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2011-06-07 at 15:49

Case of cut down tree has police stumped

By tbnewswatch.com
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A tree falling down near Boulevard Lake this weekend has definitely made a sound in the community.

Thunder Bay Police Service officials say a 100-year-old white pine, a landmark tree on Lyon Boulevard, was cut down sometime between Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5.

The tree is well known in the area for its resilience, having been the victim in a number of motor vehicle collisions.

“To the tree’s credit, it managed to survive all of those accidents,” said City of Thunder Bay forester Shelley Vescio. “Normally, a tree that was hit so many times would have become rotten and fallen down. This one was pretty sound.

“I’m sure many people that were injured (from crashing into it) were probably saved from going over the cliff.”

The white pine was unable to survive the weekend assault, and was cut down as dozens of area trees stood as silent witnesses.

Police believe a small chainsaw was used to cut the tree.

Vescio calls the cutting “senseless” and said the incident has upset many people in the area.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact city police or Crime Stoppers.

Click here to submit a letter to the editor.

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Tbnewswatch.com(59)

Comments

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tadzup says:
.........seriously?
6/7/2011 4:30:48 PM
ken1 says:
A chainsaw Massacre! Shame!
6/8/2011 9:32:42 AM
bonzo says:
booooooooooooooooooooooooo
6/7/2011 4:31:16 PM
mapleleaf1970 says:
I can't believe someone could do this. Everyone in this city knows about this tree and it's long history. To me it was a prank for some notoriety.

Why else would someone do it. Unfortunately now the legend dies. Truly sad.

Reminds me when Bart cut the head off of the Jebodiah Springfield statue on the Simpsons.
6/7/2011 4:55:24 PM
Tannoy says:
Great comparison!

Someone is going to be braging about this, I hope the police find them and release a name for once!
6/8/2011 8:39:31 AM
tsb says:
In late April 2009, someone cut down the Two Harbors Honking Tree, which marked the northern end of the divided highway between Duluth and Two Harbors. I wonder if the two crimes are related.

@N00/3494700483/
6/7/2011 5:07:23 PM
trips says:
what a senseless crime ..i for one would donate to put a memorial up ...if not ...invest in a scrap yard and retrieve the wrecks on the shore of the current river
6/7/2011 5:15:56 PM
ALK says:
This is a sad senseless act.....I really am sad to know that this big, beautiful tree is no longer with us. I hopethat they find the people/person that did this and make them give a public apology to Thunder Bay!
6/7/2011 5:55:42 PM
rootbear says:
Careful what you wish for. Last week walking around Boulevard, I mentioned to my wife I'm surprised someone hadn't cut that tree down. Sad indeed. Born and raised a Current River boy, I'm sure that tree saved my life at one time or another. Senseless, brainless, pathetic act of stoopidness. Let's plant another in memoriam.
6/7/2011 6:18:46 PM
panzerIV says:
This tree saved many people. Any death which could have been stopped by the tree now lays in the lap of the person or persons who cut it down.
6/7/2011 6:33:30 PM
Wattif says:
AHHHAAAAA .. FOOLED you all. They've started clearing for the Complex we can't afford. Come on fess up City Managers...
6/7/2011 6:51:03 PM
The Wolf says:
WOW, this tree saved many lives including mine.

Don't get why or even how someone would even come up with the idea to take this tree down.
6/7/2011 6:55:18 PM
peke4 says:
The only thing more senseless than this action is/are those who decided it was a good idea. Shameful. I agree it likely saved the lives of those who ran into it from more severe injury or drowning.
6/7/2011 8:56:13 PM
brooky says:
I've lived in the south side of town my entire life but am well aware of this tree. It's multi colored paint stains are a tribute to a few lives saved I'm sure. An unsightly metal barricade will replace it. So sad. If the person(s) responsible are caught, they'll get a slap on the wrist. And that is what's wrong with society today.
6/7/2011 8:59:57 PM
RelaxinginMurillo says:
What a bummer.. every time we had someone visiting in town, of course we would tour them around the lake.. that tree, obviously a sentinel to many a hard accident, didn't have to say a thing in order to convey it's message.
From now on, anytime anyone is telling the story of that tree, the story will end with "but then some butt-head took it down".

Way to go, doofus
6/7/2011 10:01:17 PM
hubbabubba says:
Making Room for a Tim Hortons???? Unreal.... No video of any one walking off with a 20 foot tree??
6/7/2011 10:43:05 PM
yer joking says:
We don't need another coffee shop in our beautiful town! Now a French Fry stand is a different matter
6/9/2011 1:08:50 PM
SomeGuy says:
Lets build a replica out of steel.
6/7/2011 10:49:48 PM
She says:
Hey that tree will be missed. I wonder how many lives that tree saved from going over the edge....
6/7/2011 11:04:28 PM
spooner19 says:
Wow, sounds like there may be a seriel tree killer on the loose. I am so scared!!
6/7/2011 11:44:37 PM
TBDR says:
ultimate karma would be if this jerk's car ends up down in that ravine someday.
6/8/2011 2:49:04 AM
publicdomain says:
The person(s) responsible need to get a life, get a job, and develop a sense of responsibility...This is one of those things that will never make any sense.
6/8/2011 5:50:49 AM
Tbaylifer says:
Say to see the tree go. Sadder that the city has a forester on staff. Truly a waist of money.
6/8/2011 7:09:02 AM
nvjgu says:
Generaly speaking that's typical for Thunder Bay. The person who did this is probibly reading this story and laughing. Arn't you buddy.
6/8/2011 8:36:01 AM
concerned_citizen says:
Not only was this a historic tree - but the fact is, this tree HAS saved many lives. Every true Thunder Bay citizen knows the history with this tree and the good it's done from stopping people from veering over the edge of that curve and over the cliff.

