COON VALLEY LIONS PLANT DONATED TREE

The Coon Valley Lions recently planted an eight foot tall Norwegian Spruce on the Coon Valley Farmers Telephone Company vacant lot next to the Telephone Company’s Office Building on Central Avenue in Coon Valley.

The Lions had been looking for a suitable space to plant the donated tree. The tree had been donated to the Lions from the daughters and their families of Clare Edna and Howard Erickson, in their memory. Howard had been a Charter member of the Coon Valley Lions when it was chartered 63 years ago. In addition, both son in laws as well as a daughter are Lions members.

The tree had been purchased from Second Nature Nursery and was planted by a group of Coon Valley Lions and a couple of potential Lions. The actual excavating needed to plant the tree, due to the extremely dry soil, was donated by Big Shovel Excavating, owned by A.J. Harr, located on Old Mill Road in Coon Valley.

The Norway Spruce is projected to be a future community Christmas Tree as the Coon Valley Lions annually sponsor a Food Pantry Drive during the Thanksgiving to Christmas Holidays and spearhead the contributions from the community. Over the years, approximately $100,000 has been collected and delivered to the Bethel Buttik Food Pantry where it has purchased about one million dollars of food products that have been distributed to Vernon County area residents! Until the tree grows a little more, another larger cut tree located by The Stockyard Bar and Grill will serve as the Community Christmas Tree for the Lions Christmas Food Pantry Drive.

The Coon Valley Lions involved in the acquiring and planting were Rod Erlandson, Barry Bergum, Curt Horman, Lee Nerison, Cedric Veum, Rick Starkey, Ron Hoff and potential members, Kevin Mathison and A.J. Harr.

  

L – R   Kevin Mathison, Curt Horman, Barry Bergum setting the tree

L – R  Barry Bergum and Curt Horman back filling and watering the tree.

L – R  Lee Nerison, Kevin Mathison, Curt Horman and Barry Bergum back filling around the tree.

L – R  Barry Bergum, Curt Horman and Lee Nerison – job completed!