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Ive been trying hard to ignore the Dominic Cummings thing. Partly, this is because whenever Margaret Thatchers press secretary Bernard Ingham popped up on TV to slag me off when I was in Downing Street, I would say to my kids: If that is ever me, doing that whole wouldnt have happened in my day thing, promise you will put me down.

But when my own daughter starts to talk about Cummings in her stand-up comedy show, perhaps it is time to realise I am swimming against an impossible tide, that you cannot credibly talk about the workings of the Johnson government without trying to understand the wirings of Cummings mind.

You get the flavour of my daughter Graces show by its title, Why I am Never Going into Politics, suggesting that a life growing up in it she was a young baby when I started working for Tony Blair in 1994 has put her off following in parental footsteps.

She describes Cummings as being to Boris Johnson what my Dad was to Tony Blair. As for Cummings studied scruffiness, which screams out please photograph me every time he walks up Downing Street with his takeaway coffee and his arse hanging out of his trousers, Grace says he reminds her of posh kids at university who spend ages in front of the mirror working out how to dress in a way that disguises the fact that their parents are absolutely loaded.

Whatever similarities between then and now, me and Cummings whom I barely know, so it is hard to judge there are some very significant differences between Johnson and Blair. TB had a very clear agenda, knew what he wanted to do, and his team knew it too. Most of it flowed from the manifestos on which he was elected, and even when dealing with the unexpected, we were always trying to fit it all to the broader strategy of modernisation. With Johnson, it has long been clear what he wants to be Prime Minister but less clear what he wants to do. He is executive chairman, not CEO. That opens a gap for others to set an agenda including, dare I say, unelected advisers like Cummings.

Anyone who has read my diaries will know there were times I might have disagreed with TB, but on the broad agenda his I was totally signed up, and it was my job to help him communicate and deliver it, across government and in the eyes of the public.

The second big difference between Johnson and Blair is that TB was into detail. As with Bill Clinton, because they were both good communicators, who could explain complex things simply, often the media thought communication was their strong point. But they were both detail people, and with a work-rate to match. Johnson is intellectually lazy, glib, still in many ways more of a journalist than he is a politician and he skates over detail. This too opens the door to Cummings, assuming he does have an agenda separate from his boss.

The third big difference is that TB wanted strong characters around him, both in his inner circle and Cabinet, where I was but one of several who were encouraged privately to challenge, cajole and often criticise him. I am hardly breaking State secrets in saying that there were tensions between Number 10 and the Treasury in our time too, and Tony often toyed with the idea of sacking Gordon Brown. But when push came to shove, he saw the exceptional talent in GB, and knew the government as a whole would be weaker without it. John Prescott could be a nightmare. Robin Cook could be a nightmare. Mo Mowlam could be a nightmare. But they were big talents offering different qualities to the team that government has to be.

Sajid Javid is no Gordon Brown, but the circumstances of his removal as Chancellor, and replacement by Rishi Sunak, suggests Johnson wants ciphers, middle managers, not leaders of huge departments of state. The removal of Julian Smith from the Northern Ireland Office the first Tory Secretary of State since 2010 to win the backing and respect of most local politicians, and who actually achieved something his predecessors had not in getting the political process moving again underlined that Johnsons Cabinet is no meritocracy. The juvenile chanting around the Cabinet table, of the lies he had told about new hospitals, nurses and police numbers during the election, underlined it further.

Campaigning is hard. Governing is harder. That Johnson and Cummings have earned their spurs as campaigners is beyond doubt. The 2016 referendum, and the 2019 general election, have seen to that, though in both cases they were hugely helped by their opponents. But slogans, whether written on the side of buses, or reduced to three words from a focus group, eventually get tested against broader economic and political realities. It is not happening yet. But it will.

Thanks to their campaigning skills, a broadly supine media and a largely absent Opposition, with its seemingly endless leadership election, have succeeded in getting get Brexit done done. By this I mean that Brexit continues to have the potential to damage both country and government, and it is not clear that either Johnson or Cummings has a plan to avoid it.

It also means that another, possibly more important slogan from the election campaign is going to become more central to the debate and to peoples lives. This one is just two words . . . levelling up.

