BUCKHORN, Ky. - An army of volunteers began doing Saturday what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been unable to do - remove tons of floating trash from Buckhorn Lake.

        Dozens of people showed up at the eastern Kentucky lake on Saturday to help remove garbage and debris that had washed in during spring floods.

        The government-sponsored environmental group PRIDE organized the cleanup after boaters complained that the lake had become dangerously clogged with both natural and manmade materials.

        Soft drink bottles, tires and other refuse had been bobbing about on the surface as fishermen launched their boats throughout the spring and summer on a ramp near the dam. Trees and branches made up most of the debris.

        “I love this lake, and I wanted it cleaned up not just for scenic reasons, but also for safety,” said Rosa Couch of Saul, one of the volunteers. “I don't want my kids swimming with hypodermic needles, and it takes efforts like this to prevent that from happening.”

        The Corps of Engineers ordinarily hires a contractor to clean debris from the lake, but no qualified companies applied for the job this year.

        During Independence Day celebrations, fishermen, boaters and tourists complained. Staffers at the lake pushed the debris aside to clear a lane for boats to get into the water.

        On Saturday, a crew hired by PRIDE used an excavator to dip debris from the surface of the lake. Volunteers sifted through each truckload, separating manmade trash from the wood.

        Perry County Judge-executive Denny Ray Noble said the accumulated trash should persuade people not to litter.

        “Every time people throw a bottle out the car window, it ends up in the ditch, then the river, then the lake,” he said. “It's got to end up somewhere.”

        Lake manager Bernice Amburgey said the Corps of Engineers ordinarily spends $20,000 to $50,000 a year to remove trash that floats in from Harlan, Leslie and Perry counties.

        Volunteers, along with staffers from the Corps, planned to return to the lake on Monday to complete the cleanup.

        Meanwhile, spokesman Jon Fleshman said the corps expects to be able to hire a contractor by mid-August to carry on the work at the 1,120-acre lake, which draws about 200,000 visitors a year.

        PRIDE coordinator Tony Lewis said that by late Monday, all the trash should be gone.

Defenders rally around officer
Department manual sets suspension policy
Analysis: Looks like the honeymoon's over
Where smoke escapes the detectors
Boycott leaders: Pack hearing
Canoe trip shows creek conditions
Obituary: Rev. Mel Dibble, was pastor, TV personality
Professor taking swing at saving national pastime
So kids, grab a pole and let's tie one on
The Kid and a bunch of kids
Tristate A.M. Report
HOWARD: Some Good News
PULFER: Clueless
SMITH AMOS: Taking the Fifth
Board to revisit kids' clothes
Kids step into adult roles
Monroe board goes north to create policy
Visionary sculpting art dream
Boy, 11, charged with raping girl, 5
Father will not be tried again in baby's death
Lucas stands by term promise
Todd supports lesbian health issues session
Volunteers step in, clean trashed lake