Tree huggers is rural Texas

Just saw this brief article in the San Antonio Express-News about a beautiful stretch of roadway out in the wilds of the Texas Hill Country, about an hour west of here.

MEDINA — State plans to cut down huge trees beside Texas 16 to permit widening of the highway have drawn the ire of area residents, as well as a court challenge that has idled the chain saws for now.

The public outcry led the Texas Department of Transportation to modify its plans and reduce from seven to two the number of pecan and walnut trees targeted as part of a $4.3 million project designed to enhance safety.

But that hasn't mollified tree lovers who demonstrated Monday at the shady intersection of Texas 16 and Kyle Ranch Road just southeast of Medina with signs that read "Save Our Trees" and "Save The History."

"This is one of the most beautiful sections of Texas 16," said Kathryn Kyle, manager of a local ranch. "If they make the road wider, people are just going to drive faster."

Her mother, Jacquelynn R. Kyle, filed suit Thursday in Bandera against TxDOT and obtained a restraining order to block the removal of any pecan or walnut trees until a 9 a.m. hearing this Thursday in Boerne.

"The grove of trees is a natural resource which needs to be protected and preserved," the lawsuit states.

Rural Texas is apparently full of tree huggers. Who knew?

Comments

[Jimmy K.]

Hmmmm, try to cut down a tree in San Antonio and the city wants to charge you 2 or 3 thousand dollars. But, let the government do it and it's just fine, glad someone stood up.

[LoB]

Who originally came up with the phrase 'tree hugger'? Doesn't it hold a negative, anti-progressive type of connotation -- presenting the image of environmentalists as extremist weirdos? If so, maybe we should think of another, more positive, phrase for citizens who appreciate the virtues of trees, like...uh...I dunno.

[Peter]

I was using 'tree hugger' in a satirical sense. After all, the citizens of rural central Texas are normally considered the antithesis of the image of a 'tree hugger'. Yet it turns out they may share some of the same values, after all. :-)

[Richard Arons]

The Texas hwy dept. is starting construction on a replacement bridge in San Saba county on CR 228 and I, one of the land owners, am trying to save an old oak several feet diameter and two pecan approx. 2 feet diameter. The prints show to save the oak and destroy the pecans. They are planning to drill under the canapy of the oak and escavate and futher trim the branches on north side of the oak. Who can I talk contact for information on my rights and options to save especially the several hundred year old oak?