It begs an awful lot of questions, none of which have yet begun to be given answers. The Budget, drafted by one multi-millionaire investment banker, now being rewritten to be presented by another, will need to provide some of them.

Successful slogans raise expectations. They will be dashed once it becomes clear how far we are from a trade deal with the EU and how we will need the extension that Johnson promised would never happen. The seats won over by the slogans in the North will be expecting to see a reversal of the public spending cuts to local government, health, education, social care and support for poorer families.

As the impact will not be felt for some time, the only way to judge them will be by comparison with better off regions of the UK. But even the best off regions have huge levels of poverty, and are struggling with the fallout from a decade of austerity. Can they level up without levelling down? Given that they have promised not to raise the main taxes, that growth forecasts are pretty dismal, the fiscal position is weak, productivity remains a problem, and even their own assessments are showing that Brexit will leave a hole that will not be easily filled, Sunak is going to have to find not just a magic money tree, but a whole forest of them.

When he doesnt, Johnson and Cummings are going to need friends beyond those newspapers that have turned themselves into fanzines. They will discover that real change and reform require a strong centre which empowers strong ministers, and strong leaders in public services. The centre can lead, organise and strategise. But it cannot deliver without goodwill across the civil service and beyond. Which is why it strikes me as profoundly stupid constantly to communicate a message that most people in the civil service, the NHS, schools and the police, are useless, and that they need to be shaken up by weirdos and misfits with a penchant for racism and eugenics.

As Kenneth Clarke reminded Johnson shortly before, ludicrously, he was kicked out of the Tory Party, he has finally got a serious job. It is time he started doing it, and understanding that as well as coming up with snazzy one-liners, it means helping people whose homes are flooded; it means being part of events like the Munich Security Conference when all the big players of security and diplomacy are present; it means inspiring, not abusing, those who work for you; it means getting a grip of the people who represent you to others, and it means making sure they understand that it is all very well to make enemies, but there will come a time when a government and a Prime Minister need friends.

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What Johnson and Cummings don't understand about government - TheArticle

Dwight Ball couldn't seem to stop scoring on his own goal.

Throughout last fall he had to defend moving former senior Liberal staffer Carla Foote into a position at The Rooms, the provincial museum and archives, sans competition.

Instead of a fresh start in the new year, he faced a new controversy: a fat contract for a deputy minister-turned-oil and gas consultant.

Behind the scenes, multiple sources say cabinet and caucus members were frustrated with the premier's performance and his inability to handle scandals of his own making.

"Every leader has an expiration date. Dwight Ball just reached his," one cabinet minister told CBCNews after Ball announced Monday evening that he was stepping down as premier.

Just last week, when Ball made his big announcement on keeping electricity rates low, there was another sign of waning support: only a few cabinet ministers showed up, with some of the heavy hitters Transportation MinisterSteve Crocker, Health Minister John Haggie, Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation Minister Bernard Davis, and Municipal Affairs and Environment Minister Derek Bragg all absent.

Ball is expected to speak with media in one-on-one interviews Tuesday afternoon.

Rumours of Ball's resignation aren't new; they started early inhis tenure as premier.

He underestimated the backlash from his first budget that hiked taxes and feesand cut libraries. Some in the public would never forgive him.

Every day he had to drive by posters calling for his resignation. He faced large, angry protests.

Multiple sources inside his own caucus say Ball never really regained the public trust. Less than a year ago the public returned him to power, but with his wings clipped atop a minority government. After that, he kept stumbling from scandal to scandal.

Ball acknowledged the loss of trust from the public in a subtle way in his video address.

"I have always understood that every MHA serves at your pleasure," he said, before saying his time had come to step back and spend more time with his family a line as old as politics itself.

Leaving now saves Ball from facing a June leadership review one he knew would be tough. Caucus and cabinet members were not-so-quietly expressing their desire for him to leave. Liberal executive members loyal to Ball tried to get the party to delay the vote, to give Ball more time, but they failed.

Ball had a choice: fight a battle or leave on his own terms. He chose the latter.

The Liberal party is expected to lay out the process today, but the unofficial race has already started.

Some inside the cabinet have already ruled it out, with Natural Resources MinisterSiobhan Coady and Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources Gerry Byrne insisting they won't run.

