Robert Johnston gave $1 million. He’s a founder of Aiken Streetscapes. The money went to the Community Foundation, funneled into the Aiken Streetscapes Fund to remove sick trees and plant new ones across South Carolina.
Oak wilt struck Charleston Street hard. Twenty-two trees tested positive for the fungal infection. Water oaks are vulnerable to this killer disease. Crews cut down the infected trees. Now stumps sit where water oaks once stood.
“We took a look at these trees. They were showing the signs and symptoms of oak wilt. We had several tests done. They did come back positive,” said Aaron Campbell of the City of Aiken, per WRDW…