DARKE COUNTY — Darke County Sheriff Toby L. Spencer and Darke County Solid Waste Management District Director Krista Fourman are advising motorists to use extra caution while traveling Darke County roadways during the weekend of April 23-24.

On that weekend, Darke County Solid Waste will be holding its 9th Annual “Trash Bash.” As such, more than 1,100 volunteers and organizations will be cleaning up 635 miles of Darke County and Township roads. These volunteers will be walking along roadways and picking up trash.

The volunteers’ vehicles will be parked along or near the roads where trash pick up is occurring. Participants should be wearing bright colored shirts to increase visibility. Trash pick up is scheduled to occur from dawn to dusk on those two days.

Motorists are advised to slow down and pay attention to volunteers working near the roadway. As always, drivers should not engage in distracted driving while operating a vehicle and should keep their attention focused on driving. Practice defensive driving techniques by looking ahead and being prepared for any problems that may occur.

Darke County deputies will be patrolling Darke County roadways and enforcing traffic laws. Always wear a seat belt and take the time to look both ways at intersections. Let’s all work together to make Darke County roadways safe for volunteers and other motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.