AND
NORWALK COMMUNITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Vol. 42 No. 20 Norwalk, Iowa 50211 USPS No. 395-120 Phone
981-0406 Thursday, October 7, 2010 !t
Ma2 ro:r's
Moznenl;
By Mayor Doug Pierce
Norwalk Cemetery Association
Had Its Beginning in 1858
By Mary Lou Gray
According to Jerry Shepler, one of the trustees for
the Norwalk Cemetery Association, this is one of the
oldest cemetery associations in the county. The group
of trustees includes Shepler, Joyce Gardner, Tom
Hughes, Charles McGinnis, Deb Workman, JoAnne
Krajcir and Dorothy Gates. The original minutes book
from the first meeting held in 1858 is still in existence.
The cemetery is located on land originally owned by
Howard Hughes, who also has served as a trustee in
past years. This is a private association, meaning it is
not supported by the city of Norwalk, the county or
township. The city of Norwalk has helped with some
financing for operating costs. Shepler stated if you own
a plot you are a member of the association.
One of the oldest markers in the cemetery is that of
an Onstot baby and that name appears on the original
list of trustees from 1858. Plots for burial went for $5 at
the beginning and today plots are priced at $550 for
Norwalk residents and $1;100 for anyone without a
Norwalk connection. Perpetual care is offered along
with the cost of the plot. The $550 is divided between
investing for perpetual care and the other half goes to-
ward operating expenses.
Some major capital expenditures in the last few years
have included the removal of six trees on the North
Avenue side of the cemetery. Each tree costs about $1,000
to remove. Another update to the cemetery was the
blacktop of the driveways. Shepler stated the associa-
tion is very fortunate to have Mike Myer serve as the
sexton. For 20 years Norwalk residents, Don and Gloria
Bell, provided the upkeep and maintained the cemetery
as a part-time job and a service to the community. After
their retirement, Myer took over the maintenance posi-
tion. Today Myer is in charge of the mowing, snow re-
moval sale of plots, preparing the plots for burials and
provides the equipment to maintain and perform the
above duties. Also, Myer can assist family members who
may be looking for markers of descendants and those
who may be into genealogy and researching their fam-
ily trees. Prior to their death, former trustees, John and
Betty Kern, updated the names and listed all the mark-
ers in the cemetery.
Trustee McGinnis was instrumental in installing the
lighting for the flag pole. After receiving several con-
cerns about the flag not being lighted at night, McGinnis,
along with Jim Becker, installed solar lighting for proper
flag protocol.
Several years ago, Adam Kern was looking for his
Eagle Scout project and decided to organize a group to
help the cemetery. He established a program for what
has become an annual event. This includes repairing
markers that have fallen or are in disrepair. Families are
responsible for the upkeep of markers, but there are
some that no longer have families and now need repair.
The 15 scouts gathered on September 11 this year, along
with scout leaders and trustees and installed row mark-
ers, painted the maintenance building and reseeded
ground. Some markers were repaired and a cement
base(footing) was installed to upright them as many
were leaning and in danger of breaking. Norwalk Ready
Mix graciously provided the concrete for the repair.
Shepler stated, "Each year seems to present a differ-
ent challenge. A challenge this year was the rain and
dry years it's the buckhorn weeds." If you would like to
be a part of the volunteer effort each year with the scouts,
it is usually held in September. Call Shepler at 981-5133
for more information about the Norwalk Cemetery As-
sociation .........................
The flag pole at the Norwalk Cemetery with the solar
panel installed by McGinnis and Becker Electric.
Marker dating from the 1800s. Staff photos by Mary Lou
Gray.
October has arrived - the leaves are turning, the air is
crisp in the mornings and evenings, pumpkins are for
sale and combines are active in the fields...not to men-
tion that we are in the longest no precipitation period
since last April! I love the fall except that it leads to my
least favorite season of the year and, hopefully, it is much
more tolerable winter than last year's?!
Last night, Thursda)9 Sept. 30, we had our third Town
Hall Meeting of the year. Attendance was down from
our July 8th meeting, however, we had good discussion
in regard to a potential Recreation (Rec) Center. I would
say that over 90% of those present voted in favor for the
City to continue pursuing this venture. Now that we
have the project informally designed and divided into
three Phases, the City will now look for possible loca-
tions which will let the architects know how to move
forward with a more formal design. This does not mean
, that this project is a "go", but does mean that we will be
advancing the process and will definitely, be seeking
citizen input through questionnaires, committees, dis-
oJssions, etc. There are lots of steps that have to be ac-
complished with a project like this, but funding will be
the biggeest hurdle in determining the viability of build-
ing a Rec Center. Suffice it to the project will be
discussed several times in the future and the process
will be as transparent as we can make it to insure that
we have your input and support.
My main theme for this article is "professionalism"
in dealing with City Hall. It is everyone's right to call
the City and address issues, policies and make com-
plaints. However, I ask that when you do this that it be
done in a professional manner - treat the person on the
other end of the phone as how you would like to be
treated. I have worked with the City Staff for nine
months now and know that they are a group of very
dedicated and professional employees who work very
hard to make the City "run" as well as it possibly can.
With that in mind, it is not fair for someone who has
issues, complaints, disagreements or concerns with City
policies to treat the employee with whom they are talk-
ing as though they were a "captive audience" that has
to listen to rants, cursing and disrespectful behavior. I
ask that those very few of you who follow this pattern
to refrain from this type of behavior in the future. To
help assist city staff with these type of situations in the
future, we are looking at the possibility of being able to
record unprofessional calls in the future.
Albeit it very early, I wish everyone a Happy and Safe
Halloween!
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Linn Grove Annual
Chicken Noodle Supper CROP Walk This Sunday
The annual Linn Grove United Methodist Church The Norwalk CROP Walk is planned for Sunda Oct.
Chicken Noodle Supper is scheduled for Saturda3¢ Oct. 10, at the Norwalk Christian Church. The event is a 10K
16, with serving from 4 to 7 p.m. walk starting at 2 p.m. at the church, 701 Main St.
The menu includes chicken and noodles, ham balls, CROP funds the work of Church World Service,
mashed potatoes, green beans, salads and homemade which is actively responding to disasters and world
pies. The cost is $7 for adults and $4 for children 5-12, hunger. The walk is an ecumenical and community event
with those under 5 admitted free of charge, and anyone may participate. Proceeds of the money are
The church is located at 7483 50th Ave., south of distributed with 75% going to Church World Service
Norwalk near Prole, just off Hwy 28.'-'---o'--. .... ....... -- -and 25% staying in Norwalk ...........................................
