Tree memorial established for crash victim

A friend of Kayli Wagoner, the 17-year-old Columbia Falls woman who died in a June 7 motor vehicle accident on U.S. 2, has organized a living memorial through social networking.

Dan Masciullo, who lives in Chicago, launched the idea of planting native ponderosa pine trees in Wagoner’s honor on Facebook five days after the accident. Five days later, he had received enough money to purchase 325 saplings.

The successful response led to the creation of the Web site www.kaylifund.com as a way for people to donate money online to benefit the Wagoner family.

The saplings will be distributed at the Journey Church, 54 Western Village Lane, in Columbia Falls, on Saturday, June 29, at 10 a.m. People are asked to RSVP at www.facebook.com/TreesForKayli.

Masciullo reminds people not to plant the trees on city property and to ask permission before planting trees on private property. For more information, e-mail admin@kaylifund.com.