At the Malheur Timber Operators office, members of the Grant County Front Runners install a sign welcoming visitors to John Day and highlighting the Timber Truckers' Light Parade, held each December. The sign was made by the Prairie City High School wood shop class. The Eagle/TIM ADAMS

JOHN DAY – The Grant County Front Runners, members of the Training and Employment Consortium, worked on installing a new sign welcoming visitors to John Day at the Malheur Timber Operators office on West Main Street on Friday.

The group works in conjunction with the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps on various projects around the county, and members work both in the classroom and in the field.

In recent months, the TEC crew has completed projects at several state parks and state forests, and they planned to plant trees in celebration of Arbor Day.

The Grant County Front Runners will be available to plant 5 to 20 trees on local citizens’ property for a donation to the youth program.

The Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine seedlings have been donated by the State Forestry Department, and will include a handout on care and maintenance.

If citizens would rather have other types of trees planted, this may be discussed with Bud Phillips, program coordinator and crew leader.

The Front Runners have worked with the Grant County Extension office to learn the best practices of tree planting methods. Funds raised by this activity will help support future crew activities and projects. Donations of tools and equipment are also welcome.

For additional information or to make an appointment to have trees planted, call the TEC Office at 575-0251 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.