Sayner says “thank you” to Hwy 155 garbage collector

An anonymous good samaritan has been cleaning up litter along Highway 155 between St. Germain and Sayner.

Town Chair of Plum Lake Jackey Postuchow said that she wanted to bring attention to the anonymous well-doer’s cause by writing a post to put on the Vilas County Community page on Facebook. In less than 24 hours, her post received over 800 reactions and numerous comments.

“I feel it’s rare these days to see a post without one negative naysayer, so this is wonderful,” she said. “Comments suggested that I thank this individual in person. That’s exactly what I did.”

Postuchow stopped one morning to share the community’s “overwhelming gratitude” with the garbage collector, and that was when the collector shared that she goes on 2- to 3-hour-long walks every day. On these walks, she brings bags with her to pick up trash and car parts she finds along the way.

She explained to Postuchow that she picks up the garbage to demonstrate her dedication to protecting the North Wood’s landscape.

“All you have to do is take a bag with you on your walks,” she said.

A follow-up post Postuchow wrote on the Facebook community page had over 100 reactions and even more gratifying comments within minutes.

“Though she prefers anonymity, her impact is undeniable,” the post read. 

It was reported that several community members offered meals, blessings and well-wishes to the garbage collector.

“She wishes for others to join her in preserving our area’s natural beauty by ending littering and collecting trash during walks,” Postuchow added.

The collector shared that she is local and has walked countless miles throughout the years, cleaning trash from the roadways all over the county and around local parks and campgrounds.