By KYLE ODEGARD
Shortly after 7 a.m. on Saturday, dedicated golfers were already hitting the links at Trysting Tree Golf Club.
J.J. Dailey stepped up to the tee box at the seventh hole with a black garbage bag instead of clubs, though. The 13-year-old surveyed the scene and stooped over to pick up a piece of cardboard off the wet grass.
Fourth of July fireworks were set off nearby the previous night, and the rockets' red glare and bombs bursting in air scattered litter across the course.
J.J. led about 20 Boy Scouts from Corvallis' Troop 3 who cleaned up the mess Saturday morning, lining up and sweeping across the terrain.
The early morning was worth it, the Scouts said, because they got to witness the fireworks Friday night from the east bank of the Willamette - right by where they are shot into the sky. Most locals watch from downtown Corvallis, on the west side of the river.
"They were awesome," said J.J., who's going into the eighth grade at Linus Pauling Middle School.
"Over here, they explode and there's nothing else you can see," said Matt Winnett, 15, who will be a sophomore at Santiam Christian School.
"It was pretty cool. I was scared some of the fireworks were going to get me. Some of them were right overhead," said his younger brother Ben Winnett, 11, a future sixth-grader at Santiam Christian.
Daniel Runyon, 17, who will be a senior at Corvallis High School, said it was neat being behind the scenes at the fireworks show and seeing how things worked.
This was the second straight year that Troop 3 Scouts have removed the fireworks debris from Trysting Tree. This year, they also provided security during the show for the Jaycees, who shoot the fireworks into the air.
The Scouts camped out near the Oregon State University crew building and docks, so Scouts earned points toward higher ranks by sleeping over and doing public service.
The youths also cleaned up debris along First Street, though most of that was from residents who set off a few fireworks of their own while watching the larger show exploding over the golf course.
Kyle Odegard can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.