Pine Grove Cemetery
- 1501 Grand Ave - Wausau, Ws (715) 842-4560 spoke with Peggy Schultz
Teens admit cemetery vandalism
#113609 - 10/22/03 11:25 AM
By Jessica Bock
Wausau Daily Herald
jbock@wdhprint.com
Two 13-year-old boys are accused of causing about $200,000 in
damage to grave markers at three cemeteries along Grand Avenue.
Police were led to the boys by a call from someone who had heard
about a $5,000 reward for information about the case, said Wausau
Police Chief Bill Brandimore.
When confronted by police, the boys admitted to damaging about 50 gravestones.
They have been referred to children's court services.
The crime disturbed residents who have relatives and friends buried in
the cemetery. About 190 headstones were toppled the night
of Oct. 9 in Pine Grove Cemetery, along with 10 in two small cemeteries
that are next to Pine Grove, causing some of the older markers to spilt
into pieces.
Police announced days after the crime that the Judd S. Alexander Foundation
offered $5,000 to anyone with information that led to the arrest and conviction
of those responsible for the cemetery damage.
The boys offered no explanation for damaging the gravestones, Brandimore
said.
"Being 13, I guess," he said.
State law says parents or guardians can be held responsible for damage
caused by their children.
The cemetery was busy for several days after the vandalism as family members
drove through to assess the damage, said Robert Anklam, president of the
Pine Grove Cemetery Association.
About 40,000 people are buried on Pine Grove's 79 acres
at 1501 Grand Ave. The cemetery opened in 1860.
Crews finished uprighting the toppled monuments and headstones on Monday,
Anklam said. Now the work begins on trying to track down family
members for the older headstones that can't be repaired, Anklam said.
He said there are fewer than 50 of those.
If no family members can be found, the grave might be left unadorned,
and only the cemetery log book will note who is buried there.
"We're glad that they caught them. This was really an act of vandalism
that happened to defenseless people," Anklam said. "We've been
working very hard to get everything back into shape."
A veteran's group has volunteered to place a marker on the graves of veterans
whose markers cannot be replaced, Anklam said.
The cemetery association has discussed increasing security, but the cost
of installing cameras throughout the grounds is too expensive, he said.
Thu, Sep 16, 2004
Cemetery vandalism still haunts a year later
By Jessica Bock
Wausau Daily Herald
jbock@wdhprint.com
Nearly a year after vandals toppled about 190 headstones in Wausau's largest
cemetery, some still lie broken.
About 15 headstones at Pine Grove Cemetery on Grand Avenue, all more than
a century old, are in pieces, the result of vandalism by two teenagers
who knocked them over, splitting them in two. About 10 headstones in two
small cemeteries next to Pine Grove also were damaged.
Because the headstones belonged to people buried in the late 1800s, Pine
Grove employees have had little success finding family members.
"They're very old," Robert Anklam, president of the Pine Grove
Cemetery Association, said of the damaged headstones. "We've not
had a call about them, so it's not likely they've had visitors."
Wausau police who investigated the damage when it occurred on Oct. 9 recommended
charges against two boys who were then 13 years old. The police department
had received a tip about who was responsible for the vandalism
from someone who heard about a $5,000 reward offered by the Judd
S. Alexander Foundation. The teens confessed when questioned by police.
The boys completed 120 hours of community service at
Pine Grove Cemetery, mostly doing yard work, Anklam said. They
also were ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution, he said.
"Kids are kids," Anklam said. "They never said why they
did it. But it was the principle of the thing."
Most of the newer granite headstones merely needed to be lifted back onto
their pedestals. Officials initially estimated the cost for repairs
at $200,000, but several companies volunteered their equipment so the
larger monuments, most too heavy to lift, could be put upright.
Many residents were dismayed by the damage done to monuments to the dead.
"The cemetery was just buzzing with people (after the vandalism)
trying to find out if one of their relatives' gravestones were damaged,"
Anklam said.
