NEWS RELEASE
24 March 05

The first three brainstorming sessions of the Morgan County tree planting board were held in 2005 at the Morgan County extension office. The tree planting board wants to plant a quarter of a million trees from 2006-2008. This is designated as The Time to Plant Trees. The tree planting board is comprised of a variety of individuals with one goal in mind: to preserve and maintain the forest lands in Morgan County. A wide array of topics were discussed to include sources of the trees and finances, how to promote the plan, what types of trees to plant, how to protect them from deer, and impact of development.

Current members of the board include Herb Peddicord, Morgan County service forester; Alma Gorse, County Planner; Joe Michael, supervisor, EP Conservation District; Jeff Bracken, MeadWestvaco forester; Dave Sirna, forester for Forecon Inc; David Cooper, Sleepy Creek Watershed; and Lexa Van Doren Kirk, Eco-tourism; Ann Harkins, Foxglove Garden Club. Other Morgan County residents on the board include Eric Pritchard, John Webster, Norman Dean, Lynn Slaughter, Don Beardon, Susan Taylor, Dave Griffith, and Molly Colyer. Jerry de Groot of internetplanners.com has offered to develop a web site.

Residents that desire to join the board or volunteer in any capacity should contact
Herb Peddicord,
WV Division of Forestry,
Berkeley Springs office
(304) 258-6205.