By By Adrienne McKenzie
In an effort to help beautify Atmore during Arbor Week, several community members, along with Madeline Hildreth with the Alabama Forestry Commission, met at Rachel Patterson Elementary School Feb. 29 to plant the roots of a river birch tree.
Atmore mayor Howard Shell, Hildreth, the city’s head horticulturist Ed Brown, RPES principal Susan McKenzie and City Tree Commission members Juanita Smith and Gertha Adams were all in attendance when the roots were planted on school grounds. Also Dawnetta Burns’ kindergarten class was taught the importance of having an abundance of trees.
The state of Alabama celebrates Arbor Week the last full week of February each year and Shell presented a proclamation while at RPES that includes the city of Atmore in that celebration.
Hildreth said she feels as if planting trees is one of the more important things in life.
Each year city personnel visit a local school and plants a tree.
For more information about Arbor Day, visit www.arborday.org.