Fairbury Cemetery Halfway To Fundraising Goal

By Gordon HopkinsThe Fairbury Cemetery Association is about halfway toward its fundraising goal to upgrade the cemetery’s roads. That is according to Mike Ellsberry, who spoke to Jefferson County Commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday, November 9.“The goal is to raise $400,000,” said Ellsberry. “And I was told yesterday there’s a fourth $50,000 donation. So we’re at $200,000 right now.”The roads that crisscross the cemetery and gives the public access to the graves have been in a state of disrepair for many years. A fundraising campaign is now in the works to raise money for paving and repairs.According to Cemetery Association member Charles Endorf, the project began after one donor said, “Why wait until you’re dead to put your money in something. Put it in while you’re alive, so you can see the benefit of it.”Endorf told FJN the project will be done in stages. The first step is to widen and pave the cemetery’s three main arteries. Those roads are currently approximately 12 feet wide. The new roads will be 16 feet wide, the better to allow two vehicles to pass.According to Ellsberry, those roads were last paved in 1948.To raise awareness for the project and to continue fundraising, Ellsberry asked commissioners for permission to put up a sign at the northeast corner of the courthouse square. Ellsberry has built two 12-foot-tall, eight-foot-wide easels that will each hold a sign with a map of the proposed improvements and an indicator that shows how much money has been raised.“And this will be a four-by-eight sheet of plywood,” said Ellsberry. “Working with the City Streets Department, Laura Bedlan, to print out the map of the cemetery. Then we’ll add our little thermometer over to the side there.”Ellsberry said, “There’ll be a second one down at the cemetery entrance.”Ellsberry presented a 1:12 scale model of the signs to show commissioners what it would look like, “It’s designed to look like an artist’s easel.”Commissioners supported the idea and approved the placing of the sign, which Ellsberry said should be installed sometime this week.Donations are tax deductible. Those interested in contributing can make donations online at https://www.fairburycemetery.org/home. For those wishing to send a check, please mail it to: Fairbury Cemetery Association, PO Box 408, Fairbury, NE 68352. The Fairbury Cemetery Association is funded largely by donations and accepts donations for more than just the new paving project.Endorf recommends that, if you wish to see funds used exclusively for the paving project, to note as such on the check.

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