By DANIEL MOCTEZUMA
Cove Leader-Press
On March 6, representatives from Fort Cavazos and surrounding cities met at the Harris Community Center in Belton to recognize individuals and schools for their contributions to environmental efforts.
Copperas Cove was among nine communities that participated in the ceremony, alongside Killeen, Nolanville, Harker Heights, Gatesville, Salado, Lampasas, Belton, and Fort Cavazos.
The event also recognized local schools through the Youth Environmental Ambassadors (YEA!) Program, which highlights student-led sustainability initiatives.
Copperas Cove campuses included Hettie Halstead Elementary, Martin Walker Elementary, Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary, and Crossroads High School, all recognized for their environmental projects.
A repeat winner of the Greater Fort Cavazos Recycle Bowl is Hettie Halstead Elementary, recognized for their “Lights Out Lunch.”
Halstead Elementary was also recognized for Sustained Excellence, along with Martin Walker Elementary and Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary.
Martin Walker Elementary was recognized for their “Pull Together to Make a Difference” program in which they collected pull-tops from aluminum cans and made a donation to the local Ronald McDonald House. Crossroads High School was recognized for its School Beautification.
Copperas Cove’s Environmental Ambassador for 2025, Lynette Sowell, is the associate publisher/editor of the Copperas Cove Leader-Press and also serves as editor of the Belton Journal. She was recognized for her years of volunteer service with Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful, a committee she served on for three terms, a total of nine years.
“It was extremely gratifying to be recognized by my community like this,” Sowell said. “I’ve been a longtime volunteer, and I think this is a testament to how much our community values working together to make things better for everyone.”
During her time with Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful, Sowell participated in citywide cleanup efforts, including trash pickups, waterway cleanups, and the Don’t Mess With Texas Trash-Off. She also helped with the annual Eco Harvest, an educational event in October for CCISD third graders that teaches sustainability and recycling.
“Volunteering at these events in person has been incredibly rewarding,” she said.
Sowell believes that small efforts, like neighborhood litter pickups, can add up to a significant impact.
“One person can make a difference,” she said. “A lot of times, we think, ‘I’m just one person, what can I do?’ But just showing up and volunteering, over time, you can see the impact.”
Mayor David K. Leigh of Belton emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in sustainability efforts.
“We have to be more and more innovative because this region is growing at a three to five percent rate,” Leigh said. “That means there are three to five percent more people, but there’s not three to five percent more water every year. We have to continue working together.”
The event concluded with a formal signing of the Sustainable Environment Month proclamation, reinforcing the commitment of Fort Cavazos and its partner cities to environmental preservation.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.