CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT / PVT Pahrump Boy Scout Troop 808 and Girl Scout Troop 216 proudly hold up the trophy awarded to them by Patricia Cox for picking up 52 bags of trash, thus earning second place, during the town's eighth annual Town Clean Up. CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT / PVT The Pahrump Valley High School football team carries off the first-place trophy it won by collecting 100 bags of trash for the town's eighth annual Town Clean Up. Advertisement

The Town Clean Up isn't just fueled by the good will of volunteers who help spruce up the town by picking up debris; it's also a competition over which team can collect the most trash.

Given the amount of litter constantly dumped into the desert here, that places the threshold for winning pretty high.

The winners are determined by the number of trash bags collected from their assigned area.

This year's winners were awarded trophies at the May 13 Pahrump Town Board meeting by Patricia Cox.

"I am so pleased with the participation from the children this year," Cox said. "It's unbelievable the support we got from them."

First place was awarded to the Pahrump Valley High School's football team, which filled up a whopping 100 bags of trash while cleaning up Gamebird Road from Highway 160 to Homestead Road. "I was so pleased when I found out the Pahrump Valley High School was going to show up this year," Cox said. "Not only did they show up in numbers -- we had over 50 kids come out -- but they showed up in numbers of bags."

Second place went to the Pahrump Rotary Club, which filled up 58 bulging bags of trash in two miles along Highway 160.

Third place was awarded to Boy Scout Troop 808 and Girl Scout Troop 216, which picked up 52 bags on Gamebird Road from Pahrump Valley Boulevard past Blagg Road.

"It was awesome seeing all the kids out there," Cox said. "They weren't only on one side of the road; they went out past the mesquite trees and everything."

Cox also took some time to give certificates of appreciation to the sponsors and volunteers whose support ensured the annual event's eighth year was successful.

Among the recipients were Bill Garlough, James and Cookie Westphal, and Damon and John Shea from Pahrump Valley Disposal.

"If it were not for Pahrump Valley Disposal this event would not occur," Cox said. "Not only does it volunteer the staff but also ensures that all the trucks will pick up trash all day long."

Albertson's, Smith's, and Wal-Mart were also thanked for providing volunteers with water, coffee, and doughnuts.