An annual display of lights that benefits the St. Peter s Health Hospice Program will return to the Helena Civic Center Thursday, albeit without the century-old Light a Life tree toppled
The violent wind storm that swept through the region last week set wind speed records and left plenty of damage in its wake, but the loss of one tree in particular was felt by many in the Helena community.
Almost every year during the holiday season, the community has gathered around a nearly 100-year-old spruce tree outside the Helena Civic Center for the Light a Life fundraiser benefiting Hospice of St. Peter s. But the 70-foot-tall evergreen was one of many casualties of the Jan. 13 storm, which brought wind gusts of up to 80 mph.Â
The tree also took out a lamp post on its way down. No one was injured.