The Ohio River is often viewed as the barrier that divides the Tri-State. Instead, it should be considered the living thread that binds our region together.

Despite all our differences in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, the river impacts each profoundly.

Utilizing the mighty Ohio for business and industry, as well as recreation and tourism, will be a key determinate when it comes to gauging our progress.

But we have to take care of the river and its shorelines. Right now, we don’t do a very good job of that.

For at least one day, the River Sweep hopes to change that.

The sweep, which was started in 1989, attracts thousands of volunteers to the banks of the Ohio, to pickup trash and litter along the entire 1,962 miles of shoreline of the river and its tributaries.

You can help too this Saturday.

But if you don’t want to just take the initiative on your own, The Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste District is sponsoring volunteer crews at four boat ramp sites: Ironton, Coal Grove, South Point and Symmes Creek at Chesapeake.

Volunteers who want to lend a hand are asked to show up at 9 a.m. and every bit of help can make a difference.

Although this may only be a one-day effort, the hope is that it can help open people’s eyes and change the mindset when it comes to littering.

The Ohio River was central to our region’s past and can be vital to its future.