The third Friday in January -- which falls on the 16th this year -- is designated as Arbor Day throughout the state of Louisiana, and there are several local events scheduled.

Thursday, January 15, from 10 a.m. until noon, there's a special program at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum in Shreveport. Activities planned from 10-10:30 a.m. include a proclamation by Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler. There will also be information booths, refreshments, free pine tree seedlings and coffee mugs, door prizes, a plant sale and exhibits.

Friday, January 16, Keep Bossier Beautiful will be planting trees at three locations. The organization will be joined by Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker, Sheriff Julian Whittington and Assessor Bobby Edmiston, who will grab shovels and help plant Live Oak trees at 9 a.m. on the back side of the Northwest Louisiana War Veterans Home on Arthur Ray Teague Parkway.

Two schools in Plain Dealing will also benefit from the Friday tree-planting. Sheriff's deputies will plant Crepe Myrtles at 9 a.m. at Carrie Martin Elementary and Live Oaks at about 9:45 a.m. at Plain Dealing High School.

National Arbor Day was first started by Nebraska newspaper editor Julius Sterling Morton in 1872. He used his platform as a journalist to stress the value of planting trees.

 

More From News Radio 710 KEEL