One name is already seen as a front-runner: Andrew Furey,an orthopedic surgeon better known for his philanthropy. He founded Team Broken Earth, which helps provide medical care to developing countries.

Furey has never held elected office but comes from a political family. His father, George Furey, iscurrently speaker of the Senate.

Insiders say he also has the backing of former premier Brian Tobin, who was helping him get ready for a run even before Monday's resignation. Furey told CBC news on Tuesday morning he is interested in throwing his hat in the ring, but would not speak further to the matter, adding he needed to discuss the issue with family and colleagues.

From inside the party, Minister of Justice and Public SafetyAndrew Parsons is well-liked, but is dealing with serious family health issues that sidelined him from the House of Assembly last fall and will keep him from running for the top job.

"My family continues to deal with a medical issue andI simply cannot devote my time to a leadership run," Parsons tweeted Tuesday morning.

The now outgoing premier wants his replacement to be chosen soon.

In his address, he said he wants a new leader to put a stamp on a spring budget, due out in only two months.

That will mean a quick race or a delayed budget.

Under a law brought in by the PC government under Danny Williams, an election will have to happen within a year of a new premier taking office.

Even if the budget passes this spring not a guarantee for a minority government an election is coming.

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador

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The fall of Dwight Ball: An embattled premier with waning caucus support - CBC.ca

13 Feb 2020, 11:11

Tatton MP Esther McVey has been sacked as housing minister her successor will be the tenth person to have held the post in as many years.

McVey said: I wish my successor the very best and every success.

The Liverpool-born former work and pensions secretary returned to parliament when she took George Osbornes old seat in 2017, having lost her Wirral West seat in 2015.

Her replacement is MP for Tamworth, Christopher Pincher, who has worked as minister for Europe and Amercias and is a former deputy chief whip.

Other business and property-related ministers sacked in Boris Johnsons reshuffle on Thursday include:

Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid has resigned as part of the reshuffle. It is reported that he was offered to keep his role if he fired his advisers, to which he refused and subsequently resigned. The new chancellor faces a budget in four weeks.

Melanie Leech, chief executive, British Property Federation, said:Itll come as a shock to many to lose Sajid Javid as Chancellor of the Exchequer with only four weeks to go to this years Budget but Rishi Sunak was already a senior member of the Treasury team and we stand ready to work with him to ensure fiscal policy drives forward much-needed investment across the UK.

We also welcome Alok Sharma as the new Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Christopher Pincher as the new Minister of State for Housing. A new government with a strong mandate is a big opportunity to ensure stability in key roles including housing, something which has been missing in recent years and has got in the way of delivery.

Paresh Raja, CEO of national bridging loan provider Market Financial Solutions, said: A new parliament, a new housing minister. One has to think whether this cabinet position holds any real relevance anymore it has become something of a merry-go-round, with Esther McVeys successor becoming the tenth person to hold this position in as many years.

Given the challenges facing the UK property market, the lack of consistent leadership from the Government in this space is extremely frustrating. We will never be in a position to properly address issues like the housing crisis, not to mention the obstacles preventing people from jumping on and moving up the property ladder, until Westminster gives the position of housing minister more respect and consideration.

One can only hope that with a majority government now in place, this will be the last cabinet reshuffle we see for some time. But I for one believe too many MPs see the position as little more than stepping-stone.

Flicie Krikler, director at London-based Assael Architecture, said: There is a total incompatibility between the political cycles and the long-term aspects of housing. Appointing the tenth housing minister in the last 10 years makes a complete mockery of the role. The industry needs stability to make progress on the housing front and bring forward policies that clarify questions over design, quality and delivery methods concerning the homes we build.

Understanding and addressing the issues troubling the market takes time and effort, and while another minister gets to grips with the role, we have high streets in need of reform and high-quality homes in need of building. I hope whoever steps in to fill McVeys place will be able to quickly adapt and contribute to the UKs housing needs.

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McVey replaced as housing minister - Place North West

349 Stevens Ave., Portland $494,900

Prices on multi-units prove Portland values are operating in a different tier than other Maine cities. This week, during a low inventory season, 2-units were the only multi-families under $500,000. Theres cheaper, but this Deering Center home gets a price boost for having 2- and 3- bedroom apartments and a fenced in yard. Click here to see the full listing.

