Lucedale Celebrates 18th Annual Arbor Day

By Yvette Hillman/HomeTown Traditions
The City of Lucedale celebrated Arbor Day on Friday with tree planting ceremonies, colorful posters and a Tree City USA presentation and reception.
On Friday morning city officials and Tree City USA Committee members planted a camellia at the library in honor of Dr. Kerry Johnson, area horticulturist with the Mississippi Extension Service and a Live Oak in the City Park to honor J.D. McLeod for 34 years of faithful service as a city employee.
On Friday afternoon Lucedale was honored as a member of Tree City USA for the 18th year and poster winners were awarded to local school children, they included:
Second Grader Sean Smith from Rocky Creek Elementary won first place and first grader Jewel Havard, also from RCE won second place in the K-2nd grade entries; fifth grader Peyton Davidson from Agricola Elementary won first place and fifth grader Megan Havard from Lucedale Intermediate won second place in the 3rd-5th grade entries; sixth grader Victoria Guy won first place and sixth grader Courtney Brown won second place in the 6th-8th grade entries; and fifth grader Morgan Dugger from Central Elementary taking the overall award in the poster contest. Sixth grader Courtney Hartsfield won first place in the poetry contest.
Following the awards ceremony, refreshments were served by Lucedale Garden Club members and tree seedling were handed out to the public for planting.