Nampa, Idaho, cuts down 60-foot evergreen from neighborhood yard as city's Christmas tree

NAMPA, Idaho — City crews cut down a massive evergreen outside Bonnie and Tim Torgerson's home after the city's forester noticed it stood within the public right of way. The family had already planned to remove the nearly 60-foot tree when the city asked to use it as this year's Christmas tree.

City forester Adam Mancini says evergreens aren't allowed in that space under city code because they can block visibility and overgrow onto sidewalks. But this one had roots long before that rule, and he'd had his eye on it since last year. It took until August to make it official — tree adoptions can take some time.

"Normally, I don't encourage people to cut down a tree. In this case, the city chose this tree because it was going to be removed. It was in the right of way, it was in violation of the city code, and the property owners had intents to remove it," Mancini said.

For the Torgersons, it was an unexpected knock on the door, but one that came at the perfect time.

"Well, the tree is very tall. It doesn't offer a shade, and we're actually getting ready to put a fence up," Bonnie Torgerson said.

The tree was carefully removed and moved downtown, where it now anchors the city's holiday celebration ahead of the official lighting on Nov. 29.

"I didn't realize that they even would want the tree and stuff like that," Tim Torgerson said.

For the family, the lighting ceremony now carries special meaning.

"My daughter loves Christmas. It's her favorite holiday. She just had her first baby. And so she's planning a chili cook-off at her house. And then we're all going to go to the tree lighting together," Bonnie Torgerson said.

When the holidays are over, Nampa's Christmas tree will have one last job, as it's turned into mulch and used throughout the city's parks.

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