rigden at lrigden@orangeburgcounty.org or 803-534-2409, ext. 8903 or Diane Curlee, dcurlee@orangeburgcounty.org or 803-534-2409, ext. 8918.

Orangeburg County Code Enforcement: Marie Canty at litter@orangeburgcounty.org or 803-533-6162 or 803-531-8787.

Orangeburg County 250 Commission: Harold Donnelly at 803-378-1911.

PalmettoPride and Keep South Carolina Beautiful: info@palmettopride.org

Keep America Beautiful: kab.org