Nominees sought for pair of awards
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality is accepting applications for two environmental awards for stewardship and technology until Feb. 22, according to a department news release.
The Environmental Stewardship Award, called the ENVY award, recognizes individuals or organizations for their environmental efforts.
Last year, Fayetteville won for the city's education and marketing program to promote recycling, called "Recycle Something." The city saved more than $213,000 in landfill costs and earned more than $598,000 by selling compost from yard waste collections.
The Arkansas Environmental Technology Award is new this year, the news release said. It will "recognize new or innovative use of technology that broke ground in protecting resources or improving the environment."
Nominations need to be postmarked by Feb. 22. Awards will be presented April 22. Nomination packets are available on the department's website at https://www.adeq.state.ar.us/poa/businessasst/envy/.
Deadline March 15 for Drain Smart art
Artists have until March 15 to submit applications to paint murals on more storm drains in Little Rock, according to a news release from the city.
After having 18 storm drains painted last year in the River Market District, South Main Street and War Memorial Park, Little Rock, Audubon Arkansas and several other sponsors are looking for 18 more local artists to paint murals at the Promenade at Chenal, Center Street between 4th and 7th streets, and South Main Street from 15th to 29th streets.
The project is called Drain Smart, and it's designed to educate passers-by about the connection between storm drains and local water bodies. Storm drains in Little Rock flow directly into streams, according to an Audubon Arkansas news release. Most are connected to Fourche Creek, meaning anything thrown down those drains ends up in the creek.
Audubon Arkansas also organizes numerous cleanups of Fourche Creek each year to pick up plastic bottles, aluminum cans and other garbage.
Metro on 02/06/2016