By Wainwright Jeffers - bio | email
ALBANY, GA (WALB) - A Tift County Commissioner is working to make her district a better place to live.
Commissioner Melissa Cheevers campaigned with the promise of taking on that challenge one street at a time.
This weekend she and a few neighbors started that process of making their area community a better one.
The district II commissioner in Tift County admits there is a problem in some parts of her district.
"Drugs," said Cheevers.
The commissioner says it's a problem that can be fixed, not by police, but by the community.
"If people start seeing a presence, and see this as a nice community maybe we'll run the drugs away," said Cheevers.
The county brought in a dumpster, so that neighbors can get rid of their junk for free.
"We have couches, we have a lot of yard debris that has been there forever, flower pots, motors, you name it it's been lying around," said Cheevers.
Miriam Mathis has lived on Hill Ave. for nine years
"I'm so glad that Ms. Melissa Cheevers, is helping to clean up this neighborhood," said Mathis.
A neighborhood the commissioner knows a lot about.
"I use to live on this street 20 years ago, and it really hurt me when I was campaigning to see how it had deteriorated," said Cheevers.
But now with lawn mowers, rakes, shovels, and wheel barrows Hill Ave. residents are taking the first step to make a difference.
"Today we're on Hill Avenue, next month we'll be on another street," said Cheevers.
But they can't do it alone.
"We need help, and if you're concerned about your community, you'll come out and help," said Mathis.
Commissioner Cheevers hopes a larger group from the community will join her back on Hill Avenue next Saturday as the cleanup continues.
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