Youth City Council members report clothing and possible drug paraphernalia during Cow Creek cleanup

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Youth City Council members on June 26 reported that their recent Cow Creek cleanup uncovered clothing, trash and what one participant described as an unlabeled bottle of pills at a site that appeared to have been occupied.

Several council members described the cleanup as “gross” but said it was valuable community service. “It was kind of sad to see, like, the conditions that someone could have been living in,” a Youth City Council member said, describing blankets, clothing and food packages found near the creek.

One participant, identified only by the first name Adam in the meeting, took photographs that showed an unlabeled bottle of pills, the council said. “I found an unlabeled bottle of pills. And we didn't know what they were but that was very concerning,” a Youth City Council member said.

Council members said they recovered two bags of clothing during the cleanup and suggested that people bring usable clothing to the on‑house donation drive rather than discarding it into the creek. “Instead of throwing your clothes in the Cow Creek this year, let's bring them to the house drive,” a member said.

Participants said the cleanup route began behind the Wisdom in Motion office and proceeded across the street down to the creek; volunteers used grabbers to collect sticks, cans and larger items including a single large shoe.

Members expressed interest in repeating the cleanup annually. No formal city action or ordinance change was proposed during the discussion; the exchange was a report from youth council members about a volunteer activity.