By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

After a winter storm in Wisconsin delayed delivery of Christmas trees to Hays Friday, local Optimist Club member Gary Wentling is happy to announce the trees arrived Sunday night and the annual Optimist Christmas Tree lot is “ready to roll.”

The annual Christmas tree sale opened Monday afternoon and will continue until the trees are sold out — something Wentling says usually occurs about a week before Christmas.

Wentling said there is good reason to stay away from artificial trees and “go natural” with a tree from the Optimists this year.

“All the profits we make go right back into the community toward our numerous youth projects,” Wentling said.

Wentling said the Optimist Club supports Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, the Hays Arts Council, the Youth Outdoor Festival, the Hays Public Library’s Children’s Department and more.

Wentling also encouraged parents to make picking out the perfect Christmas tree a family event.

“Bring the family out … we have numerous families who make picking out the tree a family outing … smell that Christmas tree smell on the lot,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

The lot is located in the parking lot of Walmart and is open weekdays from 3 to 9 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.