Berniece Pagenkopf of Wausau was one of the people who visited the cemetery
last October to survey the damage. She was relieved to find that her relatives'
gravestones were untouched, but disheartened when she saw the others that
were damaged.
"It made me sick," she said.
The October incident was the largest act of vandalism ever at the cemetery,
Anklam said. Isolated incidents have occurred since then.
The Pine Grove Cemetery Association, a nonprofit organization, considered
installing lights last year to deter vandals. But it could not afford
the cost of lighting 79 acres, Anklam said.
ANOTHER CEMETERY VANDALIZED - REWARD $1,000 - NO ARREST YET
City
mulls action against cemetery vandals
By Jack Spillane, Standard-Times staff writer
NEW BEDFORD -- Describing themselves as outraged and worried about the
extent to which vandals desecrated more than 130 Rural Cemetery
headstones over New Year's Day, city officials yesterday suggested
it may be time to hire watchmen at some city cemeteries.
"The fact of the matter is that there is a lack of policies related
to cemetery situations where vandalism occurs," Mayor Frederick M.
Kalisz Jr. said.
Mr. Kalisz and Police Chief Arthur J. Kelly III met for nearly 90 minutes
in the mayor's office with the Cemetery Board, as well as with several
city councilors and concerned citizens.
The board took no action last night but decided to meet to discuss the
issue again next week.
William E. Santos, the acting chairman of the Cemetery Board, said vandalism
has been a consistent problem at New Bedford cemeteries for at least the
seven years he has served on the board. He estimated the city loses roughly
200 stones a year.
The toppling of some 130 stones on New Year's Day, some of them historic,
was far more extensive than most vandalism cases, he said.
"This was a vicious act," he said.
The desecration of some of the headstones in historic sections of the
cemeteries is like destroying art, he said.
"People are realizing we're like a museum. We have so many prominent
people buried here," he said.
Mr. Santos suggested the city explore fencing off the historic sections
of cemeteries and whether federal funding for preservation is available.
John J. O'Malley III, a Cemetery Board member, asked for more facts about
the frequency of vandalism. Recent vandalism in the neighborhood adjacent
to the Rural Cemetery may be unrelated, he said.
Tom Rex, owner of Rex Monuments on Dartmouth Street, said there had been
an extensive toppling of stones 20 to 25 years ago and then another extensive
toppling recently.
Several city councilors continued to press Mr. Kalisz and Chief Kelly
to offer a reward for the apprehension of the cemetery vandals.
Mr. Kalisz, however, said he is hesitant to put out a bounty for
a 3-week-old crime. The city must consider that offering a reward
might encourage many people to flood police with false leads, he said.
Judy Downey, vice president of the New Bedford Preservation Society,
said her group would put up a $1,000 reward for apprehension of the culprits.
It would also perform research on stone restoration, she said.
Councilor-at-large Denis Lawrence Jr. said the city should at least match
the Preservation Society's reward.
"The longer we wait, the cooler the case gets," said
Councilor-at-large Brian K. Gomes who originally proposed a $5,000 reward.
Chief Kelly said his department has had several leads on the case, some
of them good, some of them not.
Mayor Kalisz said the city must weigh the cost of hiring watchmen
vs. the cost of vandalism. He noted that in the New Year's incident
a cemetery storage shed was set on fire. In addition, a fire occurred
on the porch of a house adjacent to the cemetery about a half-hour after
the shed was burned.
Mr. Kelly told the public officials the city might face lawsuits
from any actions the city takes to repair graves. A young girl recently
broke her leg when a city-repaired grave fell on her, he said.
Mr. Santos said cemetery workers are not professionals in monument restoration.
In addition, he stressed that the city owns the cemetery but not the gravestones.
The stones, by law, he said, are the responsibility of the owners.
The cemetery's perpetual care budget is for grounds maintenance, not for
stones, he said. The city might set a bad legal precedent if it decides
to restore some gravestones but not others, he said.
