One of Ripley’s “Witness Trees” located on Catherine Street. Photo by Wade Linville
The Arbor Foundation has proclaimed Ripley a Tree City USA for the 16th year. Ripley along with other Tree City USA towns will be honored at an Awards Program in Fairfield, Ohio on Thursday, April 20 at the Fairfield Community Arts Center. Attending from Ripley will be Wayne Gates, Ripley Village Administrator, Carol Stivers, President of Ripley Tree Board and Druann Kendrick, Vice-President of Ripley Tree Board.
Ripley has many beautiful trees both young and older mature trees. The Ripley trees are under the care of the Ripley Tree Board and the Village of Ripley. Each year new trees are planted and existing trees are cared for. The Tree Board has designated the older mature trees as “Witness Trees” as they have witnessed much of Ripley’s history. The Tree Board encourages everyone to plant more trees.
Ripley will have an Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 28 on Catherine Street at 2 p.m. where a new tree will be dedicated. Everyone is invited to attend. Trees are a valuable asset. They provide beauty, oxygen, shade, cooling, food, homes for birds and wild life. The Ripley Tree Board was formed 17 years ago by Tim Wilson and several Ripley Citizens. Present Tree Board members are: Cecil Black, Bridgett Bowman, Betty Campbell, Robin Gilbert, Druann Kendrick, Debbie Scott and Carol Stivers.