By Rita Shirley LeBleu

Love the Boot – Keep Cameron Parish Beautiful 2026 made a day at the beach a day of purpose on Saturday, Apr. 25.

“One hundred seventy four volunteers and support workers came together across six beaches to protect and preserve our beautiful Louisiana coastline,” said Michelle Long, Cameron Parish Beachfront Development District 1.

Beachfront Development District 1 includes Constance, Gulf Breeze, Little Florida and Mae’s Beaches. Board members are BJ Miller, Russell Badon, Debbie Fontenot, Michele Long and Cindy Snead.

At those beaches, 221 bags of trash were collected Saturday, including large debris such as boat rope, fish nets, pallets, tents and a buoy ring.

Beachfront Development District 2 includes Rutherford and Broussard Beaches. Board members are Susan Boudreaux, Lisa Benoit, Peggy Griffith, Kim Murphy and Tina Payne.

At Rutherford and Broussard Beaches, approximately 60 volunteers collected 100 bags of trash.

One of the most unusual items collected at Rutherford Beach had never been seen before based on remarks made when it was turned in. It resembled a specimen bottle.

Venture Global volunteer Mick Pearce, the man with the accent, explained that the green tube with the finished threads and secured screw-cap top is what the Sprite bottle looked like before being heated to a pliable state, inserted into a metal mold and stretched to its final shape before being filled. Sprite ditched its green bottles in 2022, ending 60 years of green packaging, making this an unusual find indeed.

Venture Global volunteer Shannon Champagne wasn’t surprised at the find, noting that she found a little bit of everything during her trek – including the kitchen sink.

Nevertheless, Susan Boudreaux said the set of false teeth found in 2025 still tops her list of most unusual finds.