On December 17, 2022 a major cleanup of an 8 acre site adjacent to Dutch Fisher Park in Waynesville took place. Led by Waynesville Police Chief David Adams, about a dozen volunteers spent hours cleaning up and removing over 7,000 pounds worth of trash that had been deposited by vagrants in 5 separate homeless camps that had been spread across the property. Debris ranged from discarded food, beer and liquor containers, to clothing, to garbage, stolen shopping carts, children's toys, and about 60 syringes-evidence of drug usage on the site.
It took several truckloads and work with backhoe to accomplish the job.
Erich and Lisa Overhultz were two of the volunteers who assisted with the cleanup. Both attended the December 19 Board of County Commissioners meeting to thank newly elected commissioner Terry Ramey for volunteering as well. Erich, a former county commission candidate, also used the platform to challenge other sitting commissioners to get involved with future cleanups. He pointed to the large number of syringes found as evidence that more needs to be done to curb needle exchanges in Haywood County-he added that just because a resolution was passed last year does not mean that the problem will magically disappear- more follow up is needed.
