March 29, 2024

Fed up with trash disposal

My name is Archie Ergenbright and I have lived in Newton all 75 years of my life. I am very proud to call Newton and Jasper County my home. Before I start my story, I want everyone to know I agree with what the City of Newton is doing to get everyone to pay their fair share of the trash pickup.

My wife's family owns a farm one mile north and a 1/8th mile east on N. 51st Ave. E. On Jan. 13, as I was driving to the farm, I saw no less than eight different spots where people had thrown out trash bags. It varied from one to three bags of trash in the ditches in that mile along the north road. When I turned east there was a dropping of four bags. It is not only bags of trash but appliances, tires, mattresses, anything that someone doesn't want to haul to the dump. This is unacceptable. It is not only on this particular gravel road but many gravel and paved roads around the area. Our farmers don't deserve to have this garbage dumped along
their fields. The farmers should not have to pick up this trash and neither should our county workers.

Now, this is where I am going to show my 75-year-old temper. Please be responsible and do the right thing. Pay for trash pick up or haul your junk to the dump. Stop making your trash someone else’s problem. There are many people that are proud of Newton and proud to live here. If you are not one of those people … there are many other places to live.

Archie Ergenbright

Newton