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Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010

Volunteers mulch four tons of trees at roundup

WARNER ROBINS — Braving frigid temperatures with wind chills in the teens, some 70 volunteers helped put on the Christmas Tree Roundup Saturday on Maple Street.

Debra Jones, executive director of Keep Warner Robins Beautiful, said the group has been doing the roundup since 1991.

“This is probably the coldest day I remember,” Jones said. “We are still in our hats and gloves at 11 a.m.”

The group mulched about four tons of trees this year, down from about five tons last year, Jones said. She attributed the decrease to the cold weather.

The Warner Robins Pilot Club gave volunteers hot chili, and Sonny’s Bar-B-Q provided sandwiches.

Flint Energies has sponsored the program since its inception, providing seedlings from the Georgia Forestry Commission.

This year, they had Crape Myrtles and live oaks to give away.

David Carr, manager of community affairs with Flint, said the company ordered 2,000 seedlings this year. Townsend Tree Service turns the Christmas trees into mulch, which is used for pathways in parks.

Some people see the roundup as a way to clean up the streets of discarded trees.

“One guy has brought in 25 trees,” Carr said.

Jim Elliott and his family have been participating in the roundup for almost 15 years. His son Mark Elliott, 11, said his favorite memory was when he picked up a tree by himself.

The family goes around the neighborhood picking up trees that people have put by the curb.

“This is a great event,” the elder Elliott, who serves as Warner Robins city attorney, said.

“I see friends like David (Carr), and we have seen each other here for 15 years.”

Carr and Jim Elliott both say their favorite part of the event is seeing which tree is the most dead.

“We’ve had the Charlie Brown tree already today,” Carr said, laughing.

Students from Mossy Creek Middle School, Houston County High School, Northside Middle School, Northside High School and Warner Robins High School were all there giving out seedlings.

Mark Kushnka, driving his pickup and picking out his seedling, said he has been doing the roundup “as long as they’ve been doing it.”

Volunteers know the regulars by name, and with a friendly wave goodbye, they are sent on their way to make room for new customers.

To contact writer Angela Woolen, call 923-5650.