Shame on whoever did this - I hope when you brag to your buddies they realize how stupid you are for doing this.

...has anyone died FROM hitting this tree? It's such a strange thing to do - I can't help but wonder if a mourning family member may believe that this tree caused the death of a loved one if they had hit it...
6/8/2011 8:55:43 AM
concerned_citizen says:
Not only was this a historic tree - but the fact is, this tree HAS saved many lives. Every true Thunder Bay citizen knows the history with this tree and the good it's done from stopping people from veering over the edge of that curve and over the cliff.

Shame on whoever did this - I hope when you brag to your buddies they realize how stupid you are for doing this.

...has anyone died FROM hitting this tree? It's such a strange thing to do - I can't help but wonder if a mourning family member may believe that this tree caused the death of a loved one if they had hit it...
6/8/2011 8:58:11 AM
DougMyers says:
Even if a perpetrator is found they will get a slap on the wrist.

Most unfortunate as a piece of the city's history is gone and can never be replaced.

Can someone really spend the time it took to run a chaisaw through that tree and no one noticed? By the look of that cut they are very lucky to not have gotten badly hurt with improper tree felling techniques.

Worse yet would have been to have it fall the other direction just as someone rounded the corner!!

A very dangerous prank indeed.
6/8/2011 8:59:42 AM
calvin15 says:
Always sad to see a tree go....really wonder what the culprit was thinking...and yes that tree may have saved lives and injury but it did prevent Darwin from doing his job :)
6/8/2011 9:04:00 AM
Steven says:
Trees are dangerous. Lets replace it with a wind turbine.
6/8/2011 9:14:37 AM
K.B.89 says:
boo hoo I bet in another 20 years a big condominium building will replace boulevard lake entirely. Its a tree.. plant another one.
6/8/2011 9:17:43 AM
tiredofthebs says:
I can't believe no one has made a comment about the title of this story and the picture to go along with it. Maybe I just have a weird sense of humour but that is brilliant!
6/8/2011 9:37:21 AM
67mike says:
What about the horror of thousands upon thousands of trees cut down each day?!?

Who is crying for them? There forest friends all stare in silent horror!

Gastly deeds indeed!
6/8/2011 9:53:29 AM
ibrando says:
@Concerned_Citizen

July 16,2009 Tbnewswatch story.

Man still in critical after crash.

The 19-year-old man who was sent to the hospital after a single-vehicle crash remains in the hospital.

The man was driving on Lyon Boulevard near Boulevard Lake when the vehicle he drove struck a tree.

Two passengers suffered minor injuries.

The driver is still listed in critical condition.

Thunder Bay Police Service spokesman Chris Adams said last week that the crash was reported to have happened around 2:30 a.m. Thursday morning.

Just sayin.
6/8/2011 11:21:45 AM
FyreFaerie says:
Trust me....that's NOT the same tree.
6/8/2011 1:18:47 PM
DougMyers says:
If the tree is not there, the car goes over the cliff and into the river.

Just sayin . . .
6/8/2011 1:35:24 PM
jobee says:
@ibrando

The man who was involved in that crash did not hit dead man's tree.

He hit a small tree across the corner from dead mans tree.
6/8/2011 1:44:19 PM
Buddy Garrity says:
willing to bet the dude that did this is the same person who shot that donkey years ago, and cut the hand off terry fox...

6/8/2011 11:44:36 AM
yer joking says:
Probably voted for the current city council as well!
6/8/2011 3:08:48 PM
mapleleaf1970 says:
Concrened_citizen Says ...has anyone died FROM hitting this tree? It's such a strange thing to do - I can't help but wonder if a mourning family member may believe that this tree caused the death of a loved one if they had hit it...


