Arbor Day Celebrated At TMS

Arbor Day 2008 was observed at Trenton Middle School Friday morning with a program for eighth grade students.

Eighth Grade Science Instructor Diana Klinginsmith coordinated the event, which was held in the TMS Library due to heavy rain. Students in her seventh hour class, as well as Vicki Ferguson’s seventh hour class, had planted five Prairie Fire Flowering Crabapple trees on Tuesday, April 22. That brought to 27 the number of such trees that have been planted along the walking trail near the school. Mrs. Klinginsmith expressed her appreciation to the Trenton Tree Board and Trenton Park Board for providing funding and assistance with the planting of the trees, which began in 2002, when the school building first opened. She also recognized Barnes Greenhouses and said that not one tree planted through the program has died. She also noted that over 100 students have learned how to plant trees thanks to the annual program and made a special point of recognizing Chuck Lankheit and the late Gordon Joiner for starting the program and for their help over the years. She also recognized Trenton Mayor Cathie Smith and members of the Trenton Tree Board, which include Beth Mack, Jacob Black, Marcia Schroeder and Wenda Seymour. One of the requirements of being designated as a “Tree City USA” is to hold an annual Arbor Day observance.
Mrs. Smith recognized the winners of the Arbor Day Poster Contest, which included Klark Critten, first place; Alexis Hagan, second place; and Thomas Mack, third place. All are fifth graders at TMS.
Eighth grade students participating in the event were Cameron Warner, who gave an overview of the history of Arbor Day; Austin Busch, Cody Oshel, Katie Barone and Shelby Chaney, who presented facts about trees; Jessica Ellis, who discussed the Prairie Fire Flowering Crabapple; Abby Curtis and Holliann Norton, who read poems; and Addison Fuller, who read a dedication statement.
Mrs. Klinginsmith said she hopes to continue working with the Tree Board to plant a variety of trees that students will be able to use for their high school plant identification projects.
As the program ended, Mrs. Mack thanked the eighth grade students for holding the observance and gave credit to Mrs. Klinginsmith for her efforts in coordinating the event.