5 Glenwood St., Augusta $125,000

Located near the Kennebec River Trail and within walking distance to Water St. businesses, this homes units are both 2-bedrooms. One of the current tenants has lived there for over 10 years. It has an expansive back yard and deck as well as a newly installed Pensotti furnace and roof and window updates. Click here to see the full listing.

119 S. Maine St., Auburn $165,000

The units in this 1920 home are both 3-bedrooms with fresh paint, recently refinished hardwood, and newer laminate flooring and carpet. The first-floor apartment just got a countertop and cabinet replacement and has 1 full and 1 half bath. Bonus: 2-car garage and an attic for storage. Situated in the quiet New Auburn neighborhood. Click here to see the full listing.

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For Your Money: Simple Income from 2-Units in Urban Areas - Press Herald

MORE than 1000 CalMac ferry sailings were cancelled last year because of mechanical problems with the boats, a 37 per cent annual rise, it has emerged.

The Scottish Greens, who obtained the figures, urged Transport Secretary Michael Matheson to order an urgent review of the state of the CalMac fleet.

Sourced through freedom of information, the data showed the vast majority of CalMac cancellations are due to bad weather .

But in 2018, mechanical breakdowns on board accounted for 780 of the 5,383 cancelled sailings.

In 2019, such problems accounted for 1,069 of 5,653 cancelled sailings.

However, less than 1 per cent of sailings were cancelled because of mechanical issues.

Green Highlands and Islands MSP John Finnie said the Scottish Government needed to review its vessel deployment and replacement plan.

He said: CalMac is entrusted to deliver lifeline services to remote and island communities up and down the west coast, so it is particularly concerning that the number of cancellations as a result of technical breakdowns has greatly increased in the last year.

Behind these cancellations are people unable to attend hospital appointments on the mainland, missed job interviews, small businesses unable to send and receive goods, and a loss of important tourism revenue.

We know that the bulk of the fleet needs renewed.

The average age of the CalMac fleet is 23 years, and the Scottish Governments own ferry plan for 2013 2022 highlighted that the majority of the vessels needed to be replaced.

This hasnt happened and were left with the situation where we have an ageing fleet which requires longer periods of maintenance and repair.

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport must urgently review the vessels deployment and replacement plan, ensuring community representatives and trade unions are at the heart of the procurement process, in order to deliver a fleet that communities served by the Clyde and Hebrides services deserve.

CalMac Director of Operations, Robert Morrison said 1069 sailings cancelled for technical reasons out of 168,000 last year meant a reliability rate of 99.35%, which compared very well to other forms of transport.

He said: To increase fleet resilience further we are investing more than 21m during this years dry dock maintenance programme, which includes a record 9m investment on vessel upgrades.

More than 90 major projects will be carried including new engines, replacement pitch control systems, new bow thrusters, replacement ramps and new generators on various vessels.

We have also introduced a new team to carry out in-service preventative maintenance to help avoid technical issues arising.

We are doing all we can to maintain a fully operational fleet while awaiting new vessels.

A Government spokesperson said: Transport Scotland is working with CalMac and [parent firm] CMAL to develop investment programmes for major vessels and small vessels with the aim of increased standardisation, taking account of the many and varied routes which CalMac serves.

The latest Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan is in final drafting and the intention is to publish this Spring.

While reliability currently stands at around 99.35%, we look forward to working with all interested parties to continue to deliver improvements, building on the substantial investment in routes, services, vessels, harbours and fares which have been made in these services in recent years and which have led to significant improvements in connectivity, capacity, affordability and passenger numbers.

The successor to the Ferries Plan 2013-2022 is being developed following the recent publication of the National Transport Strategy and the National Islands Plan and in conjunction with the Strategic Transport Projects Review which will also consider all potential viable future options in connecting our islands.

The Scottish Government continues to work with CalMac, communities and business interest to ensure lifeline ferry connections are maintained and enhanced.

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Breakdowns of CalMac ferries up by a third last year - HeraldScotland

If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

I have no idea. I leave that question to the philosophers and physicists. But I do know that if a tree in your yard falls on your house while you're in it, you darn well will hear it. And the sound will make your heart jump out of your chest like the creature in Alien, and your emergency savings fund will disappear faster than a puff of pollen.

