For this story I collaborated with Elizabeth Brixey, our education beat editor, and photographer William Wicks. This was a last minute daily story that we found. Our centerpiece story fell through, and we needed something visually compelling for the front page. We found a local Earth Day creek cleanup event, and sent William out to shoot as soon as possible. I quickly briefed him on the assignment and provided him with gear before sending him out to the creek.
Laura Semken works to lift a large sign out of Flat Branch Creek on Wednesday at the MKT Nature and Fitness Trail in Columbia. Semken, a member of the Missouri River Relief crew, said the creek is “near and dear to my heart.” She has been helping maintain the area since moving to Columbia in 2019.
Workers and volunteers from Missouri River Relief head toward Flat Branch Creek for an Earth Day river cleanup on Wednesday at the MKT Nature and Fitness Trail in Columbia. Helpers split into various small groups to ensure the cleanup went quick and covered a larger stretch of land.
Elke Boyd carries waste away from Flat Branch Creek on Wednesday at the MKT Nature and Fitness Trail in Columbia. Boyd braved a flare-up of hay fever to spend the morning helping Missouri River Relief’s cleanup efforts.
Missouri River Relief Executive Director Jami Wade, left, speaks with crew member Laura Semken, right, while taking a break from picking up waste Wednesday at the MKT Nature and Fitness Trail in Columbia. Wade was hired as executive director in September 2024. She has experience in both business and teaching.
Laura Semken crosses Flat Branch Creek with a bag of trash Wednesday at the MKT Nature and Fitness Trail in Columbia. Semken spent nearly two hours in the water, removing multiple bags worth of waste from the water and nearby land. She was one of over 40 volunteers at the Earth Day cleanup. Event participants were spread out over eight sites around town.
A hot pink pen rests in the mud and rocks of Flat Branch Creek on Wednesday at the MKT Nature and Fitness Trail in Columbia. The writing utensil found its final resting place in a garbage bag, along with other trash picked up by Missouri River Relief and the team’s 40-plus volunteers on Earth Day.
Elke Boyd adds to a collection of garbage bags and other miscellaneous trash waiting to be picked up on Wednesday at the MKT Nature and Fitness Trail in Columbia. Along with smaller trash, larger items such as a “road closed” sign, laundry basket and tire were among the items dug out from the waters.
