In the first week of April, Ruston was chosen as the cleanest city in its district. On Wednesday state judges will come to see if Ruston is the cleanest city in the state. Margaret Simpson, secretary of the local Sunset Garden Club, said Ruston has won the title in the past. �In the district competition, we just competed with cities of our population size in that district,� Simpson said. �In the state, it will be the cities of the same population size in the state.� Garden clubs around the state sponsor the contest, but, Simpson said, each city has to agree to participate.

�Since 1958, Louisiana�s garden clubs have sponsored an annual statewide Cleanest City contest,� she said. �The purpose of the contest is to develop civic pride in citizens, take care of the environment and make our cities look presentable.� Scoring is based on ten divisions: the approach into the city limits, public and/or municipal buildings, parks and recreation areas and cemeteries, business establishments, residential areas, streets and neutral grounds, vacant lots, community involvement, before and after pictures showing progress and the overall impression of cleanliness. �If the points are close, whichever city has an ecology flag gets extra points,� Simpson said. �An ecology flag shows that we are promoting our clean ecology and keeping our air and streams pollution free.� Ruston has an ecology flag flying in front of the court house.

Simpson said when the district judges visited, they noticed some areas that needed improvement before the state contest. �When the judges came to Ruston, they said mowing and trimming was needed throughout the city, and they saw litter around the city,� Simpson said. �The vacant lots need to be mowed, and they noticed grass in the drainage areas downtown.� She added that just a little work would go a long way. �Just do general yard cleaning and tidying everything up,� Simpson said. �It�s normal spring cleaning.�

A reception will be held for the state judges at 1 p.m., Wednesday, in the Peach Suite in the Civic Center.

Other cities across the state competing are Lafayette, St. Martinville, Loreauville, Thibodaux, Brusly, Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Rayne, Iowa, Cottonport, Bunkie, Pineville, Farmerville and Collinston. However, the only cities Ruston will compete against are Alexandria, Houma and Hammond.