Assault on our trees?

There are some tree trimmers who love trees.

And then there are the tree trimmers hired by Indiana Michigan Power.

Based upon the evidence of their vandalism in Jay County in recent weeks, one would have to conclude that deep down in their souls these guys hate trees.

What else could explain the examples of wood butchery on display in their wake?

Where a minimal, thoughtful trim might do, I&M's contracted crews opt for full-scale arboreal assault.

Take for instance the tree that disappeared from the lawn of the Portland Post Office last week. While a few of its branches needed to be pruned back to avoid telecommunications lines, it posed no real threat to power lines.

And yet the whole tree was taken down.

To be sure, the ice storm of 2005 made it clear that keeping limbs and branches out of power lines is important.

But there's a big difference between recognizing that a job needs to be done and doing the job properly.

And in this case, the job has been brutally botched. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]