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Get Marty: Property Owner Worried About Power Company "Hacking Up" Her Trees

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A Slippery Rock woman fighting to save the trees on her farm reached out to Get Marty for help.

"These trees have been here nearly 70 years. They can't destroy these trees," Loretta Hutchins says.

Hutchins has rows and row of maple trees on her family farm. The trees were planted along a power line.

The power companies have the legal right and obligation to trim the tree branches away from the power lines. But Hutchins worried they would "hack up" the trees.

"Look, they came in here and ruined one tree. I said that's enough. That's when I called Get Marty," Hutchins said.

Tree trimmers working for power companies have angered folks in many communities. Some residents believe they ruin the trees and that ruins property values.

West Penn Power had no intention of doing that. When KDKA contacted West Penn Power, they immediately took action.

The company sent a representative to Loretta's farm. They will work with her to make certain they protect both the power lines and the beauty of the trees.

"I'm very pleased. They did the right thing," says Hutchins.

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Meanwhile, the folks at the power company say when you are notified of the cutting reach out to the power company. Make certain you communicate with them.

For the most part the power company wants people to know they are protecting the power lines when they trim trees along those lines.

If you'd like Marty to help you solve your problem, email him at GetMarty@kdka.com.

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