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‘SURVIVOR’ STAR Keith Nale (right) pitches in to help clean up the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier City. Nale, currently featured in “Survivor Cambodia,” also contributed an “immunity idol necklace” which added a scavenger hunt aspect to the annual cleanup. (Mike Mangham)

Hundreds turn out in the rain to clean the banks of the Red River

Ken Grissom

Rain, wind and falling temperatures on Saturday, Nov. 7, did not deter some 350 volunteers from showing up to scour the banks of the Red River here for trash, debris – and an “immunity idol necklace” fashioned by “Survivor Cambodia” celebrity Keith Nale, a Shreveport area resident.
Tour du Teche showed up also, bringing the TDT mobile command center’s PA system to support the organizers of the Red River Cleanup, Adam and Lisa Willard, who were invaluable in kicking off TDT’s new races starting in Shreveport-Bossier City this past September.
“We are absolutely in awe of the support for the Red River Cleanup,” said TDT race director Ray Pellerin of Breaux Bridge. “The river will be much cleaner for the Tour de la Rivière Rouge and 410 in 2016.”
“Words cannot describe the feeling we all had when we saw the amount of volunteers who showed up at the Red River Cleanup despite the rainy conditions,” said organizer Lisa Willard. “Adam and I are getting a lot of recognition for our efforts but the reality is this is a total team effort. Every mission starts with a great idea but success is truly measured by the support, dedication and the hard work of a group working together for that mission. And I do believe we have accomplished that mission again this year.”
The totals had not been complied by presstime but there were four truckloads filled by trash-pickers on the banks, in bass boats, pontoon boats and kayaks. Much of what was recovered in this, the sixth year of the Cleanup, was scattered high on the bank by record flooding in June, when the Red River crested at 37.14 feet, more than even feet over flood stage.
Among the many sponsors and supporters of the Cleanup was Keith Nale, one of the stars of TV’s latest “Survivor” series, being filmed in Cambodia. Nale, a resident of nearby Keithville, fashioned the “immunity idol necklace” subsequently recovered by Troy Burns of Barksdale Airforce Base. Burns won a kayak donated by Hook1/Harbuck Outdoor Sports.
Tour de la Rivière Rouge and 410 de Louisiane are ultramarathon canoe/kayak races produced by Tour du Teche. Rivière Rouge is 275 miles from Shreveport-Bossier City to Port Barre. Joining with the 135-mile Tour du Teche, the 410 de Louisiane ends at Berwick for a total of 410 miles. Both races start Oct. 1 in 2016.

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