By JESSICA SIEFF
Niles Daily Star

At the edge of Jennifer Higbee’s property, on Stafford road just off Pucker Street in Niles, stands a really big tree.

In fact, it’s the biggest tree in the county.

Global ReLeaf of Michigan and their Big Tree Hunt committee announced Monday the county winners of the Michigan Big Tree Hunt 2009.

The contest is held to find the biggest trees “around” in the state of Michigan.

Higbee’s tree, a sycamore splitting off in center with branches that wind their way up into the sky, came in as the largest – with a measure of 202 inches in circumference.

“The tree is just huge,” Higbee said. “It’s one of the reasons I bought this property. Everyone comments on it.”

Higbee has lived on that property for the last 12 or 13 years and she said so often visitors, family and friends would tell her that her tree was “one for the record books.”

So she decided to enter it as such.

Officials came out to take pictures and measure the sycamore and winners received a certificate and gift in September at a Big Tree Hunt Awards Ceremony held at Whiting Forest in Midland.

Higbee said she also contacted the county to ensure the tree would not face being cut down for any reason, and ran her power around it to avoid it having to be cut to allow the power lines to pass through.

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “It’s a very pretty tree.”