Students at Berta Weathersbee Elementary and Gardner Newman Middle schools observed Arbor Day on Friday morning with the planting of a maple tree at each school.

The trees, donated by Smith Design Group, were planted in recognition of essay winners Hannah Cody, first, Camren Russell, second, and Jordan Slonaker, third, all fifth-graders at Berta Weathersbee Elementary School, and art contest winner Dakota Crowson, a sixth-grader at Gardner Newman.

“It’s a wonderful thing to see how our young people embrace environmentalism,” said Troup TREEmendous education chairman Todd Stephens. “They have a connection with the natural world that adults easily dismiss. When we all start caring about our world like our kids, we can make real progress in conservation and stewardship. They are my heroes.”

The four students were honored at Thursday’s meeting of the Troup County school board, where they received Troup TREEmendous prize packets that included a T-shirt emblazoned with “Tree Warrior,” a journal and school supplies.

Troup TREEmendous was formed in March 2009 to promote and protect trees, and preserve the county’s rural character.

Meanwhile, the city of LaGrange celebrated Arbor Day with the planting of a lacebark elm tree in front of Covenant Presbyterian Church at 118 Church St. The tree, donated by the Ivy Garden Club, will complement future plantings on Bull Street.

Amy Weaver, chief ranger of the Troup County unit of the Georgia Forestry Commission, presented a Tree City USA flag and sign to city officials in recognition of LaGrange’s 10 years in the tree protection program. The city created a tree advisory board on Feb. 14, 1989.

Mayor Pro-tem Norma Tucker read a proclamation designating Friday as Arbor Day, noting that trees have remarkable ecological, economical and aesthetic.

“Trees, wherever they are planted, are a potential source of human joy and spiritual renewal,” the proclamation stated.

Nebraska started Arbor Day in 1872 with the planting of more than 1 million trees.

n Troup TREEmendous supports the county’s heritage tree program, which invites residents of the unincorporated area to nominate trees for the Heritage Tree Registry. If accepted, the trees have protection against being cut down or destroyed. Trees may be nominated on the basis of history, age, size, species or ecological value.

To nominate a tree or grove of trees, e-mail county planner Nancy Seegar at nseegar@troupco.org or call her at (706) 883-1650.