Large deposits of illegally dumped garbage located in certain areas of the town are causing headaches for Town Code Enforcement Officer Larry Lanterman.
    “This is some of the most beautiful country that God ever created,” he said during a recent meeting of the Chemung Town Council. “It is gorgeous here.”
    Which is why Lanterman said he can’t understand why people are dumping garbage in some areas.
    On Putt Hill, Lanterman said, he hauled out 10 bags of garbage from over a bank.
    Lanterman said he spent a significant amount of time going through the garbage to obtain the name of the person who dumped it there, but to no avail — the person had ripped the name and address tag from the cover of the magazines that were dumped there.
    And that wasn’t the worse of it, said Lanterman.
    “In one spot, (there were) seven mattresses, a couch, a chair, a refrigerator, a television, and probably 10 or 15 tires,” he said.
    “It breaks my heart,” Lanterman said, his voice cracking. “We’re destroying this country.”
    Putt Hill isn’t the only area where garbage is being dumped illegally. Another area is on River Road.
    “I have been on River Road between Waverly and Chemung so many times in the last month I can’t even count,” said Lanterman. “I have gone through bags of diapers.”
    Just recently town road crews removed 46 tires that were dumped along River Road, said Lanterman.
    He also reiterated that there is a $1,000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals dumping on River Road.
    “Folks, help me,” Lanterman said to those who attended the recent council meeting. “Watch what is going on in your community (and) around your houses. If you see somebody parked along the road, call me.”
    Individuals who see any illegal dumping in the Town of Chemung can contact Lanterman at his town office at (607) 529-3239 or at his home at (607) 733-0129.
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    Warren Howeler can be reached at whoweler@morning-times.com.