Wakefield tree travels to Lansing

By TOM STANKARD

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WAKEFIELD- With rain falling, workers and local residents gathered to watch the 2015 Michigan state Christmas tree harvesting Wednesday morning.

This year, the spruce tree is being donated by Florence Daniels, in memory of her late husband, Jim.

For 30 years, Jim was a teacher for the Wakefield School System and coached basketball, track and football. Throughout his career, he received many honors, including Upper Peninsula Coach of the Year, and he was inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame.

In the morning, a group of Wakefield school students came to watch the timber men cut the down the tree with a chainsaw.

Standing in the rain, Denny Olsen, member of the state Christmas tree crew, said the tree cutting ceremony was sight to behold.

"I went over and talked to the students, they hollered 'timber,' he said. "To see the looks on their faces, it was great."

After the tree was harvested, several men from the Michigan Association of Timbermen, the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association and Michigan Operators Engineers helped tie tree limbs to the trunk with rope. Then, they wrapped tie-ropes around the tree so it can be hosted up by a crane. Carefully, the tree was lifted into the air. Crane operator, Brock Rogers, guided the tree and placed it on top of stands on the trailer. To secure the tree, several people wrapped chains around and secured them to the trailer.

At the capitol, the Hi-Ball Co. of Lansing will volunteer a crane and crew to set the tree at the intersection of Capitol and East Michigan avenues.

With a smile on his face, Olsen said cutting down the tree is one of his favorite events of the year.

"Being part of the harvesting is so great," he said. "I look forward to this every year. It's on my mind every day of the year."

Despite the rain falling, Olsen said the atmosphere was merry.

"I didn't see any frowns, I saw smiles on people's faces," he said, They were happy standing in the rain."

Olsen said trees are part of the Michigan way of life.

"Trees play such an important role to everyone," he said "Michigan is blessed. Trees touch people's lives everyday."

In the future, Olsen said he looks forward to coming back.

"We're hoping to come back to Gogebic County and cut another tree," he said.

Olsen said the process of selecting the state tree is lengthy.

"Every September, we go around with a list of called-in potential trees. We're also looking for potential trees. We go look at them and while we're riding around, that's how we find most of them."

The 66-foot spruce is the 21st time the official state tree has been selected from the U.P. The tree lighting will take place on Friday, Nov. 20, as part of the Silver Bells in the City celebration.

Jim's son, Mark, said his father would have been happy to they're making a contribution to the state of Michigan.

"It's for a good cause," he said.