Arbor Day celebrated with plantings, grocery bag art

Havre will celebrate Arbor Day in a two-day planting on Tuesday and Wednesday. Seedling trees will be planted by Lincoln-McKinley and St. Jude's second-graders. The planting is part of an annual program conducted by TURF, Havre's local tree committee, Gary and Leo's IGA, Coca-Cola of Havre and the city of Havre. The seedlings for the Arbor Day celebration will be provided jointly by Coca-Cola, Badland Tree and Landscaping and a state grant.

Plantings will be held at other Hi-Line communities between Monday and April 23.

Since 1994 nearly 4,000 seedlings have been planted in the program. The plantings will take place in Pepin Park beginning at 12:30 p.m. each day.

Mark Lennon, West Region community forester for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, will be on hand for the celebration. Lennon is instrumental in assisting communities with forestry programs and presenting workshops on tree care. Lennon will be presenting Havre with its 12th annual Tree City U.S.A. award.

The students' contribution to Arbor Day does not stop with the planting activity. Students participated in a grocery bag art contest, drawing a picture of a tree with the theme, "What tree do I like best in my community?" The artwork will be displayed at IGA, Taco John's in the Holiday Village Shopping Center and at City Hall. On Arbor Day, the artwork bags will be used to bag customers' groceries at IGA.