Cemetery President responds to vandalism arrests
By: Stephanie Claytor
Updated: October 4, 2012
Stateline Cemetery Association President Emily Tarr is pleased that the Texarkana Arkansas Police have worked diligently to make a break in the vandalism case at the Stateline Avenue Cemetery.
More than 50 grave stones and monuments in the Stateline and Woodlawn Cemeteries were damaged over the past nine months.
"I'm thrilled that we have solved this case," said Tarr. "I was not overly surprised. We had observed juveniles over in the cemetery. So I felt like they were probably responsible for the damage we had incurred."
Although many of the grave stones have been fixed, Tarr said they'll never look the same. This is because many of them originate from the 19th and 20th centuries.
"We want restitution for our cemetery because we have spent thousands of dollars up until this point and we're not finished yet. This is a huge hit for our budget."
Tarr said the association has already spent close to $10,000 in repairs.
Many residents living near the cemetery feel the same.
"The parents should be held as responsible as much as the kids" said Vickie Quick, of Texarkana, TX. "And I think the dead should have respect and be left alone."
"They ought to work it off some way," said John Raney, of Texarkana, TX. "Pay for it or mow the yards or something."
