HOPKINS COUNTY, KY – On Wednesday, November 11 at approximately 9 A.M. iSurf News was present as the Southside Elementary School came together with community organizations, parents, and children to host a tree planting ceremony on the school grounds.

The ceremony itself was the result of a council meeting attended by Mark Herring of Nortonville. Herring listened as the council discussed a relief project undertaken by the local Community Improvement Foundation involving the planting of various trees around the area. Herring then took the concept to Southside Elementary Principal Steve Eakins and CIF Executive Director Shane Browning. Eakins went on to propose the idea to the teachers of Southside Elementary. Everyone involved considered the concept exciting. 

“The kids and the teachers raised all of the funds,” said Eakins. “Each class did their part and donated a percentage of the total cost of all the trees. The kids are ecstatic and we are very excited for them.”

iSurf News watched as the children were brought out, one class at a time, and began digging and planting the various trees. The students were literally jumping with excitement.

“This is something that will be here for them,” Herring told reporters. “It helps the environment and at the same time our kids can drive by here in fifteen years and see the trees that they planted.”

The long-term plan for the school is that the ceremony be repeated for four more years to come. Those planted this year were White Oak and Cherry. Next years' tree types will depend upon what local nurseries have to provide.

J. L. Graham
iSurf News