Westby students finish summer vacation on flood cleanup in Coon Valley

Some high school students in the area probably didn’t expect to spend the last week of summer vacation doing heavy lifting.

But, in Coon Valley this week, plenty of teenagers joined in the massive effort to clean houses and other buildings damaged by flooding.

It’s been dirty work, clearing out flooded basements, and hauling garbage to help families after the storm swept through Monday and Tuesday.

“The old man, last night, said, ‘We’re going to Walmart to get you some boots,’ because I don’t have any boots,” Westby cross country runner Cooper said. “He drove us down here because he knows some guys that live down here, so we’re helping out.”

Another Westby student-athlete named Ty was right in the thick of it but more than happy to help.

“It’s pretty cool to go out and help your community like this,” he said. “Pretty hard. Taking off old cardboard and carpet. Unscrewing light fixtures and things like that. And taking things to dumpsters, moving them out.

Lots of young people took time out from the cleanup duty on Wednesday to meet with Gov. Scott Walker, who arrived at Coon Valley Elementary School in a military helicopter.

Volunteers in the flood areas were fed by the Salvation Army canteen Thursday. Friday, the Catholic Church in Coon Valley will once again offer free breakfast at 8 a.m., lunch at noon and dinner at 4 p.m.