Arbor Day celebration a success

A large group of onlookers gathered in Ritzville City Park on April 27 to participate in the City of Ritzville’s Arbor Day celebration. Nick Weishaar’s fifth grade class joined Mayor Linda Kadlec, Mike Schrag from the Tree Board, Scott Carruth and Scout Troop 888, as well as many other city representatives to celebrate the event.

After the posting of the colors by Scout Troop 888, Mayor Kadlec welcomed everyone to the celebration and read the Ritzville Arbor Day proclamation. Schrag presented the Mayor with a commemorative plaque to recognize Ritzville for again being named as a Tree City USA.

City of Ritzville Councilman, Gary Cook, announced the winners of the Arbor Day essay competition and the three girls read their essays to the group. Lacey Miller placed first with her essay, Madison Melcher got second and Lakai Miller received third.

Each of the girls won a tree to plant in their yard for their success. The essay topics were about what their grandparent’s favorite tree is.

Mayor Kadlec presented the Outstanding Community Member award to city employee, Bob Tracy. Tracy received the award and then led a presentation about how to properly plant trees.

The fifth grade successfully planted four trees located at various locations throughout the park. The trees included a Japanese red maple and sweet gum trees.

The main purpose of the new trees is to bring more color to the Ritzville City Park and to serve as a reminder of Arbor Day for the fifth grade students. The 20 students divided into groups and the students picked a tree to represent that group.

The city hopes that those students remember the tree and that when they come back for Alumni Weekend in the future, they visit the tree they planted many years ago.

After the students finished planting the trees, they received complimentary lunch and ice cream for their help with the Arbor Day celebration.