Responding to complaints regarding trash dumped along the Felch Grade multi-use trail in the Upper Peninsula, Normenco Sportsmans Club members joined Department of Natural Resources staff members recently to clean up garbage, appliances, and tires littering the trail.

Ten members of the Normenco Sportsmans Club worked for two days on a five and a half-mile stretch of trail in the Schaffer area, located west of Escanaba. Seven and a half tons of garbage, including couches and TVs, were collected, along with 278 tires.

"I want to personally recognize Jim Moraska, Gary Hansen, Pat Kleikamp, Bob Stein, Bob Mathias, Duane Nole, Dan Nole, Todd Nole, Bob Meitz, and Mike Pach, for taking the time and effort to clean up the Felch Grade," said DNR Fire Supervisor Keith Murphy, who assisted with the clean up. "They were quick to respond once we heard complaints about the garbage. Now, we hope everyone will respect the hard work it took to get the trail looking good again and make every effort to dispose of their trash responsibly in the future."

In addition to the help from the Normenco Sportsmens Club, the Felch Grade cleanup effort was also supported by Mr. Rental in Escanaba. The business donated half the cost of the trailer rented for the clean up.

The Felch Grade multi-use trail runs from Felch to Escanaba, through Dickinson, Menominee, and Delta counties. It is used by off-road vehicle enthusiasts, hikers, bikers and horseback riders in the summer months, and snowmobilers, skiers and snowshoers in the winter.

"We hope to continue the Felch Grade cleanup effort in the future, as the trail is 38 miles long and even with two full days of work, we could only cover five and a half miles," Murphy said. "This is the best time of year to get the trail looking good again for all of the users who enjoy the Felch Grade."

Any person or groups interested in helping with the cleanup effort should contact Murphy at (906) 786-2351. For more information on the Felch Grade trail, including trail maps, go online to www.michigan.gov/dnr and click on Recreation, Camping & Boating.