Pennington County Targets Pine Beetle Trees

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - Pennington County is expanding its focus in the fight to suppress the mountain pine beetle despite a large budget shortfall.

The county budget for the pine beetle suppression program is close to $300,000 this year.

County employees say $125,000 of that budget is supposed to be from the federal government, but they have yet to receive it.

Close to 11,000 trees infested with beetles have been cut down in the county.

KOTA-TV reports that the program is now shifting its focus to clearing roughly 3,800 trees which have the potential to fall onto roadways, largely near Hill City, Rochford and Silver City.

Scott Guffey with the Pennington County Weed and Pest Department says it's vital to keep right of ways clean.

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