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Trimming the tree

State tree to be harvested from Alpena after Thursday ceremony

Courtesy Photo This photo provided by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget shows the 62-foot-tall spruce Alpena’s Mike and Shelly Katto donated to the state as the official state Christmas tree for 2018. The tree will be harvested following a ceremony on Thursday.

ALPENA — Last month, the State of Michigan announced that a tree from Alpena was selected to be the state’s official Christmas tree and be set up and lighted on Nov.16 during the Silver Bells in the City celebration in Lansing.

On Thursday, timbermen will prep the tree for harvesting and then securing it for transportation to the Capitol, where it will be placed on the east lawn throughout the holiday season. There will also be a ceremony with local and state dignitaries from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday. The public is encourage to attend to celebrate the special occasion.

Michigan Association of Timbermen spokesperson Denny Olson said there is a lot of prep work that needs to be done before the tree is cut. He said power lines need to be addressed and the road closed so a large crane and flatbed truck can have room to operate safely. The limbs of the tree will be cut 12 feet up. Olson said it will take between three and six hours to prep and remove the tree from its current home at the corner of U.S.-23 South and Pine Road.

The tree was donated to the state by Mike and Shelly Katto.

Once the 62-foot-tall spruce is removed, it will be loaded and transported to Lansing and placed in a pre-made stand which is 30 inches in diameter and six feet deep into the ground. It will be delivered Saturday morning to the state Capitol, allowed to settle and then groomed for the big reveal.

Fireworks will launch over the Capitol at the time the lights are lighted in the tree. Olson said the limbs that are cut off the tree in Alpena are saved and used to fill in any empty sections of the tree or to replace branches the may break during delivery.

Olson said the people in Alpena should be proud one of their trees was selected, because it is only the 10th tree from the Lower Peninsula to be chosen. It is the second time it will come from Alpena, the last time being in 1989.

“When you think of the billions of trees in Michigan, to have one chosen from your community is an honor,” Olson said. “I have been doing this for many years, and it is still a thrill for me and I get excited for it. I hope to see a lot of people from the community come out and celebrate this special occasion with us.”

Olson said each tree selected is unique in its own way and, when one is selected, he usually gives it a “pet” name or christens it with a theme. He said this year’s tree will honor the fallen soldiers during one of our nation’s wars.

“I usually give it a name or put a special twist on it and, because this year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of World War I, it is a good way to honor those who fought in it,” he said.

Olson said businesses from Alpena and as far away as Traverse City have come together to make sure the tree is removed safely and transported to Lansing carefully. He said the sheriff’s office intends to have an honor guard at the ceremony.

Because of Pine Street being closed and little parking on U.S.-23, people are urged to park in the Big Lots parking lot and walk two blocks to the event.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or 989-358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.

If you go

∫ WHAT: Ceremony to honor harvesting of official state Christmas tree

∫ WHEN: 10 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday. The public is encourage to attend to celebrate the special occasion.

∫ WHERE: Corner of U.S.-23 South and Pine Road; park in the Big Lots parking lot

∫ INFO: State and local dignitaries honor the harvesting of the official state Christmas tree in Alpena.

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