April 10, 2021 DOBSON — Unlike COVID-19, no vaccine is available for the roadside litter epidemic — but Surry County officials are trying to remedy the problem on multiple fronts. “We do appreciate any efforts citizens take to help clean up our roadways,” county government spokesman Nathan Walls commented Thursday in conjunction with recent announcements involving four separate initiatives. This includes the county’s participation in the Litter Sweep program of the N.C. Department of Transportation, which began Saturday and will run through April 24. It is focused on collecting trash along roadways. Local volunteers are invited to get involved by obtaining cleanup supplies such as trash bags, gloves and safety vests from the DOT’s county maintenance yard office at 1975 Prison Camp Road in Dobson. This can be done from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.