PORTALES, N.M. (AP) - A pine tree that stood in a Portales front yard for 30 years is missing.

Mary Standefer says someone cut down her Colorado short-needled pine tree.

Back in the early 80s, Standefer's dad gave her a short branch with just a few needles. She planted it and through the years, with tender loving care, it became a perfectly shaped 6 or 7-foot pine tree.

Standefer tells the Portales News-Tribune she had big plans for the pine tree this holiday season including multi-colored twinkling lights that would have made the tree look like a little light shining on the hill. 

A police report was filed, but Stadefer says she has no clue who could have taken her tree.

___

Information from: Portales News-Tribune, http://www.pntonline.com

(Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)