Fifth graders at Independence Elementary School helped Rock Hill’s tree commission celebrate Arbor Day on Friday by planting a maple tree in front of the school.

Students in the gifted and talented program shared facts about trees and Arbor Day’s history with about 65 other fifth graders.

The tree commission also honored Rock Hill High School teacher James “Wally” Blankenship with the 2012 Tree Commission Award on Friday. Blankenship has planted more than 100 trees at the high school with money raised mostly through donations.

Rock Hill’s newest City Council member, Sandra Oborokumo, presented a proclamation from Mayor Doug Echols to Independence Elementary.

Oborokumo – who called herself a “friend of the tree commission and of trees” – retired after 28 years of working for the U.S. Forest Service. Before running for City Council, she was a member of the city’s tree commission.

Planting trees and holding educational opportunities about trees is a requirement to be named a “Tree City” by the South Carolina Forestry Commission and the National Arbor Day Foundation

Rock Hill has been a “Tree City” every year since 1987.

Anna Douglas 803-329-4068