For some three years, Atmore resident Linda Shuford has braved Highway 31 traffic just to make it look a little cleaner.

Shuford has been walking up and down a small stretch of the major roadway, picking up trash with a trash grabber and placing it in plastic grocery bags.

“I started walking for my health,” she said. “When I saw the trash, I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone.”

Shuford said she picks up trash all year.

“This winter, I’ve been walking two days a week,” she said. “If I can, I like to get out here all of the time. I love the outside.”

Shuford has been retired for about three years. She worked in the Escambia County School System as a principal at Escambia County Middle School, an assistant principal at Escambia County High School and as an English teacher. She also worked at Rachel Patterson Elementary.

Shuford said she starts walking from her house, down James Rd. and then goes down Highway 31 to Jerry Gehman’s house with the train caboose.

“Some parts I don’t touch, but eventually I work to it,” she said.

Carrying about four bags full of trash on Monday evening, Shuford said she can’t recall how much trash she’s picked up.

“This is a light day,” she quipped.

Shuford said the most trash that’s usually by the road is on Thursdays.

“It’s close to Friday,” she said. “I guess they’ve been saving up their money to buy beer.”

All of her hard work pays off in the end when she drives down the road.

“I feel good when there’s not trash on the side of the road,” Shuford said.