BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, S.C. (WIS) -Residents in Batesburg-Leesville are getting hundreds of new trees for free to replace what Hurricane Helene destroyed more than a year ago.

The nonprofit Keep the Midlands Beautiful received a $14,000 grant to help the town recover. The funding will provide about 800 new trees for residents and businesses. According to town officials, Hurricane Helene knocked down around 500 trees when it hit last September, leaving yards, parks and business fronts barren.

Residents picked up their first trees Wednesday morning during a workshop, marking another step in the town’s rebuilding efforts.

“It took out probably 50 to 60 very large trees,” said Louisa Hayes, who lost trees at her home during the storm. “It’s hard to break that down and recover the land, and I

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