Workers cleared several cottonwood trees from the Sanders County Fairgrounds in an effort to maintain the grounds last Wednesday, Sept. 29. Five large trees, which stood on the west side of the fairgrounds, were felled due to rotting in the limbs. Sanders County Fair Manager Mike Hashisaki decided shortly after the conclusion of this year’s fair that these trees should be taken down, the reason being that several large limbs had fallen off in an area that is frequented by heavy auto and pedestrian traffic during the year.

“It just wasn’t a safe situation,” Hashisaki said.

The trees that were cut down stood approximately 20 to 30 feet high and had a trunk diameter of about 2.5 to three feet. On the ground, several of the limbs could be seen to have large portions that were dead and decaying, which would have continued to pose a safety risk to anyone visiting that area of the fairgrounds.

For the five that were taken down, 25 will be planted next season.

“We’ve already ordered 25 new trees,” Hashisaki said, “and will be planting them next spring.”

As for the trees that were already cut down, the wood will also go to good use. It will be collected by members of the Assembly of God Church in Plains, and will be redistributed as firewood. Though it will take about a year to dry out, the community should get good use of the wood, according to Hashisaki.

This project comes as part of a series of projects that are taking place in the period following the fair and preceding fall. Efforts have been made to winterize all of the fair buildings after an early cold spell caused problems last year.

“We won’t have the issues this year that we had last year,” Hashisaki said.