Cemetery Board Discusses Gate That Man Drove Through
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents Thursday discussed replacing a gate that was damaged by an Indianapolis man who intentionally drove through it. Joseph Martin, 26, drove through the gate Jan. 29. He was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on a misdemeanor charge of cemetery mischief. According to police, Martin drove the vehicle through the gate to get to his mother’s grave where she is buried and the gate was locked. The front gate was purchased from Custom Fencing in June 2012. The automatic opening and closing mechanism was purchased and installed by 4T Door Systems, Elkhart, in March. Hal Heagy, cemetery sexton, said he has a $5,800 quote from Custom Fencing to replace the gate. He is waiting for 4T Door Systems to assess the damage for needed repairs to the closing mechanism and automatic opening for the gate. In other business, Heagy said cemetery employees will take down Christmas lights downtown after today’s First Friday, weather permitting. He said the bumper on the cemetery truck needs to be replaced. The cemetery has given away 11 loads of wood this month. There were 16 burials in January, 14 lots sold and seven burial deeds signed.
