They're planting trees and digging it

Hundreds of Hi-Line students are sinking their fingers into the dirt and helping trees take root this week as the Hometown Trees program swings into action for the 14th straight Arbor Day.

"This is like digging in my mom's garden and not getting in trouble for it," said Spencer Obresley, 8, as he filled rich dirt around the feathery roots of a Rocky Mountain blue spruce.

Obresley was among more than 200 Havre second-graders from Lincoln-McKinley Primary School and St. Jude Thaddeus School who came to Pepin Park on Monday to plant seedlings in 1-gallon plastic jugs. With diligent watering, the...