Mike Kearney, with the Blackhawk residents Assn, reaches through some vines to clean up garbage along Willow Creek in Elgin Saturday. September 15, 2012. | John Konstantaras~For Sun-Times Media
Joe Smolecki, Elgin, removes a refrigerator door from Willow Creek in Elgin Saturday. September 15, 2012. | The creek cleanup was organized by the Izaak Walton League. | John Konstantaras~For Sun-Times Media
(L-R) Rafael Gonzalez, and Juan Gonzalez, both 7th graders at Ellis Middle School carry a tire as they help clean up Willow Creek in Elgin Saturday. September 15, 2012. | John Konstantaras~For Sun-Times Media
Ellis Middle School teacher Noe Velazquez cleans up some trash from Willow Creek near Laurel in Elgin Saturday. September 15, 2012. | John Konstantaras~For Sun-Times Media
Ellis Middle School volunteerss (L-R) Zaina Mohammed, 7, teacher Hooma Ahmed, 7th grader Juan Padilla and teacher Bertha Torres help clean up Willow Creek in Elgin Saturday. September 15, 2012. | John Konstantaras~For Sun-Times Media
Ellis Middle School students and teachers help clean up trash from Willow Creek near Laurel in Elgin Saturday. September 15, 2012. | John Konstantaras~For Sun-Times Media
Television sets, rubber tires, glass bottles, and a refrigerator door were pulled from Willow Creek in Elgin Saturday morning, as part of a volunteer initiative that united area residents, members of the Izaak Walton League, and students from Ellis Middle School in Elgin. “We found …
