The Commission for a Clean County (CCC) is interested in recognizing those who make special efforts to clean the air and the earth.

To emphasize the importance of a clean environment, the CCC’s “Community Pride Awards” program honors businesses, adults, schools, individual children of school age and any community and civic group, which made an outstanding contribution to a healthy environment during the previous year.

Several categories will be honored at a big awards luncheon, held annually in February at the Waynesville Golf Club, Spa and Resort. They include litter control, recycling efforts, beautification projects to enrich the county, “green” building, use of non-toxic fuels and other forms of environmental stewardship.

Entry forms are at the following locations, 1) any of the four town halls — Waynesville, Clyde, Canton or Maggie Valley; 2) the Waynesville library; 3) the Canton library; 4) the county manager’s office in the courthouse; 5) Dr. Bill Skelton, Cooperative Extension director  (call 456-3575) or CCC secretary JoAnna Swanson (call 452-1550).

Entries need to be received at the CCC by Friday, Nov. 23. The CCC mailing address is on the forms. The sooner an entry is sent, the faster a response will go out. All entry forms will be acknowledged and a CCC board member will contact all nominees.  The awards luncheon will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013.

"This is a good chance either to be recognized yourself, or to submit the names of other individuals or groups who have extended their efforts to clean the environment beyond the 'everyday,'" Swanson said.

The Commission For a Clean County, formed in 2001, was one of the first environmental awareness groups in Haywood County. Their mission is to help raise awareness of the great advantages — financially, health-wise and aesthetically — of a clean county.