Ritzville to observe Arbor Day

RITZVILLE - The community will observe Arbor Day this Friday, April 26, with a free tree and shrub giveaway, plaque presentation and recognition of local students.

Sponsored by the Tree Board, the activities at City Hall, 216 E. Main Ave., begin at 9 a.m. with the first 30 residents in attendance being given a free seedling tree or shrub to take home

Local Boy Scout Troop No. 888 and Girl Scout Troop No. 889 will present colors, marking the opening of the observance, and Mayor Scott Yeager also will read an Arbor Day proclamation.

Additionally, state Department of Natural Resource's Urban and Community Forest Program technician Michael Sanborn will present Yeager with a Tree City USA plaque, an honor the city has received for the last 17 years.

Three civic-minded, fifth-grade students will also be recognized for their essays.

The students wrote essays on "what their favorite tree is and why." Each of the three will receive a gift certificate for their award-winning essays.

Following the ceremony, the 23 students in Ritzville Grade School's fifth-grade class will then be bussed to Veterans Memorial Children's Park to plant five trees.

In addition, each student will be presented a tree seedling to take home and plant.