Fort Hays students replant a greener Greensburg

Special to The Hays Daily News

On Global Youth Service Day on April 24, students from the home horticulture class at Fort Hays State University traveled to Greensburg to assist in planting and mulching approximately 85 trees and an ornamental grass display at the Kiowa County Fairgrounds.

Community Forestry Coordinator Tim McDonnell from the Kansas Forest Service and Darrin Wright from the city of Salina Parks Department demonstrated how to properly plant a tree.

Students assisting in the planting were Andrie Baird, Brewster; Chance Bezona, Holly, Colo.; Kelly Black, Hays; Weston Cossman, Jetmore; Seth DeWerff, Ellinwood; Nicholas Dreitz, Brush, Colo.; Heath Fecht, Wray, Colo.; Joshua Fiscus, Stafford; Jacob Karlin, Victoria; Shiloh Konrade, Dodge City; Jay Lindahl, Clearwater; Zachary McIntyre, Iola; Cody Schaef, Greensburg; Nickie Weir, Courtland; and Luke Whitehill, Garden City.

Kiowa County Master Gardeners Linda Brower, Rex Butler, Joan Hayse, Marsha Klein, Nathan Spicer and Carmen Stauth and Greensburg city tree board members Joan Hayse and Randy Rinker also helped with the tree planting. Funding for the project came from State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant, Hays Lions Club, Jerry Spiess and Wal-Mart SuperCenter of Hays. Jean Gleichsner of FHSU and Kansas State University Kiowa County Extension agent Carmen Stauth coordinated the project.

In honor of Arbor Day, two crabapple trees were planted in front of the Kiowa County Courthouse to recognize the students for their contributions to Greensburg and to honor Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., for his support of Greensburg after the tornado. Representatives from the senator's officer were Mel Thompson, state agriculture representative, and Karin Wisdom, district director. Speaking at the recognition ceremony was Greensburg Mayor Bob Dixson and Pat Maloney, D-Kingman.