Smokers asked to get their butts off sidewalk, streets

Last week, Commerce workers mounted seven cigarette butt receptacles to light poles in the downtown. A like amount were due to be installed in Jefferson.

The aim is to reduce the number of cigarette butts littering the streets and sidewalks.

“We’ve got at least one on every major block in the Central Business District,” noted Hasco Craver, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority.

The devices are installed in the vicinities of H&R Block, Vaughn's Wing Slingers, the Risk Reduction DUI School, the Commerce Civic Center, Little Italy Pizzeria, City Tire and Auto and the Hood Building.

The grant also provides “pocket ash trays” that will be available to local smokers. Odor-proof and ash-proof, the devices, which look like pocket change purses, will give smokers another option besides tossing their butts when they’re not around one of the disposal canisters.