10,000 trees donated to Henryville

HENRYVILLE, Ind. (WISH) - Henryville High School has become the symbol of the widespread damage that wiped out much of the town of Henryville.

The high school, like so many homes and other buildings, was destroyed March 2 when tornadoes moved through southern Indiana and Kentucky.

With that, thousands of trees were destroyed too.

Now Ecotech, a waste disposal and recycling company, has stepped in to help replant trees in the coming months.

They've pledged to donate 10,000 trees to the high school and surrounding areas hit hard.

At the high school, construction to rebuild is under way with the goal to finish by August, in time for the start of the next school year.

The first of those trees were dedicated to the high school already. They'll be planted once construction of the school is finished.

“Buildings can be rebuilt fairly quickly, trees can’t, so this in an important thing,” Monty Schneider, West Clark Community Schools superintendent, said. “Trees sometimes take a lifetime to get as big as some of the ones around us.”

Schneider said he hopes construction on the new high school is finished by Aug. 6 for the start of the new school year.

Meanwhile, students are finishing this school year in temporary schools.

Ecotech is taking suggestions from community organizations, businesses and schools to decide where the rest of the trees should go.

The first trees were donated to the high school this week, but the first to be planted will be this weekend in New Albany.