Powder River Examiner -

By Margaret Scoles

The Broadus Tree Board and Town of Broadus are celebrating a belated Arbor Day this year. A Haralred apple tree will be planted on the north side of the Fire Hall. Arbor Day was set for April 24 with a proclamation signed by Mayor M. Lyman Amsden before the COVID-19 pandemic started. Typically celebrated with students at the elementary school, the pandemic changed the plans this year.

Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. National Arbor Day was founded in Nebraska by J. Sterling Morton in 1872.

The Broadus Tree Board is celebrating its 21st year. Organized in 1998, largely on the initiative of Anne Amsden, the board applied for and received Tree City USA status in 1999. The Tree Board has applied for and received Arbor Day grants from the DNRC almost every year since then. Since then, hundreds of trees have been planted, caged, mulched, pruned, and watered. The Tree Board maintains a Tree Ordinance for the town, which is reviewed annually. This year’s trees will be purchased with an Arbor Day grant once again.

Tree Board members are Kathy Roberts, Don Birkholz, Anne Amsden, Kelda Page, Jean Hough, and Margaret Scoles. Peggy Fruit represents the Town of Broadus. Following the tree planting ceremony, Tree Board members will meet to finalize their Work Plan and schedule the purchase and planting of additional trees with the grant funds available.