Year in review — Citizens save elm trees in cemetery

Staff writer

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Editor’s note: This is the first of three reports on the most compelling stories in the Portales area in 2014 as determined by the PNT staff.

Citizens took action earlier this year, halting the demolition of the 90-year-old elm trees located at the Portales Cemetery.

The elm trees are still standing as 2015 approaches, though a few have been removed by the city after they were determined unsalvageable by city officials, according to Public Works Director John DeSha.

DeSha said the trees haven’t had anything done to them since the cemetery tree clean up was halted.

“We’ll give them (the trees) a chance to be evaluated as time goes on and present the findings to the city councilors and Friends of the Cemetery,” DeSha said.

DeSha said a decision will be made on what to do with the trees after the evaluations have been presented.

DeSha said that, in his personal opinion, the trees don’t look like they will survive and will have to be removed eventually.

Citizens had seen the trees being cut down in March and formed the Friends of the Cemetery group with city officials to help save the trees.

Concerned citizens brought in a tree expert and managed to put a halt to the city’s cutting down of ailing elms.

Cutting down the trees was part of a plan for the beautification and clean up of the cemetery as requested by city councilors, DeSha said in a March report.

Parks Department officials said they initially thought the trees were dead and were cutting them down to clean up the cemetery and ensure safety.

Councilor Keith Thomas said he felt there was a miscommunication in what was meant by “cleaning up” the cemetery.

According to a March 26 report, tree doctor Steve Thomas of Clovis was able to show city officials that the trees could be saved with the right treatment.

Thomas said the trees fell victim to parasites and fungus, but could be fixed with injections of nutrients.

Nearly 100 trees were left standing at the cemetery as a result of the citizens efforts.

DeSha said the trees have been watered daily since the tree cutting stopped in March.