Auburn's 130-year-old oak trees poisoned

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Auburn's 130-year-old oak trees poisoned

The buzz about Auburn University's two treasured oak trees started Jan. 27 when someone called The Paul Finebaum Show, a nationally syndicated radio show in Birmingham, and claimed to have applied herbicide to the trees.

Harvey Almorn Updyke, 62, from Dadeville, Ala., has been charged with criminal mischief in the poisoning of Auburn University's prized oak trees.

A former Texas state trooper has been arrested in the poisoning, according to Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson speaking at a news conference at Auburn on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011.

A crowd gathers as Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson speaks during a news conference regarding the two poisoned oak trees at Toomer's Corner in Auburn, Ala., on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011. Auburn says someone deliberately poisoned trees at Toomer's Corner, and that the live oaks likely can't be saved. A herbicide was applied "in lethal amounts" to soil around the trees, officials said.

Earlier, supporters gathered to pay tribute to the live oak trees. Toni Rich and son Gabriel, 5, came to Toomer's Corner after word spread that the trees had been poisoned. Toomer's Corner has long been a site where Auburn fans celebrate big wins, including the football national championship on Jan. 10, 2011.

Freshman Katie Jones places a roll of toilet paper at the base of a tree as students and supporters gather to pay tribute to live oaks at Toomer's Corner on the campus of Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011, after word spread that the trees were poisoned.

Billy Walls brought daughter Hannah, 5, to pay tribute to the oaks at Toomer's Corner. Officials said Auburn will take every step to save the oaks, but they weren't hopeful the trees could be saved.

In this Jan. 10, 2011 photo, Auburn fans gather at Toomer's Corner following Auburn's win over Oregon in the BCS championship football game in Glendale, Ariz.

This 2007 file photo shows Auburn students and fans rolling the oak trees on Toomer's Corner. That's how fans have celebrated every athletic victory, from football games to swim meets.

Auburn football fans converge on Toomer's Corner for the Celebration of Champions parade and rolling of Toomer's Corner, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005, in Auburn, Ala. The university and city celebrated the football team's 13-0 record.

In this October 2006 file photo, offensive coordinator Al Borges throws a roll of toilet paper in the trees at Toomer's Corner after Auburn beat Florida.

Auburn students throw toilet paper in the trees at Toomer's Corner in Auburn, Ala., on Wednesday, June 14, 2006. It was to celebrate the Auburn women's track team's win of the NCAA track national championship.

In this 1997 file photo, Auburn workers remove toilet paper from the trees near Toomer's Corner after a toilet paper blizzard caused by celebrating fans after Auburn's win over Alabama.

Auburn fans have been leaving poignant tributes for the two poisoned landmark trees at Toomer's Corner.

Jay Amling and Eric O'Brien spray the leaves of two poisoned oak trees with a wax coating.

Penny Wagner leaves a roll of toilet paper and a pom-pom beside a poisoned tree at Toomer's Corner in Auburn, Ala., on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011. Harvey Almorn Updyke Jr. has been charged for poisoning two landmark live oak trees on the Auburn University campus.

Crews work to remove toilet paper from one of two poisoned oak trees before spraying the leaves with a coating at Toomer's Corner in Auburn, Ala., on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011.

The trees were rolled for perhaps the last time Wednesday night, a tribute to the enduring symbols of the 154-year-old university. - Christian Boone, AJC

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The buzz about Auburn University's two treasured oak trees started Jan. 27 when someone called The Paul Finebaum Show, a nationally syndicated radio show in Birmingham, and claimed to have applied herbicide to the trees.

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Auburn's 130-year-old oak trees poisoned

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