Why Was There A Helicopter on Lake Sara Last Night?

That's the question people have been asking...why was there a helicopter on Lake Sara Thursday night?

The reason is the chopper is being used to trim back trees along an oil pipeline that runs past the lake.

Effingham Water Authority Lake Superintendent Mike Dirks said the helicopter is equipped with a long cable holding four circular saw blades.  The blades trim back vegetative growth along the route of the pipeline.  Dirks said it's done every few years and is done rather than hiring a ground crew to come in to trim back the growth.

The helicopter is hired by the pipeline company, not by the Water Authority.

Dirks heard the chopper was parked near the Lake Sara Road/Moccasin Road four-way stop overnight.