A 54-foot Black Hills spruce that will be displayed as the state Christmas tree in the Capitol will be cut down Thursday near Pluma.
The tree will be placed in the rotunda as the centerpiece for the annual display that includes dozens of smaller Christmas trees.
It was found by a state forester and is being donated by Lana and Jim Sternhagen of Stress Relief Massage of Deadwood.
Trees chosen for the honor typically are too old or too large for the sites where they are located.
