Have we been writing too much about litter? After looking around the city this week, I don’t think so. The ditches on Highway 63 north between downtown and the North Court/Bryan Road intersection are littered with litter. At least they were Tuesday noon.

Some of it probably blew in with the big wind gusts we had Monday.

But, when beer bottles and empty cans of soda, beer or go-juice end up in my yard half-way up to my house, I begin to wonder.

One piece of trash I picked up gave me a splinter that I thought I had removed, but my doctor noticed it during a recent routine visit and removed it for me. That led to a tetanus shot, but that was fine. The last one I had was in 1993 during flood coverage.

Anyway, I may suggest to our marketing committee that we also consider cleaning up part of that ditch south of Highway 63/North Court. If the wind doesn’t remove the debris soon.

Otherwise, we are still on for Foster Park cleanup in a couple weeks and still waiting to hear from other businesses willing to give us a challenge. We really don’t want the distinction of being the only business to allow employees time off from work to help with the city-wide cleanup.

Give us a call!

And, here’s a reminder about Letters to the Editor.

We have been receiving a lot lately, and that is great. The more the merrier, especially about a variety of local topics and from readers who don’t often write letters.

We remind you again to keep the focus of the letters to local or area topics. And if you write more than once about a topic, please have different things to say. The same goes for political letters.

Mostly, though, please remember the 250-word limit. I know that some of you don’t think you can keep your ideas to that length. But, we must insist. It allows for more letters to be published.

Also please include your telephone number (which will not be published), for letter verification.

We prefer letters e-mailed (to me at j.krieger@ottumwacourier.com). We also accept letters faxed to us (641-684-7326), and sent in the mail of course, addressed: Letters to the Editor, Ottumwa Courier, 213 E. Second St., Ottumwa, Iowa 52501.

Keep letters short, sensible and to topics at hand.