Beltrami Electric volunteers spruce up state park

More than 70 Beltrami Electric Cooperative members and friends came together May 2 at Lake Bemidji State Park to spruce up the park for the 10th anniversary of Project GreenTouch, sponsored by Minnesota's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.

Webelos Den 3, Pack 82 from Lincoln Elementary and Horace May, Bemidji State University First Year Residential Experience students and many other volunteers planted more than 500 trees, raked the amphitheater, picked up garbage along the county roads and picked up sticks, all in preparation of the upcoming park season.

"The park has limited crew and resources. We look forward each year to the folks from the GreenTouch helping to keep Lake Bemidji State Park beautiful for all who utilize and enjoy the park," said Park Manager Paul Mork.

Statewide, 743 volunteers donated 2,344 hours to the State Park cleanup effort. During the past 10 years, nearly 6,000 people have worked more than 20,600 hours.

Minnesota's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives participating in project GreenTouch are part of a group of rural electric cooperatives throughout the state. Touchstone Energy is a co-brand used by cooperatives all over the nation that subscribe to four measures of quality of service: integrity, accountability, community involvement and innovation. The state park clean-up day is part of that commitment.