Mr. Kalisz, however, said that when it is difficult to ascertain ownership
of older and often historic graves, the city should be able to repair
them. He suggested publishing a legal notice stating the city would conduct
repairs if the owner does not come forward within a certain time frame.
Mr. Kalisz and Chief Kelly said they do not think security officers hired
to watch cemeteries should be armed.
"What you want to arm them with is a cell phone," Chief Kelly
said.
Mr. Rex said his workers have occasionally repaired stones. He offered
to repair ones that are on a cemetery's main road or funeral route.
MORE OFFERS OF $5,000 IN REWARD MONEY AND THE CRIME COMMITED
On March 28, the University community was again victimized when 23 swastikas
were discovered at various locations on campus. University Police immediately
began a thorough investigation of the incident and believe this anti-Semitic
vandalism is the work of one individual. The State Police
and the FBI were contacted and brought up to date on the investigation.
University President Lois B. DeFleur immediately denounced the act, issuing
the following statement: Binghamton University has again
been victim of anti-Semitic graffiti vandalism, with swastikas found in
a number of locations on campus. This is hateful, despicable and irresponsible
behavior, which has no place in our University. I ask the entire campus
community to help us apprehend the person responsible for these crimes.
"We have redoubled our investigative efforts and have notified the
New York State Police and the FBI. We ask that anyone with knowledge of
these actions contact Binghamton University Police at 777-2393. Confidential
reports can be made to University Police by calling 777-INFO (4636) or
logging on to http://police.binghamton.edu and clicking on Report a Crime.
The University continues to offer a $5,000 reward for
any information leading to the conviction of persons responsible for hate
crimes against the University community.
President DeFleur met with students on the evening of March 29 to discuss
the incident and the University's response. The meeting was organized
by Hillel-JSU.
$5,000 reward offered
for arrest of racist vandals
HILTON HEAD ISLAND: Group says it wants to show that citizens won't accept
'hurtful' message.
Stephanie Broadbent
Carolina Morning News
Two months after vandals spray painted racist words on a Gullah
Flea Market and planted crosses nearby, the Beaufort County detectives
and FBI agents working the case are no closer to making an arrest.
They want to catch a suspect, but they need more to go on. That's where
a group of Hilton Head Island citizens are stepping in.
The Citizens Against Hate Crimes was formed to gather donations for enough
reward money that someone, somewhere just might come forward.
Volunteers In Medicine founder Jack McConnell announced Friday that the
group had raised $5,000 for information that will lead to an arrest in
the "harmful and hateful," crime.
"What a bad day for the whole island (it was,)" he said. "It's
sad we had that crime but even more so that we didn't have an outcry of
outrage."
At its meeting held March 16, 2004, the Board took the following action:
Supervisor Antonovich made the following
statement: "On March 9, 2004, at approximately
8:00 p.m., a professor at Claremont College, following
her speech on tolerance and harmony at the colleges, discovered that her
vehicle had been terribly vandalized and burglarized. The nature of the
vandalism included spray-painted racial epithets and other slurs, slashed
tires and a broken window.
"The Claremont Police Department is
seeking assistance with information to aid them in their investigation
of this hate crime."
Therefore, on motion of Supervisor Antonovich,
seconded by Supervisor Knabe, unanimously carried, the Board established
a $5,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest
and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the vandalism
and burglary of a professor's vehicle at Claremont College on Tuesday,
March 9, 2004 at approximately 8:00 p.m.
BLM OFFERS $5,000 REWARD
FOR
CAMPGROUND VANDALISM INFORMATION
A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to
the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for extensive vandalism
at a public campground earlier this month in eastern Lake County.
The U. S. Bureau of Land Management's Ukiah Field Office said between
$5,000 and $10,000 in damage was done to the Blue Oaks Campground
in the Indian Valley/Walker Ridge area only months after extensive renovations
has been completed. A BLM employee discovered the damage on Tuesday,
Aug. 8.
