Anonymous donor challenges Edgerton residents to help repair headstones
To donate
If you’d like to donate to the headstone restoration at Fassett Cemetery, contact Edgerton City Hall at (608) 884-3341 or 12 Albion St., Edgerton, WI 53534.
EDGERTON — City officials hope a generous donation inspires residents to contribute to the restoration of 50 headstones damaged by vandalism at Fassett Cemetery.
An anonymous donor offered $4,000 Wednesday for the restoration if the community can match the amount, City Administrator Ramona Flanigan said.
“It’s a very generous donation, and I think it speaks to the importance, really, or the feelings people have regarding the cemeteries,” Flanigan said.
Three boys ages 10, 12 and 13 confessed to vandalizing Fassett, St. Joseph and Jenson cemeteries in October, according to Edgerton police.
St. Joseph already has repaired all but three of the 25 headstones vandalized there, said Jon Peterson, cemetery sexton. Fox Construction donated its services to repair most of them. In one case, the family paid to have a memorial reconstructed. The remaining three stones will be repaired at no cost by mason Mark Deegan, Peterson said.
The damage at Jenson Cemetery, owned by Central Lutheran Church, was minimal, said Tom Hartzell, city public works director.
But repairing the 50 damaged headstones at Fassett could be pricey, city officials said. They estimate repair will cost $300 to $400 per stone for a total of $15,000 to $20,000.
Because the boys accused of the vandalism are so young, they probably won’t be made to pay more than $1,000 in restitution, Flanigan said.
But about half of the price estimate is labor, and 10 to 12 people have volunteered to do the work for free, Hartzell said.
If the community can raise the $4,000 for the matching donation, that might be all the city needs, Hartzell said.
“That’s going to be real close,” he said.
The city already has received $927 in donations, so it has a little more than $3,000 to go, Flanigan said. The city council has decided not to allocate funds to the project until it sees how far donations take it.
“We’re going to use the resources we have and see where it goes,” she said.
The city hopes to repair the headstones in spring, Hartzell said.
Jan 22, 2010 at 1:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
I believe you would make them write a public apology and make amends. It is because you are an active involved parent. But because you have probably already taught your children respect and responsibility you will will never face the problems these poor parents are facing.
Jan 22, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.
Suggest removal
Parents choose to have children and are responsible for their actions until the age of 18. This includes financial responsibility. At the very least they need to write a public apology letter. Get them out there and help clean up the cemetery to show their respects to families whose memorials are destroyed/damaged. Don't scream at them.....that just makes a kid shut you out.
Jan 22, 2010 at 8:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
If it were my kid there would be a public apology written by the child with their plans for restitution put in the local paper. My child would have to decide on their own punishment prior to even what the courts would dictate.
Jan 22, 2010 at 5:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
If this were my child, he would be paying for it. He would be shoveling sidewalks, mowing lawns, anything he could for money. And he would have a job at 15 and all of his earned money would go until this is paid back.
And frankly, I think we need to hold these children's parents accountable and make them pay. The citizens should not have to cover the cost. These kid's parents should.
Jan 21, 2010 at 11:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
"Throwing the book" at a 10-year-old is likely to turn that kid into a lifelong criminal.
.
The case is not concluded, and I suspect it is likely that community service will be part of it. Certainly it would be counterproductive to put them in jail. Don't start denigrating something that hasn't happened yet. In any case, justice is not about serving the public's thirst for moral vengeance. History has taught us that is a very dangerous path to follow.
Jan 21, 2010 at 10:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Well said,Hollynfaith.
Jan 21, 2010 at 7:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
Why aren't those boys given communitiy service and forced to assist with the labor? They destroyed the property, they should help fix it. And then when they are done, they can wear the sandwhich boards. There is no justice in today's society. That is why today's youth are out of control. These kids need consequences, not a dang program.
Jan 21, 2010 at 5:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
A judgment should be against these kids,when 18 & the first paycheck comes,they start deducting until this bill is paid + interest!! You people are not teaching these kids a thing by letting them off the hook,you should be ashamed of yourselves. Kids will be kids,bull crap!
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.