In regard to the Letter(s) to the Editor:

First off, LOL. Hire a proofreader.

Second, I've been in the new Industrial Technology Building at WPU, and I really don't see how the Old White cemetery has been "desecrated", unless some graves have actually been moved. The building can only have been built where it is if WPU owned that land, so the cemetery must border at that point, mustn't it? It's very unfortunate for WPU that both cemeteries lie where they do out there, as that would otherwise be prime land for growth, but they are where they are.

Call me cynical, but I would guess that it would not have been an issue for the writer if Joe and Musco were not involved.

I aggree whole heartedly with you Osky Booster.....and the personal vendetta towards "him" that needs to be GIVEN UP. Come on!!!!!! Grow up.

I never once in the editorial that even hinted at it being a vendetta against anybody. What's desecrating is the access road on the East side of the building that runs "through" the cemetary. The road actually seperates headstones from the main part of the cemetary. When a lovoed of your is put to rest see how you feel if somebody comes in and pours a road over their resting place.

I'm rather surprised at the initial reaction to the editorial. After reading it I drove out past the tech building, I to was surprised at the intrusion of the cemetary. I'm surprised the initial reaction was to defend an attack on somebody, which I too never saw, than the building of a road through a cemetary. Let meknow where your cemetary plots are so I can pour a concrete pad. Always looking for a quiet area to park a camper.

I did not see headstones separated from the rest, but I'll have to take another look. I was inside the building looking out a back window.

Perhaps I was hasty in my initial reaction, but when someone has a history of animosity toward anything Joe, it colors my initial perception of anything they write.

I believe that the cemetery is administered by the township. If the access road does enter the cemetery, was that approved by the township trustees?

After I posted I began to wonder if both of you who had posted early had seen the road. I'd recommend looking again at how the road was placed.

I drove by this afternoon and it does look really bad IMHO.

Is this the cemetery that no one wanted to pay for the upkeep that was in the news in the past few years? Is it a "quaker" cemetery or what is the history? Just curious.

It's the cemetery that the city of Oskaloosa annexed the land from the county on three sides of it but left the cemetery as a county or Spring Creek township responsibility. In my opinion, a legal but unethical action by the city.

I too drove out past WPU to see the cemetry and was also very upset with the placement of the road. I understand that Joe Crookham is President of the cemetry board, so maybe that is why the road was placed there.

Call Dave Langkamp at the funeral home and see what he knows. He is connected to the cemetery.
See if he wants to talk about it.

The road has been there for over a year with the building projects ongoing. There is a geothermal loop for heating and cooling in the new buildings.

I am surprised that the folks on these discussion boards are just now talking and drawing conclusions about a road in the cemetery.

The whole area is much nicer looking now and the upkeep will be easier for those involved in the future.

quote:

Call me cynical, but I would guess that it would not have been an issue for the writer if Joe and Musco were not involved.

Do you ever think that maybe if Joe or Musco wasn't involved that there wouldn't be something people have a problem with? It seems to me and alot of others that he just takes over anything he wants, does whatever he wants, and to 4ell with what gets in the way.

quote:

Originally posted by osky4us:
I too drove out past WPU to see the cemetry and was also very upset with the placement of the road. I understand that Joe Crookham is President of the cemetry board, so maybe that is why the road was placed there.

Again, I clarify, at one time if not now Joe was on the Forest Cemetery Board...I believe the county trustees are "in charge" of the that one.

You know the area behind Penn Univ. isn't an area many people just decide to drive through. The notion that since the road has been there for a year it doesn't deserve to be critisized is obsurd. Obvious many of us are just now finding out about it. It's still desecretion to pour a road through, and over grave sites. I haven't talked to one person that seemed passive on this issue, everybody thought is was ridiculous. You know those involved in the decision knew it was wrong but also knew nothing would be done about it. I'm betting the thinking was people would grumble but then that'll eventually go away. I really don't think this road should be allowed to stay. If not for moral issues, just to show that you can't jsut do whatever you want.