That scenario was precisely the one I chose to avoid when I had the old water oak tree removed from my yard this week. Though I was sad to see her go, I decided it was better she leave on my terms than on hers.

The old oak was nearing the end of her years, two arborists told me. Hurricanes had damaged her once regal crown. Now, where branches had once been, open cavities the size of wastebaskets pocked the trunk, opening doors for decay.

"We won't know till we get up there how bad it is, but I can tell you she's compromised," said Alec Lantagne, a certified arborist and partner at The Sunbelt Tree Service, which serves Central Florida.

He pointed to a section of root that was beginning to lift. "This indicates instability."

I look up into the canopy of the 50-foot tree, a big part of the landscape around here, and feel sad.

I turn tables and ask, "If this tree were in your yard, would you cut it down?"

He thinks a minute. "I wouldn't have a water oak near my house," he said.

I don't just take his word for it. I do some research. Unlike live oaks, those sturdy majestic soldiers that can live for hundreds of years, water oaks only live 50 to 60 years. Like a bad marriage, when they fail, they can take a house with them. "Water oaks, sometimes called laurel oaks are fast-growing, short-lived trees that don't do well in hurricanes," read one report. Great. "Laurel oaks are not very good at containing decay, so it spreads throughout the tree," said another. Fantastic.

You only have to live through one hurricane and see the aftermath of trees on their sides, lying on fences, cars and roofs, to realize you don't get to pick which way a tree falls or when.

"I didn't become an arborist because I don't love trees," Lantagne said, sensing my resistance. "Trees are important for the environment. They provide shade and beauty and homes for wildlife, but sometimes they need to come down. This is one of those times."

If she didn't topple over, she was on the verge of dropping large sections, he said, and with wood that weighs 80-pounds a square foot, that's not a blow you want to take.

Here's what else I learned about tree removal:

Ask before you cut. Find out the rules in your town, and check with your homeowner's association before you remove a tree. Many cities require you to get a permit first. If the tree is dead or diseased, you shouldn't have any trouble getting permission.

Assess your risk. Disease and instability are the most common reasons homeowners have trees removed. Arborists can help tree owners determine their liability by noting the tree species, the extent of its root system, its age and health. They look for signs of beetle infestation, cavities, fungus, trunk discoloration, or other signs of compromise. "Companies with certified arborists are less likely to take down a tree that doesn't need to come down," Lantagne said. "Sometimes you just need to prune the tree, so it doesn't act like a sail in the wind."

Hire bona fide pros. Taking down a large tree properly and safely is not a job for an amateur lumberjack. It involves math and physics, Lantagne said. When hiring a tree service, look for one that has a certified arborist. Make sure the company carries liability insurance for tree work and workers comp. Lantagne showed me certificates for both without hesitation. Be sure the company is based locally, has good referrals, a legitimate office, and a person easy to reach by phone, not just a P.O. Box and a truck. "A lot can go wrong," Lantagne said. "You want to be sure you're working with a reputable company."

Know the plan. The day before our tree came down, Lantagne came by to figure out where to park his chipper so it wouldn't interfere with traffic, and how to remove sections of the fence for better access. The next day, his crew set up a pulley-rope system and began taking the old oak down gracefully, lowering branches to the ground carefully, almost ceremoniously.

Remove and replace. Some cities require homeowners to replant a tree if they remove one. Even if it's not required, it's nice to do. Soon, three crepe myrtles will stand where the old water oak once was, providing shade and a home for birds and squirrels minus the threat.

Syndicated columnist Marni Jameson is the author of five home and lifestyle books, including Downsizing the Blended Home When Two Households Become One (Sterling Publishing, Dec. 2019).

HomeStyle on 02/15/2020

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Old water oak proves pre-emptive tree removal is sometimes best - NWAOnline

A new but familiar tree battle is brewing along Berry Road.

Oklahoma Electric Cooperative this weekend intends to start the long-planned removal of 17 trees along the road as part of its vegetation management program to protect power lines.

A group of residents, led by councilman Joe Carter, may ask a judge to delay the work. Carter said late Thursday afternoon his attorney planned to file the paperwork with the court today.

This was the same issue in 2017 that spurred creation of the city's tree ordinance.

