The momentum has slowed, but Beautify Southern Illinois is still alive and well.

Two years ago, Glenn Poshard, now president of Southern Illinois University, helped found Beautify Southern Illinois, a loosely-organized grassroots coalition aimed at ridding the region of litter.

The mantle of leadership has been passed to Paul Restivo, of the Center for Environmental Health and Safety at SIU.

"Beautify Southern Illinois is now an ad hoc entity more than anything," Restivo said. "I send out a lot of e-mails and encourage people to do things and explore grant applications."

That doesn't mean the effort isn't producing results. The efforts by Poshard in 2005 provided impetus for groups throughout Southern Illinois to clean up their own backyards.

"I'd say Chester has done a lot of interesting things," Restivo said. "They have their own little 'adopt-a-street' program.

"Theirs is an ad hoc thing. People have banded together to form the Chester Beautification Commission."

Williamson County is another success story.

"Williamson County Board Chairman Brent Gentry has done all sorts of things," Restivo said. "He has his own county "adopt-a-highway' thing. How he funded that, I have no idea. Spillway Road has been adopted by the family of a young woman who was killed there."

Williamson County has also taken the lead in providing trash pick-up days. Several times a year dumpsters are placed in several locations within the county, allowing residents to dispose of items.

"They have been amazingly popular and successful," Restivo said. "It gives them a very good incentive not to take it out to a country road and drop it off."

Another example of successful public clean-ups includes the "Shawnee Trash Bash." The event is co-sponsored by the Sierra Club, the U.S. Forest Service and Beautify Southern Illinois.

However, Restivo is aware that the movement cannot rest on its laurels.

"We're going to put ourselves back on the front burner," he said. "We've worked with the radio/television department (at SIU). Last year a professor, Scott Hodgson, he had a class work an entire semester on a public service announcement and it's finally starting to be aired.

"Hopefully, you'll start to see and hear the PSA that supports the concept. I'm hoping that gets the interest up a little again."

Taking a pro-active approach, Restivo will utilize two undergraduate assistants this fall in an effort to create interest in beautification or clean-up projects at area high schools and community colleges.

"We'll be overjoyed if there were a few high schools or community colleges that take us up on that," Restivo said. "For this to be successful, it's not what I do or any agency does, it's has to be a truly grassroots enterprise.

"If not, I don't think it's going to be successful."

In addition, a Beautify Southern Illinois Fund at the Southern Illinois Community Foundation has been established. Tax-deductible donations can be made to the organization. Funds would be used to extend grants to organizations undertaking beautification or clean-up efforts.

Donations can be made to Southern Illinois Community Foundation, 201 W. DeYoung, Marion, 62959.

Finally, several other projects are in the works for later this summer:

l Restivo said he hopes to recognize beautification and clean-up projects at the Southern Business Journal Community Leaders Breakfast Aug. 23.

l The SIUC Beautify Southern Illinois Student Alliance is teaming up with the plant biology and plant and service operations to create a 10,000-square foot prairie on the SIU campus.

l The Shawnee Trash Bash is scheduled for Oct. 20.

The clean-up date falls on Family Weekend at SIU. Restivo said student organizations can market the weekend as a way to make a positive impact in Southern Illinois.

For more information, go to www.beautifysouthernillinois.org.

les.winkeler@thesouthern.com / 351-5088@thesouthern.com / 351-5088