Seven Vandalized Vehicles
Description and Date of Crime: Seven Vandalized Vehicles - 06/26/2004
Location: 1700 block of Linda Ave., Lancaster
Reward Amount and Date Offered: $5,000 - 07/06/2004
Deadline to Provide Information to Law Enforcement Agency: 10/04/2004
Deadline to Submit Claim to Executive Office: 12/03/2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------
At its meeting held July 6, 2004, the Board took the following action:
Supervisor Antonovich made the following
statement: "On June 26, 2004, seven
vehicles parked along Linda Avenue in Lancaster were vandalized with orange
colored spray. Racial epithets were also sprayed on a block wall across
from one of the victim's home.
Police Continue to Seek Information in Vandalism Cases
Following two major acts of vandalism at one of their warehouses, the
Robinson Terminal Warehouse is offering a $5000 reward for
the arrest of those responsible. This reward is offered in addition to
an Alexandria Crime Solvers reward of up to $1000. In the past month,
vandals have caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage
to the warehouse, which is owned by The Washington Post Company.
llinois State Offers Reward
in Vandalism Case
Date: 5/21/04
Contact: Jay Groves
Illinois State University is offering a $5,000 reward for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible
for damaging windows at the Science Laboratory Building and the
School Street Parking Garage.
Between Friday, May 14 and Wednesday, May 19, vandals damaged or destroyed
more than 40 glass panels at the two facilities, causing
more than $45,000 damage.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Illinois State University
Police Department at 438-8631.
Vandalism could delay office building's opening by a month
A crew from W.R. Newman & Associates works on the front entry to the
AIM Health Care office building that was vandalized.
By MITCHELL KLINE
Staff Writer
FRANKLIN — Vandals shattered windows, damaged ceilings and walls,
and pushed a pallet jack from the third-story of an office building that
is under construction in Cool Springs.
Police estimated the damage could cost as much as $60,000 to repair,
which makes the crime a class C felony. The superintendent at the construction
site said the vandalism may delay the building's completion by a month.
Larry Larsen, superintendent for R.W. Newman & Associates, which is
overseeing the construction, said the inside of the building looked like
a ''war zone.'' Most of the damage occurred on the building's second and
third floors.
''Parts of the ceiling are pulled down, there's stuff jammed into the
walls, toilets are broken,'' Larsen said.
Police believe a group of vandals entered the building sometime between
5 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. yesterday, when crews arrived at the scene.
Sgt. Charles Kirby said detectives discovered fingerprints on equipment
inside the building, which could be used to identify the vandals.
Kirby said objects from inside the building were used to break the glass.
He asked reporters not to identify the objects.
Because the building is under construction, it has been left open and
unsecured at night, Larsen said. Aim and R.W. Newman are offering a $5,000
reward for information that leads to an arrest.
From University News Service
Purdue University today posted about 100 images on the
Internet of people videotaped and photographed during the disturbance
that began Sunday night after the women's NCAA title basketball game.
"We are asking anyone who can help us identify any of these people
to contact police," said Purdue Police Chief Linda Stump. "Every
effort will be made to keep the source of the information confidential."
Purdue has offered up to a $5,000 reward for information
leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who vandalized property
in a four-block area surrounding campus from 10:30 p.m. Sunday until 6
a.m. Monday.
The vandalism caused more than $60,000 damage on campus,
plus more in the surrounding area. More than $22,000 in damage was done
to 15 cars and vans. Another $10,500 in windows were broken in seven Purdue
buildings.Reward for information on vandals
A $5,000 reward is being offered by the Redwood City
police department and the Anti-Defamation League for information leading
to the arrest of persons who defaced Temple Beth Jacob
in Redwood City late in the day February 9 or early February 10.
Twelve pieces of graffiti, including swastikas, were scrawled on windows
and exterior walls.
"We're investigating this as felony vandalism and a hate crime,"
said police spokesman Ward Hayter.
Police have not named any suspects.
