In Memory of the late Jared Horne, a former Public Works employee
On Friday, February 10, representatives from the Beautification Commission, Public Works department, the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Cleveland gathered for an Arbor Day ceremony. An autumn red blaze maple was planted in memory of the late Jared Horne, a former public works employee. Members of Horne’s family attended the ceremony where Cleveland Mayor Nowell welcomed the group, and held a moment of silence in Horne’s memory. A new bench will also be added to the downtown landscape along the nature trail beside Jones Bayou to honor Horne’s memory.
Mary Anna Davis, a master gardener with the Bolivar County Extension Office, assisted the public works crew with the planting. She said that the nature trail near Jones Bayou will eventually receive new mulch so individuals can access a designated walking trail closer to the Bayou and the newly installed benches.
Arbor Day is an internationally recognized holiday, with roots in an 1872 measure proposed by J. Sterling Morton to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture. More than one million trees were planted in Nebraska after the proposal was accepted.
Stemming from Arbor Day’s success, local measures are often adopted by cities recognizing Arbor Day. Many urban landscapers credit mature tree growth with increasing property values, enhancing economic vitality of business areas, and beautifying communities. Tree benefits branch far beyond beautification; by sticking to conservation efforts, trees can reduce the erosion of topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife.
For more information on Arbor Day, visit https://www.arborday.org/