Until the Warsaw mayor appoints someone, the Oakwood Cemetery Board of Regents Thursday chose Lewis Dobbins as its acting president. Former President Kevin Planck resigned from the board effective Nov. 1. His resignation letter states he accepted a job in Marion and will be relocating there Monday. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time serving on the board. I am proud of the work that the cemetery staff does and there is no doubt that they are being left in good hands,” the letter states. Sexton Hal Heagy explained the president’s position is mayor appointed and Mayor Joe Thallemer is working on replacing Planck. In another matter, Heagy reported leaf pick-up is underway and he estimated 30 to 40 loads have already been collected. By the time the cemetery is done, Heagy said they could pick up around 120 loads of leaves. “They’re just really starting to fall now. I mean, heavy fall,” he said. “We are working a little overtime to do so. Two reasons. One, we were gifted, if you want to say, with 20 foundations by some people so they’re ready to pour. We’re pouring those Monday. We had to get them in. If I would have waited, luckily the weather’s giving it to us, we probably would have had 40 by spring. We’ve got too much to do in spring to do that many,” Heagy said. He then noted equipment is being winterized and put away as time permits. Heagy then updated the board on the wood giveaway. Combined Community Services has a wood giveaway. A person in need can go to CCS and get a voucher for a truckload of wood a month. Heagy said that’s offered free of charge. The wood comes from the city, the cemetery or wood cutters. The cemetery staff splits it. “We were fortunate to get some done. ... We wiped out the street department on wood, I guess. I’d asked a couple of tree services to come in. It didn’t work out, either their schedule or whatever. So there probably won’t be much cut unless they can do it after the first of the year,” Heagy reported. Wood is limited, and Combined Community Services knows that, he said. “It is open to get wood, but we’ve not received anybody yet,” he said. As for Christmas lights downtown, Heagy said that’s usually done the third week in November as “a lot of times they want them (up) December 1.” Those lights stay up longer in the trees than other lights around town because they’re wanted for the “Fire & Ice” First Friday in early 2016. Board member Ellen Hoffer reported for the month 12 lots were sold, there were 21 burials and five deeds were signed. Heagy said the year’s year-to-date balance of $162,763.81 was in line with 2014’s. He said he’s never had a complaint about having raised prices. The next board meeting will be at 5 p.m. Dec. 3.
