It’s spring with summer just around the corner and still the Friday morning air is crisp.
Menacing rain clouds to the west offer a promise of a pending storm in stark contrast to the blue skies just to the east. The sound of tractors and people fills the air at the Pine Bluffs Business Park as equipment pulls trees off a truck trailer and children and adults alike move dirt with shovels.
Several planted, several more to go before the day is done. All told, through Cheyenne Light Fuel and Power’s The Power of Trees program, 36 trees — choke cherry and spruce — will be planted marking the entrance to the town’s business park.
"This is the second year of our Power of Trees program," explained Sharon Fain of Cheyenne Light Fuel and Power.
"And this is the first time we’ve been able to get up to Pine Bluffs to do a project," she added.
Noting the types of trees being planted, Fain explained that prior to the start of any project, her company works with city and county officials to ensure the trees are a proper fit for the area.
"We want to make sure that whatever we plant is going to work for the area and they are properly planted to promote healthy growth and long term viability," she said.
Speaking about how the project came together, Fain said former Pine Bluffs mayor Leonard Anderson first approached her office about the project.
"Leonard came to us back in April of this year with the proposal, it went through our evaluation process and we decided this area was a good fit for the program," said Fain.
According to a statement released by the company, Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power’s Power of Trees program matches the company with community partners to plant trees in parks, on school grounds, new public spaces and other areas where the trees will serve to help benefit the environment as well as beautify the area.
As part of the program, Fain said CLFP works with local vendors to provide the trees and other materials for the project. For the Pine Bluffs project, Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power worked with K&M Sod to provide the trees, soil, mulch and other elements needed for the tree planting.
"They (CLFP) paid for everything on this project," said Anderson as he walked about the work site smiling. Anderson noted the original request for the project had a price tag of nearly $5,000.
"I’m so impressed with the amount of people that came out here to help with this," Anderson said.
"This really will be a spot for community pride and will really improve our business park," he added.
In addition to the employees of Cheyenne Light, Fuel, and Power, girl scouts from Pine Bluffs troop 1432 were on hand as well as members of the local 4H program and the FFA. All told nearly 25 people were in attendance to help with the planting.
"Working on this project goes along with the eco theme we’re working on this year," explained Girl Scout Troop leader, Kristi Matie.
Matie said she was contacted by her district office in Cheyenne about the project and between herself and other troop leaders quickly decided they would help.
Along with the Power of Trees projects, Fain said CLFP has several other environmental initiatives.
"We’re always looking for ways to promote environmentalism and help the communities we serve," she said.
"We’re about to start planning projects for the coming year and anyone with a good idea should bring it to us for review," said Fain.
Along with the 36 trees at the business park, Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power will wrap up its Power of Trees project in Pine Bluffs with two additional trees planted in City Park.
