Local man finishes two-year care center landscaping project

Pictured, Randy Hall with his granddaughters Savannah and Sierra Isbell, who braved the rain to help plant rosemary. Submitted Photo

I would like to thank the people and businesses whose help was very welcome: Barney at Crescent Ace Hardware donated many hours of jackhammer use. I rented it so much that if I had to pay for the rentals, it would have been cheaper to buy a new one. Wes White from Eco Store on Elk Valley Road donated the redwood shredded bark. John Compton from The Home Depot donated drip irrigation material. Robert Baucher from Wal-Mart donated Angelonia whose flower looks like a miniature orchid. Mike Rossini from Coast True Value donated hardware for the dead men holding the retaining walls up. Knights of Columbus in Brookings donated $100 for the project. Kirk Vandyke from Granite Construction allowed me to dump all the asphalt at the South Bank plant. I could not have moved all that dirt or railroad ties by myself.

I want to give a special word of thanks to my helpers. David Holcomb was there every day I needed him. Can anyone give a job to that hard-working 22-year-old? Larry Alliston used his tractor to put nearly two thirds of the dirt into the planters. He just showed up and asked me if he could help as I was about to ask Barney if he would donate a tractor rental. David’s father, Doyle, understanding that a lot of dirt still needed to be moved, got seven young men from the Bar-O Boys Ranch. Doyle, David, the seven young men from Bar O and their supervisor, Ryan Richards, all worked together to put dirt into the planters. Thank you all for your hard work that day! Harry Roberts helped for an afternoon with the hard work jackhammering out eight-inch-thick asphalt. Harry will be 75 next month. My granddaughters Savannah and Sierra Isbell braved the rain to help me plant rosemary.

Lastly I would like to thank the person who was 100 percent behind me since I volunteered to do this project two years ago, my wife Jude.