Trail Founder Frank Schier completes oak tree distribution journey

Rock River Trail Founder Frank Schier, along with driver John Lamar, returned to Rockford Friday, April 15, after delivering 10,000 oak trees to the 11 counties along the Rock River.

Each county received 910 saplings made up of bur oak, white oak, swamp oak and red oak.

Beginning the journey to each distribution point along the Rock River Wednesday, April 13, Schier completed the trip several hours ahead of schedule.

Trees were distributed by officials in each Rock River Trail county to businesses and homeowners. Trees were free. However, each recipient agreed to plant them within sight of the river.

“I was pleased to make some good friends and that the trees went quickly,” Schier said. “Before we even returned to Rockford, all but only three counties were out of trees. That’s very positive.”

Frank Schier is also the editor and publisher of The Rock River Times. He founded the Rock River Trail in 2010.

For more information about the Rock River Trail, visitrockrivertrail.com.

From the April 20-26, 2011 issue of The Rock River Times.