FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 1996

CONTACT: MOLLY OSWALT
512-478-8813

First Lady Laura Bush Visits Keep
Texas Beautiful Winners

AUSTIN -- On Tuesday, June 18, Texas' First Lady Laura Bush will visit with the community leaders of award-winning Austin to extend congratulations on a well-deserved first place in the Governor's Community Achievement Awards. These awards are sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation and Keep Texas Beautiful.

Mrs. Bush will host guests at the Governor's Mansion
which is located at 1010 Colorado at 8:30 a.m. to meet with community leaders and volunteers. After a brief ceremony she will be available to the media. "All year long we have worked so hard conducting clean ups and litter prevention education, and to receive first place in such a competition makes us know our community service has paid off. The landscape project we have won is yet another way to instill pride in our citizens and encourage visitors to our community," said Robin Loving,
Coordinator of Keep Austin Beautiful.

The Governor's Community Achievement Awards are presented to communities in nine population categories that have the best grassroots, volunteer environmental programs in the state. The nine winning communities exhibited excellence in organization, clean-up, beautification, recycling, education and litter law enforcement. The winning communities split $700,000 in landscaping prizes provided by TxDOT. These prizes are designated for landscaping along state-maintained highways in their communities.

Keep Texas Beautiful, the non-profit state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, works to provide grassroots solutions to Texas solid waste and litter issues. KTB works with volunteers, elected officials, businesses and state and federal agencies to promote litter prevention, environmental public awareness and education, proper solid waste management and recycling, illegal dumping enforcement and beautification. For more information call 1-800-CLEAN-TX.