Jim Price Cleanup will be held April 26

Some people buy things in bulk. In Gonzales, there is a special day to get rid of things in bulk — the Gonzales Jim Price Communitywide Cleanup Day, set for Saturday, April 26 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Apache football field parking lot at 1520 Saint Paul St. The event is co-sponsored by the City of Gonzales and Frontier Waste Solutions.

The day will also include a special opportunity offered by Tour Gonzales, Main Street Gonzales and the City of Gonzales being called “Hands Together for Gonzales” where residents can volunteer solo or with a group to make a difference in the community in activities like planting, building, trash pickup and more.

Jim Price Cleanup

Residents of Gonzales are reminded to mark their calendars and prepare to participate. To join in, residents must line up by no later than noon at Tate Street and along St. Paul Street and provide proof of residency via a recent utility bill.

Brush or tree limbs must be no longer than 4-5 feet in length and tied or grouped into manageable bundles weighing no more than 30 pounds. Grass and other yard debris must be bagged, weighing no more than 30 pounds. No exceptions to either of these regulations allowed.

Accepted items for disposal include:
• Furniture (i.e couches, mattresses, tables).

• Appliances (i.e. refrigerators, ovens, TV's and freon must be removed.

• A limited amount of construction debris (i.e. carpeting, wood).

• Bagged small or loose debris.

• Empty and dried paint containers.

• Other bulk items which are too large to be accepted by regular waste collection services.

Excluded items that cannot be disposed include:
• Hazardous chemicals (i.e. paint, gasoline, motor oil/filters, antifreeze, fluorescent lights, pesticides, batteries, household and pool chemicals, herbicides, flammable, corrosive, or biomedical material, etc.)

• Rocks, dirt/sand, ashes, tires.

• Construction and demolition debris (brick, concrete/cement, shingles, sheetrock).

• Other bulk items which are too large to be accepted by regular waste collection services.

Hands Together for Gonzales

Starting at 7 a.m. at Apache Field, volunteers will also have lunch provided to them after the cleanup from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. You can get a project, group, individual or sponsorship form at the GEDC office (305 Saint Lawrence St.) or online. Volunteers get a free T-shirt!

Sponsorship opportunities include $300 for a Community Champion (get logo or name on T-shirt as well as on social media); $100 for Hometown Advocate (get logo or name on T-shirt); or $50 for Supporting Hand.

Jim Price Cleanup history

The event pays homage to Dr. Jim Price, a beloved figure in Gonzales history. Dr. Price, who practiced general medicine in the town from 1948 until his retirement in 2003, was renowned for his dedication to his patients. He was not only known for delivering numerous Gonzales residents via home births but also for his compassionate house calls and respectful treatment of patients.

Dr. Price's commitment to cleanliness and community spirit was evident in his daily routine. During his morning jog (later transformed into a walk), he would diligently collect litter along the sidewalks of Gonzales, a gesture that caught the attention of many passersby. In honor of his legacy, the city has designated the Saturday closest to Earth Day on April 22 as the "Jim Price Communitywide Cleanup Day" for the past two decades.

Though Dr. Price passed away at the age of 92 in May 2013, his memory continues to inspire the annual community cleanup event that bears his name.