Well as I told my somone the other day the tree is not resposible for deaths...Only the Drivers that were taking that turn to fast in a park. Not trying to be insensitive but it's the truth.
6/8/2011 12:07:25 PM
pylon says:
It's pretty stupid to cut the tree down, I laughed when I read the comments on here.. But if something is close enough to the road that people hit it over and over, maybe they should have installed a guard rail a long time ago. They could saw it up and use the lumber to make the guard rail, win-win right?
6/8/2011 12:15:21 PM
crazypeter says:
This tree saved my life when I was teenager. I'm disgusted by this vandalism. Nobody heard or saw anything?
6/8/2011 12:27:44 PM
pylon says:
well.. someone sawed something, that's for sure.
6/8/2011 2:48:56 PM
concerned_citizen says:
Sorry I should have finished my thought earlier as it was unclear...
What I was meaning to say was I wonder if someone has lost a loved one recently after crashing into this tree, and if so, if a family member cut it down thinking that if this large tree wasn't there that their loved one wouldn't have died....
I personally think this tree saved people from veering off of a cliff but others may think that if not for this large tree their loved ones would have experienced less of a blunt impact from smaller trees/brush below
6/8/2011 12:57:27 PM
madlady says:
if people depend on this tree, for whatever reason at their own hands of stupidity, whats really the BIG issue, where were all these people when they were clear cutting across canada and working in these so called MILLS...
cry me a river, REALLY come on..........
6/8/2011 2:13:38 PM
living in hogtown says:
by reading most of the comments, thunder bay has become a city full of weak minded tree huggers
6/8/2011 3:45:46 PM
huh? says:
It's a tree. You people depend on a tree to save you from bad or drunk driving? Come on!

It may have stopped some people form going over the cliff, but it's not the duty of a TREE to save lives!

What is going on in this city? How is a tree being cut down news? What is this?
6/8/2011 4:39:17 PM
panzerIV says:
It's not that a tree being cut down is news, its that the tree has so much history in the Thunder bay area for the reason it creates news.

People have told there kids the story of this tree and how it has saved many lives from going over the cliff. There are many families that have sons/daughter/moms and dads because this tree stopped them from the lake.

We dont care that a tree was cut down, hell we cut down thousands a year for our jobs but this was a loss of local history.
6/9/2011 7:51:59 AM
spooner19 says:
pylon says:It's pretty stupid to cut the tree down, I laughed when I read the comments on here.. But if something is close enough to the road that people hit it over and over, maybe they should have installed a guard rail a long time ago. They could saw it up and use the lumber to make the guard rail, win-win right?

Wow someone that actually makes some sense. Are you people for real? Only in Thunder Bay a tree gets cut down and its front page news and people are talking about putting up a memorium for it. Give your heads a shake IT'S A TREE!!!! Who cares its not news. As the poster mentioned put up a gaurd rail it will probably do a lot better than a hundred year old tree. What a bunch of hillbillies in this city. Totally ridiculous.
6/8/2011 6:31:30 PM
unknowncronic says:
That tree & the corner itself has been and the base of many conversations regarding whom was killed or who it saved...
I guess it's more of an icon as it's saved alot of lives & halted many vehicles from going over the edge from either bad drivers, drunk drivers, or just due to road conditions. It was just that tree whom everyone knew about from deadmans corner, who always had a story about it or knew someone who knew someone who it either saved or killed... I hope the idiot atleast got a splinter.
6/8/2011 8:22:11 PM
Ayla Ann says:
I think that tree was a big part of history for Current River! It's been there for 100+ years, and it has saved numerous lives. Now dead man's corner is literally going to be dead mans corner without that tree!
Ps. it's not about being a tree hugger, it's about the history of our community!
6/8/2011 9:36:26 PM
Roadrunner says:
30km / hr on that road isn't it? Alcohol will always try that rule. That's never going to go away. Neither is that corner. Would have been nice to keep it there as a natural barrrier. Nice move buddy. Wile E. Coyote says "Help!"
6/8/2011 10:09:39 PM
Dan Dan says:
The story doesn't make it clear, but this tree has been involved in dozens of automobile accidents, some fatal.
6/9/2011 12:24:01 AM
SG says:
Good heavens there are some bitter people in this city. It's a tree that has a lot of history to it. Call me sentimental but it was one of the first 'Thunder Bay' stories I heard when I moved here 20 years ago.

It's not a bad thing to be sentimental, folks. So for all those who are complaining about foresty issues or that it's 'just a tree', it is in fact an interesting story and a tree known to almost all that live here.
6/9/2011 8:30:43 AM
kenora44 says:
Why not replace with a guard rail?
Im sure the story will come out one day, such a stupid act is obviously done by stupid people which usually like attention and tend to brag.
6/9/2011 12:00:59 PM
The Badger Mountain Hermit says:
Photographs, licences, certification and registration for all chain saw owners.
6/9/2011 6:32:53 PM
nvjgu says:
I hit that tree," It was 1975 I was driving a 1969 Road runner 440 sixpack with a Mustang Mk 1 comeing up a close second behind me .
6/10/2011 10:29:25 AM
tbayboy4life says:
To all the people that are saying that this was just a try, you should give your head a shake. This tree was part of the history of not only Current River but of Thunder Bay. Every community has quirky things that most residents know about, this was one of them. It didn`t matter who I told or how long they were gone from TBay they all knew what tree I was talking about. Its too bad the tree didn`t come down on whoever did this.
6/10/2011 11:26:37 AM
concerned_citizen says:
It's not only necessarily drunk people or speeding people who had benefitted from this tree being there...those corners can be awfully slick in poor weather or visability can be poor
6/10/2011 4:30:37 PM
lilolme says:
I am another survivor thanks to the tree on dead mans curve. So sad. I think the culprit should be planted in concrete in it's place to save more lives
6/12/2011 8:56:40 AM
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