While driving on River Road in Lewiston, I witnessed a red pickup truck parked on the side of the road. The bed of the truck was filled with tires and a man was standing between the truck and the river.

My first thought was, I bet he is going to dump those tires in the river. My second thought was to turn around and get his license plate number. My third thought was maybe he just stopped for a break in the day. But having lots of other stuff on my mind, I continued on my way.

That was my mistake. If I had gotten his plate number, I would have called the police, because just about 20 minutes later, while my husband was fishing on the riverbank, guess what he saw float by? Yup, 13 tires were headed to Lisbon.

I was so irritated with myself for not getting his license plate number. Maybe his excuse was that the dump was closed, or that it would have cost too much to dispose of them there.

Driving on River Road, one often sees discarded items (mattresses, televisions, washers, dryers, sofas, bags of unknown, and on and on). The city eventually picks up these items.

But to throw stuff in the river is just ignorant.

There are many volunteer organizations that spend countless hours cleaning the banks of the Androscoggin every year and to them I say “thanks.”

To myself, I say, “I won’t make that mistake again.”

Cathy Westleigh, Lewiston