Cemetery damage outrages family members

A former resident and her family are displeased with the amount of damage occuring at the Libby City Cemetery.

Helen Brickey, her husband Lloyd, and Helen's brother-in-law Don Benefield are upset about damaged and tipped headstones at gravesites in the Libby City Cemetery. The Brickey's live in Deer Park, Wash. and are visiting the area for a few weeks for the funeral of Mary Lou Ward, Helen's mother.

"I'm very upset with the way things have been treated," Helen said.

Before Memorial Day, the cemetery was a blanket of dandelions and the grounds were not properly taken care of, she continued.

Libby Supervisor of City Services Dan Thede said city crews regularly maintain the cemetery. In the summer, extra employees are hired to keep up with the maintenance of the cemetery. In the winter season roads are kept clear of snow, but additional maintenance is dependent upon what occurs with the weather, Thede explained.

Weed control, mowing the grounds, opening and closing gravesites, placing headstones and road maintenance are all a part of the city crews' duties, Thede said.

The Brickey's and Benefield said damage has occured to their family headstones and gravesites, including headstones of other plots within the cemetery. The headstone for Brickey's mother was hit by an object, chipped and knocked sideways, Helen said. The Brickey's and Benefield also pointed out tracks made from a vehicle over gravesites and monuments tipped in the grass from having a vehicle drive over them.

"They would just need to lay plywood down over the graves," Helen said.

If damage is done to gravesites at the cemetery the city attempts to right the wrong, Thede claimed. If the damage was malicious in nature then it is turned over to the police department, Thede explained. If the damage is done by a city employee then repairs are made based on the city budget, he said. City employees try to be as cautious and considerate as possible and they do lay plywood over graves when driving to various sites, Thede said.