From Ohio: proposal for a cemetery tax levy:
http://www.starbeacon.com/local/local_story_120073817?start:int=0
From Connecticut: a condo project could be impacted by Revolutionary War-era graves:
http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18278588&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=517514&rfi=6
That's probably it for the night: Rest in Peace!
Monday, April 30, 2007
And now, good news out of Asbury Park, N.J.
Here's a great story from the Asbury Park Press: a historic cemetery is cleaned up and rededicated, honoring the 61 buried there, including at least four Civil War veterans:
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070430/NEWS01/704300334/1004/OPINION
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070430/NEWS01/704300334/1004/OPINION
Cemetery plan in New Mexico
Out in New Mexico, a cemetery plan is under fire.
http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/apr/10/grave-issue-cemetery-edith-vote/
From someone who doesn't understand the complexities of the issue:
" 'The city doesn't need another cemetery, and we don't need anther cemetery. We already have a cemetery,' said Virginia Huettig, former president of the Northeast Valley Neighborhood association and chairwoman of its zoning committee."
---
Stay tuned. I'll be trying to track down the latest on this.
http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/apr/10/grave-issue-cemetery-edith-vote/
From someone who doesn't understand the complexities of the issue:
" 'The city doesn't need another cemetery, and we don't need anther cemetery. We already have a cemetery,' said Virginia Huettig, former president of the Northeast Valley Neighborhood association and chairwoman of its zoning committee."
---
Stay tuned. I'll be trying to track down the latest on this.
Cemetery uncovered in Ga.
Here's a link to an interesting story about Georgia:
http://www.waltontribune.com/story.lasso?ewcd=b385c754fdc21f14
Among the article's interesting points:
http://www.waltontribune.com/story.lasso?ewcd=b385c754fdc21f14
Among the article's interesting points:
"According to the Historic Preservation Division Web site, no state laws prohibit development around a historic cemetery or require buffers between the development and the cemetery. The laws are aimed to primarily protect the burials from disturbance, with Georgia Code ..."
Cemetery embezzlement alleged
We begin with some bad news:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — An oil speculator and funeral home owner accused of stealing millions from cemetery trust funds has been indicted on theft and money laundering charges, prosecutors said Friday (April 27, 2007).
The announcement of charges in Memphis came a day after Clayton R. Smart, 67, of Okmulgee, Okla. was arrested in that city and charged in Michigan in a related case.
The grand jury in Memphis also indicted Smart’s business partner, Stephen Smith, 60, of Muskogee County, Okla., and financial adviser Mark Singer, 41, of New Hope, Pa., District Attorney Bill Gibbons said in a statement. All three are accused of theft and money laundering. Smith and Singer have been taken into custody and were awaiting extradition to Tennessee, the release said.
Calls to Smart and Smith seeking comment were not immediately returned. Singer couldn’t be located for comment.
Tennessee officials allege that Smart, Smith and Singer stole more than $20 million from trust funds for three cemeteries and funeral homes in Memphis owned by Smart and Smith.
In Michigan, Smart is charged with 39 felony counts of racketeering, embezzlement and misuse of cemetery funds. Attorney General Mike Cox said Smart is accused of embezzling up to $70 million from 28 Michigan cemetery trust funds.
Smart was being held in Oklahoma with bond set at $4.2 million —$300,000 for the charges in Tennessee and another $3.9 million for the Michigan charges.
The Tennessee case stems from Smart’s announcement in July that more than 13,000 people with prepaid burial contracts would have to pay more — thousands of dollars in some cases — for those contracts to be honored.
Smart has blamed the problems on inflation and other people’s mismanagement.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — An oil speculator and funeral home owner accused of stealing millions from cemetery trust funds has been indicted on theft and money laundering charges, prosecutors said Friday (April 27, 2007).
The announcement of charges in Memphis came a day after Clayton R. Smart, 67, of Okmulgee, Okla. was arrested in that city and charged in Michigan in a related case.
The grand jury in Memphis also indicted Smart’s business partner, Stephen Smith, 60, of Muskogee County, Okla., and financial adviser Mark Singer, 41, of New Hope, Pa., District Attorney Bill Gibbons said in a statement. All three are accused of theft and money laundering. Smith and Singer have been taken into custody and were awaiting extradition to Tennessee, the release said.
Calls to Smart and Smith seeking comment were not immediately returned. Singer couldn’t be located for comment.
Tennessee officials allege that Smart, Smith and Singer stole more than $20 million from trust funds for three cemeteries and funeral homes in Memphis owned by Smart and Smith.
In Michigan, Smart is charged with 39 felony counts of racketeering, embezzlement and misuse of cemetery funds. Attorney General Mike Cox said Smart is accused of embezzling up to $70 million from 28 Michigan cemetery trust funds.
Smart was being held in Oklahoma with bond set at $4.2 million —$300,000 for the charges in Tennessee and another $3.9 million for the Michigan charges.
The Tennessee case stems from Smart’s announcement in July that more than 13,000 people with prepaid burial contracts would have to pay more — thousands of dollars in some cases — for those contracts to be honored.
Smart has blamed the problems on inflation and other people’s mismanagement.
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