Greenbacks for Green Lawns

The Glasgow City Council has revived the Yard of the Week program, formerly run by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture, rewarding city residents whose yards brighten up the neighborhood. Every week this summer a member of the council will select a Yard of the Week in their area to highlight.

Ward 1 was the first to name a winning lot. Paul and Lisa Koski, 730 Hillside Drive, were nominated by Council member Stan Ozark for the week of June 3-10. The winners displayed a sign in their yard for the week and won - while not green - $25 in Glasgow Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture Big Bucks.

Winners of week two in Ward #2 were Jim and Mary Rector, 602 6th Ave. S., nominated by Council member Butch Heitman. There will be 12 more winners announced over the summer. Each council member and Mayor Becky Erickson will select two winners.

Council President Rod Karst spearheaded the program, with the support of the council members. Nanci Schoenfelder, Ward 3, said, "It was a very good idea." In fact, council members are supplying the prize money out of their own pockets to support the program.

Citing the program as an opportunity to give back and reward local residents, Karst said, "We're always on people to clean up weeds on lots, and I thought, why not reward the people who are taking care of their yards?" He sees it as an extension of the downtown beautification project, and as such, has asked Erickson to consider business and churches in her selection for Yard of the Week.

With the summer just kicking off, residents still have a couple of months to spruce up their surroundings to earn a chance to showcase their green thumbs. As Karst put it, "We know a lot of people take pride in their neighborhoods and we want to reward that."