I just got off the phone with Bill Shaw, the author of the 8/23/98
Indianapolis Star article entitled "Death of a Cemetery" that we have been
talking about for the last two days. After all the research Bill did to
write his story, he is still dumb-struck that this kind of thing is "legal".
He also realizes that it is not an isolated incident.
NOTE: As of 8/24/98, the "Death of a Cemetery" story is still
on-line at:
http://www.starnews.com/news/citystate/98/aug/0822SN_rhoads.html
Bill says he has heard today from dozens of people about the story and was
shocked to learn what a firestorm it sparked here on the Internet. He has
even heard from descendants of the Foltz family formerly buried in Rhoads
Cemetery who are absolutely outraged about this situation! They feel they
should have been notified that Duke Realty was going to do this so they
could have relocated their family members. Duke alleges that it did all
that was legally necessary to try to find living descendants -- they
published a tiny notice in the legal classifieds.
Bill brought up something really important and asked me to emphasize it to
all of you. If the present status of Indiana law disturbs you, write a
letter or send an e-mail TODAY to the Editor of the Indianapolis Star/News.
The address is:
Editor
Indianapolis Star/News
P.O. Box 145
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-0145
E-mail: stareditor(a)starnews.com
When you write to the Star, be sure to include your mailing address and
telephone number or else they will not publish your letter. (Your address
will not, however, be published; it is used only for verification purposes.)
If the Star publishes enough letters in response to this situation, then
public outrage will surely catch the eye (and hopefully the hearts) of some
of our Legislators.
(Unfortunately, Bill Shaw does not have e-mail, but you can write to him in
care of the Star at the snail-mail address above.)
Also, invest a few 32-cent stamps and mail letters to your State Legislators
today. Make a little noise and let them know that the law MUST be changed.
If you forwarded any of the previous messages about the Indianapolis Star
article to other groups or friends, send them a copy of this message as well.
Be sure to regularly visit the Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration
Project website at:
http://www.np.huntington.in.us/inpcrp/
for updates on this situation.
Thank you for your concern.
Lois Mauk
Jeffersonville, Indiana
P.S.
There is supposed to be a related story in Bob Hill's column in tomorrow's
Louisville Courier-Journal (8/25/98). Keep an eye out for it and, when it
runs, write to that paper as well.
The article MAY be posted on-line on the C-J website at:
http://www.courier-journal.com
but I can't promise that. The e-mail address for the Editorial Department is:
cjforum(a)louisv02.gannett.com