On my last two visits to Buffalo Springs Cemetery in Stanford, I have found it to be in a very unkept manner - matter of fact - I found it a disgrace. The grass was so tall on my last visit that I was ashamed that it was my hometown of Stanford that would allow this to happen. This is the place we have placed the bodies of our love ones to rest in peace and beauty. I went to the so called Cemetery Office to inquire about the upkeep and was told that it had been impossible to keep it mowed due to the large amount of rain. Well, when some of my family visited the cemetery this morning - it was in worst shape than before. RAIN CANNOT BE THE EXCUSE THIS TIME!!!!!! Time before there were large limbs and trees laying everywhere from a storm that had passed many months before. Do we not have caretakers of this cemetery anymore????
I have a few questions that I would like answered by the Cemetery Board or by someone that might know the answers - (1) How and when was this Board chosen? (2) Who do they report too? (3) When do they meet? (4) When do they present a financial report? (according to one of the Board member's the funds for this Board to operate are generated from the opening of graves - I am not sure if this is correct or not - but I feel the public or lot owners have a right to know and also know how these funds are aquired and spent. I am sure there are also alots of people that make donations to this Board for the upkeep of this cemetery.) (5) Does the Buffalo Springs Cemetery receive any monies from the City of Stanford or the County of Lincoln? (6) Are there job discriptions for the Board and others that are hired by this Board to do the upkeep - is it by contract or just from one time of need to the next.
A few months ago I received photos of the pile of artificial flowers and other items that were removed from grave sites and thrown in a nearby fence row. At this time my thoughts of this Board were confirmed - This Board just does not care for this Cemetery nor the family members and friends buried there. Oh by the way,,,, Is dumping in a fence row littering? Is littering not a crime in Lincoln County? Someone needs to look into this and slam charges on the responsible party.
Over the years, many times I have visited my hometown and county - and every time I have left there discouraged and concerned about what I see happening there. The right-of-ways along the highways are littered and grown up. Many homes and buildings are abandonded and run down, many jobs have moved out and the town is full of empty storefronts. WAKE UP LINCOLN COUNTY AND TAKE CARE OF WHAT IS THERE AND CLEAN UP THE MESSES.
Sheila Skidmore
Jackson, Tenn.
