Residents of Columbus Junction have been taking part in cleanups in the city. Director of the Columbus Junction Development Center, Mallory Smith, says the events are part of their Keep Columbus Beautiful program.

They hold events throughout the year, but Smith says they ramp things up for spring. One of the public cleanups was held at the swinging bridge, another was downtown, and Columbus Junior High students will hold one in the neighborhood around the school on Friday.

Those cleanup activities lead-up to Friday’s farmers market at the Louisa County Fairgrounds, where CNN Hero of the Year Chad Pregracke will be at a booth answering questions and signing autographs. Following the meet and greet at the farmers market, Pregracke, who organizes and conducts river cleanups across the United States, will give a presentation open to the public at 6:30.