I meant to mention this Sunday, but got busy and forgot it. I think it
would be entirely appropriate for members of this group to write *short*
letters to the Editor of the Indianapolis Star <stareditor(a)starnews.com>
commending the Wanamaker community and John Walters and Jim Kalkhoff for
their collective efforts to repair the damage to 98 tombstones toppled and
broken by a man on a drunken rampage the previous weekend.
The shorter and more succinct your letter, the better the chance they'll
publish it. Also, you must include your name, address and telephone number
so the Star can call to verify your letter. (The address and phone number
won't be published.)
Feel free to send copies of your letters to the INPCRP group at
INPCRP-L(a)rootsweb.com.
If you haven't read the story yet, the news of the rampage is at:
http://www.starnews.com/news/citystate/99/july/0718st_graves.html
The follow-up story about the repair efforts is at:
http://www.starnews.com/news/citystate/99/july/0725st_graves.html
Both stories were written by John Masson of the Star.
Those of you who have been with us for a while will remember the impact of
similar letters in response to Bill Shaw's Death of a Cemetery story last
summer. This incident, regrettable as it may be, will be the first test of
Public Law 100 <formerly House Bill 1522>, the "cemetery preservation"
law
passed by the Spring 1999 General Assembly which went into effect on 7/1/99.
It's important that the Prosecutor knows the public is going to be carefully
watching the outcome of this case.
I am advised that the tortfeasor's bail was originally set at $80,000 but
that it was reduced to $1,500 and that he was freed on bond this past
Wednesday. I don't know anything further about the legal proceedings.
BTW, you can also write to the Marion County Prosecutor by going to to
http://www.indygov.org/pros/ , and clicking on "Feedback".
Lois