Arbor Day ‘thanks’

Dear editor:

The Hot Springs Parks & Trails Department would like to express our tremendous gratitude to everyone who helped with the 20th annual Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 27, at Entergy Park. About 250 fifth-grade students from Hot Springs School District attended this educational and entertaining event.

We truly appreciate all those who helped with planning and sponsoring this program, especially Rick Bonte and Ronnie Carroll of City Plumbing, who generously provided the bottled water and portable restrooms.

Thank you to Hot Springs Mayor Pat McCabe for being on hand to present a proclamation recognizing National Arbor Day. We also greatly appreciate Ty Farris with the Hot Springs Fire Department, who was on hand to help with any first aid needs.

Also, much thanks to Regine Skelton and the Arkansas Forestry Commission for bringing Smokey Bear to entertain the students.

We are very grateful to the 11 organizations that educated and entertained the students:

• Arkansas Game & Fish Commission — Clinton Coleman and Jake Whisenhunt.

• Lake Catherine State Park — Steve Donahou.

• C.D.’s Trees — Caleb Darnell, Patrick O’Sullivan, Dakota Cox and Eddie Sellers.

• Hot Springs Urban Forestry — Anthony Whittington.

• Hot Springs Stormwater — Angela Carlsen and Robert Ditty.

• Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality — Chelsey Sherwood.

• Hot Springs Compost — Carrie Avaritt and Casey Smith.

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Pam Herrin and Karl Studenroth.

• Entergy — Christy Wright, Robert White, Britt Jones, John Everitt and Paul Boys.

• West Tree Service — William Gaddis, Mychal Crumpton and Greg Hood.

• Recycling Educator Jessica Botte. We look forward to working with everyone again next year! Brian Fisher Landscape superintendent Hot Springs Parks & Trails