Trash lines the road along Old U.S. 52 in Holly Springs near the Interstate 74 overpass. Tourism officials say they want to approach county commissioners and the North Carolina Department of Transportation to get the litter picked up.

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DOBSON — During the quarterly meeting of the Tourism Partnership of Surry County (TPSC) at Shelton Vineyards Tuesday, board member Ed Shelton asked the board to consider approaching the county commissioners and the North Carolina Department of Transportation about the litter problem along county roads.

“We need to push for a very serious clean-up in Surry County. It’s a detriment to our tourism, a detriment to our industry and a detriment to our campaign to bring in retirees. I think we should go before the county commissioners and talk about getting them to enforce codes. We need to encourage people to quit throwing out trash,” said Shelton.

Shelton said not only has the amount of debris along the county’s interstates and highways become problematic it is accumulating on country roads as well.

“It just doesn’t make a good impression. If they see trash and junk, they may decide to go somewhere else next time,” said Shelton. “This is such a beautiful county and we need to encourage people to be proud of it.”

Board member Brandon McHone suggested the group get in touch with Ruritan clubs to see if they could help clean up the roads.

“We could call the White Plains Ruritan and they could take care of that area out by I-74 and (N.C.) 89,” said McHone. That particular area had been previously been mentioned by Shelton as a heavily littered area.

Board chair Leslie Schlender asked about the Adopt-a-Highway program. She wanted to know if more people could try to get on board with that program.

Shelton said he thinks people don’t understand the importance of keeping Surry County beautiful.

“It’s the little things that make a difference. We need to show what kind of benefit will come of it,” said Shelton.

He suggested that the TPSC draft a letter to county commissioners and to the NCDOT to see what can be done to get the roads cleaned up.

The board also voted to give $5,000 the Yadkin Valley Heritage Corridor (YVHC). The group has identified locations throughout the area identifying the region as the Yadkin Yalley. So far, there has been one sign placed on N.C. 268 so it can be seen by people entering the county into the Elkin area.

The YVHC also studied where signs should be placed around the county that would mark parks and trails, such as the Over Mountain Victory Trail.

Chris Knopf, assistant county manager for economic development and tourism, told the group that he is taking reservations now on a golf package program the county is promoting. The program offers three rounds of golf and a two-night stay starting from $265 per person. The Chip & Sip package offers golfers rounds at Cross Creek Country Club, Olde Beau Golf & Country Club in Roaring Gap and at Cedarbrook Country Club in Elkin; a stay at either The Fairfield Inn & Suites or the Hampton Inn in Mount Airy; and a guided tour and premium wine tasting at a participating winery.

Knopf said he would like to see Pilot Knob Park in Pilot Mountain come on board with the program as well as Primland Resort in Meadows of Dan, Va.

He is working with a marketing group, Impact Golf to get the word out about the program. The company also created a Facebook page ad that targets people who like golf and wine. He said so far, the ad has had 179 click-throughs and two people who clicked on the ad have asked for trip quotes, he said.

He said while the idea is fairly new, he believes in time it can grow in the Yadkin Valley region.

Reach Mondee Tilley at mtilley@heartlandpublications.com or at 719-1930.