Members of Newport’s Department of Public Services are replacing two trees today in King Park and working to save another four after they were recently discovered to be poisoned. It appears that the trees were slashed open and had a chemical compound poured on them and into the surrounding soil. Public Services advises that they are digging out 15 yards of contaminated soil around the trees and will be sending it in for testing to try and ascertain the type of chemical used.
This is similar to another incident a few years back where trees in that area were killed by pouring motor oil into the soil.
The Newport Police Department is assisting in the investigation and will install cameras in the area in hopes of catching the perpetrators.
