08/28/2008
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Staff photo by Andy Molloyfrom the Kennebec Journal
QUESTIONS REMAIN
No complaints from those who switched to Somerset County center
Vote on 1 may hurt some in election
Steeple at center of debate in Whitefield
VETERANS REQUIRE ASSISTANCE: Homelessness takes center stage
J.P. DEVINE: Overcome sadness with hope
BASKETBALL: NBA Hall of Famer Barry doles out advice at Thomas College
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Maranacook sophomore Mace dominates Class B field
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
A year later, families await answers on fatalities
Owner of topless coffee shop on the comeback trail
Officials report cheaper, better service after switch
Two people in critical condition
Young Marines stick to program
Issue of homeless veterans at center stage
GIRLS SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Winslow falls to York in Class B
Bard hits her marathon stride
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
Two weeks ago, someone discarded 26 old tires.
Then, on Tuesday, 12 garbage bags full of old shingles were heaped on the sacred ground.
Interim Town Manager Bob Drisko was outraged. He said someone must have reshingled their home and thought the cemetery would be a good place to get rid of the debris.
They were dumped in two locations, at the far end of the cemetery and along the tree line.
"The thing about that cemetery is that you can drive into it and there's a little hill that you can go behind and not be seen from the road," Drisko said Wednesday. "Years ago, people were going into that cemetery and dumping rubbish. I wanted to lock it up, but that idea got turned down."
Drisko said it cost the town $103 to remove the tires and about $100 to remove the garbage bags. That will be done today.
"We weren't going to clean up the shingles until state police went up there," he said. "And they've been there."
It didn't cost the town much to remove the tires and shingles, but Selectman Richard Danforth said he is appalled to think someone would dump on a burial ground.
"I know the Cemetery Committee is trying hard to keep these cemeteries well maintained and it just doesn't make sense," Drisko said. "It's disrespectful to the people and their families and the citizens of Chelsea."
Drisko said the town hired Thomas A. Stevens Cemetery Restorations in Newcastle to restore its six cemeteries.
Two cemeteries have already had the headstones straighten, cleaned and fixed: River View on Route 226, at a cost of $3,500; and the Allen Cemetery on Route 27, for $1,000. That work was done in 2004, he said.
Workers are currently restoring Chelsea Heights, the largest cemetery in town, at a cost of $7,160.
He said the other three cemeteries will be restored this year: The Church Cemetery on Hallowell Road, $1,310; Searles Mills Cemetery on Windsor Road, $2,390; and the Douglas Cemetery on Windsor Road, $770.
Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408
mcooper@centralmaine.com
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