City Manager Darrel Pyle said the city and OEC have negotiated for months on the project and the power company is within its rights to do the work.

Pyle wrote in an email to council members Tuesday night that although the tree ordinance passed in 2017 was designed to protect street trees such as those on Berry Road, "apparently there are loopholes in the ordinance which allow OEC to move forward with their removal plans."

Carter, in his role as councilman, wants the courts to delay the project to give the city council time to close those loopholes. Council members discussed the issue at a Feb. 4 study session and the tree ordinance has been added to the city's March Oversight Committee agenda, Carter said.

"There is widespread interest in the council to revisit this ordinance, and that could take months," he said. "OEC can trim the branches just as they have for 30 years."

Carter contends OEC wants to take down the trees because it will be cheaper than trimming every couple of years.

Autumn McMahon, OEC spokeswoman, said the company plans to remove rather than trim certain trees at the request of homeowners. The company pays for the tree removal. The Feb. 4 council study session presentation shows 11 homeowners requested removing 17 trees on Berry Road.

The presentation also shows that the city granted permission where trees were not healthy because of excessive topping, decay, dropping or no branches, and massive seed production. Five of the trees slated for removal were not deemed unhealthy and the tree ordinance requires a $5,715 administrative fine be paid. OEC would pay that fee and the money would go toward planting the new trees, McMahon said.

McMahon said the company's vegetation management program not only helps power flow, but also increases safety for members and residents. She said there must be 10 feet of clearance between power lines and the nearest branch, requiring tree trimming every one to four years on average.

The Berry Road trees are sweet gums and grow extremely tall, said Tim Vermillion, city forester.

"This is a painful situation that happens all over the county," he said of the tree versus power line issue. A lot of times the issue comes down to not having the right tree in the right place, he said.

The Berry Road trees were planted in the 1960s by the Lion's Club in an "effort to beautify Norman and add to Norman's sparse landscape," Pyle wrote in his email to the council. "The Berry Road tree canopy is very sentimental to many Normanites."

Carter described the tree canopy as creating a tunnel effect on the road.

Vermillion said he has identified eight tree species that work well under power lines that could replace the sweet gums: Oklahoma redbud, city sprite zelkova, trident maple, Persian parrotia, wireless zelkova, emerald sunshine elm, amur maple and prairifire crabapple. He said the proposed trees would not create the same canopy, but would not need to be trimmed as often.

McMahon said OEC's goal is to make sure homeowners receive a healthy tree that does not pose safety hazards or require repeated trimming.

"We want to make sure we are going above and beyond," she said. "We are working with the city to replant trees that grow the right way."

If court papers are filed and a judge issues an injunction to delay the work, OEC will likely trim the trees, McMahon said. Work was delayed for months during negotiations with the city and now many limbs are close to the power lines, she said.

"Since we continue to delay it gets more dangerous," she said, adding that it is important for work to be done before storm season hits.

Vermillion said "giving them a haircut will alleviate the problem" but isn't a longterm solution. He said some of the trees in question had decay from being topped and others are next to telephone poles creating an unsafe situation.

"I've looked at this project not just at how they are now, but how they will be in the spring and into the future," he said.

Burying the power lines if often suggested as a solution, but it has a costly price tag, Pyle said. It costs an estimated $750,000 to $1 million per mile to bury power lines, he said.

Mayor Breea Clark said she is not sure there is anything that can be done for this Berry Road project, but favors looking at the tree ordinance again and cleaning up any unclear language.

"I admire their passionate feelings on this topic," she said of council members and residents.

Vermillion said he has already suggested a few changes that could be made to the ordinance, such as increasing the fine for removing a healthy tree and adjusting the name to better fit what the ordinance is -- a street tree ordinance.

Christie Swanson366-3543cswanson@normantranscript.com

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Residents want to stop tree removal - Norman Transcript

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) Someone is disrupting years of research and delaying costly time for several projects at the University of Virginia. The question of who is responsible remains a mystery leaving students and faculty with plenty of questions.

The person has been removing pink flags on trees that mark the plots for student research.

Hopefully its a well wishing person thinking they dont like clutter in the forest or maybe somebody that thinks its some kind of project to cut trees down and they want to stop it. We dont know, UVA Environmental Science Professor Hank Shugart said.

