Residents of Weyburn are urged to tidy up yards and back alleys before Wednesday, June 8, when judging for the annual City Clean-up Campaign will take place.

Building on 2004's contest, which was the first time in many years that Weyburn did not compete against Estevan for the Golden Garbage Can trophy, the 2005 contest will see neighbourhood compete against neighbourhood, as the city is split into five zones that are pitted against each other.

However, the difference between this year and last is that zones will be judged on how they have been improved from last year, not on which is the cleanest.

Jean Fahlman was one of the judges in 2004 and is returning to her duties again this year, along with one other unspecified judge. Fahlman said she took extensive notes last year and will be constantly referencing them when touring the city.

"I can watch for the things that, last year, knocked districts down, and see if that area has improved," she said.

Fahlman said that, in general, front yards throughout the city always look immaculate. What often hurts an area are the back alleys, where people not only leave garbage lying around, but also abandoned car parts, tires and heaps of cut branches.

"It's the back lanes that really knock people down," she said, adding that abandoned vehicles left out to rust are a major consideration.

Fahlman said judges are cognizant of this year's poor weather, and realize yards will likely not be as manicured as usual. However, while nice-looking yards do help an area, judges are generally looking at cleanliness of an area.

Bill McKenzie, chairman of the 2005 Clean-up Committee, said that area co-ordinators, who are responsible for handing out clean-up notices, have noted areas "aren't as clean and neat" as previous years.

Weeds and dandelions seem to have invaded many alleys, and heaps of cut branches are very bad in some spots. McKenzie noted that the city will pick up cut branches only if they are cut down to roughly three feet and are bundled.

Abandoned vehicles are also a problem, which city bylaws also restrict. If people have junk vehicles that they have no use for, they are urged to call the Kidney Foundation and donate them, for which they will receive a $50 receipt.

Though they hope to one day bring Estevan back into the fold, McKenzie said it's important to keep doing the City Clean-up Campaign not only for community spirit, but because Weyburn has a reputation as a well-maintained community.

"When people come to visit this community, that's one thing they do talk about: the well-maintained lawns. I just had a new neighbour who moved in that's one thing he said, when he came to the community looking for a home, he was marveled at not only the size of the trees, but how well-maintained all the areas were."

"To me, that's a drawing for people, not only to come shop here, but to come live in this community," he said.

In last year's contest, Zone 3 was chosen as the Cleanest Area. As the winning zone, residents were randomly selected from that area to receive prizes donated by local businesses and stores.

The same thing will happen last year, though special prizes will be given to residents who received clean-up notices and actually cleaned up. All prizes are currently on display at City Hall.

People who have received notices but have difficulty cleaning up on their own may contact the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), whose workers are available for yard maintenance. Please note there is a nominal fee attached to the CMHA's services.

In conjunction with the residential clean-up campaign, Weyburn Minor Ball also held their annual clean-up last week, completing their task by the time the Weyburn Spring Classic was held over the weekend.

The top fund-raisers from the Minor Ball "Green Day" clean-up will be announced later this week.

The five zones of the city are as follows: Zone 1 covers most of South Hill, ending at Highway No. 39; Zone 2 covers the interior of the city excluding the downtown core, ending at 1st Avenue, Highway No. 39 and Sixth Street; Zone 3 covers the northern half of Weyburn, cut off by 1st Avenue and 16th Street; Zone 5 covers the eastern end of the city, cut off by 16th Street; Zone 4 is sandwiched between Zone 2 and Zone 5.