The pink flags are there to indicate research plots for a couple of projects.

"Trying to understand runoff and what runoff does to the vegetation. So, we're doing labs and also using sorts of focused research on how water processes and land processes work," Shugart says.

The university is also keeping track of carbon

Were keeping track of tree growth and how much carbon is being stored by O-Hill, which has to do with global change, Shugart says.

Students are also left guessing where to put flags again to continue their research.

We kind of cobbled together where our old plots were with our memories of, 'oh yeah, that tree was in this plot, I think,' UVA PHD Student Elise Heffernan said.

The research could lead to more than a million dollars for the university.

Right now, theres a market for carbon and O-Hill in 70 years could probably store away somewhere between $800,000 to $1.5 million worth of carbon, Shugart said.

That money would come from simply growing trees and then selling the stored carbon that results from not cutting the trees down.

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Years of UVA research is being hindered by the removal of pink flags on trees - WHSV

GRAVETTE, Ark. (KNWA) A growing problem at Bethel Cemetery, as trees on the property are damaging headstones. Now, dozens of trees on the landwill have to be removed.

Benton County Preservation Group President Nancy Feroe said getting rid of the trees is the only way to maintain the cemetery and protect the headstones .

They look beautiful in the spring especially when they have the white flowers but thats only for a short while, said Feroe.

This row of trees, planted more than two decades ago. Bringing life to a burial place that was established over 200 years ago but the trees are also bringing a growing problem.

As theyre getting older because theyve been there for over 25 years their limbs are falling off, breaking off and hitting head stones. Some have actually damaged some stones. They cost problems for the Bethel Cemetery Association to have to take care of.

Just last month, the association removed a large pine tree. Feroe said it was near a historic arch on the property. With so much weight with the pines, it wouldnt take much of a storm to push that over and not only destroy the arch but probably a lot of stones with it.

The preservation group assess cemeteries around Benton county to make sure they stay in good shape. Theyre also working with the association to replat the entire cemetery. Making a map of the burial location, the physical burial locations of each individuals that is buried in the cemetery and where that graves are located.

The tree removal could cost about $8000.

They look great, Im a tree lover too but sometimes there are better places for them, said Feroe.

The preservation group and the association are hoping to work with a landscaper totransfer the trees to a better location.

Original post:
Dozens of trees to be cleared out of Bethel cemetery - KNWA

Update 2 p.m.

OEC plans to replace trees being removed along Berry Road with ones that are better suited to be under power lines, said Autumn McMahon, Oklahoma Electric Cooperative spokeswoman.

The current tree canopy includes sweet gum trees that grow very tall and can create safety and power reliability issues around power lines, McMahon said.

"Each of these trees is being removed by the request of the resident," she said, adding the power company wants to "plant the right tree in the right place.

"This will give homeowners a healthy tree that is not a risk and a tree that does not have to be repeatedly trimmed."

OEC will remove the trees and branches at no cost to the homeowner and is working with the city forester to determine the best tree fit.

The city and OEC have been working together on finding a solution to the Berry Road tree issue which has delayed the project, McMahon said. The work needs to be completed soon for safety reasons, she said.

A group of residents is asking a a judge to temporarily stop Oklahoma Electric Cooperative from taking down trees along Berry Road.

The electric company plans to start removing 11 trees along the street this weekend.

Norman councilman Joe Carter is leading the charge as a neighborhood resident.

"They can trim the trees as they have always done. We think that is a reasonable request," Carter said.

Carter said the council wants to revisit the tree ordinance that the city established after OEC removed 16 trees along Berry Road in 2017. The council discussedtreesduring a recent study session, but Carter said it will take months to finish the process of updatingthe ordinance.

City Manager Darrel Pyle sent an email to council members Tuesday night explainingthe electric company's tree removal plans and stating there are loopholes in the 2017 ordinance that allows the company to move forward with the tree removal.

Pyle told the Transcript state law allows utility companies easements to protect infrastructure. He said there is nothing the city can do to stop the work.

Carter said that is why he and other residents hired attorney Doug Wall to ask a judge to temporarily halt the work.

Calls to Wall and to OEC were not immediately returned this morning.

Link:
Residents trying to stop Berry Road tree removal - Norman Transcript