Volunteers will be needed this spring and summer to help renovate renovate Winneshiek County's pioneer cemeteries

Years of inattention can leave cemeteries needing work

Members of Winneshiek County's Pioneer Cemetery Commission say they're proud of the work they got done a historic cemeteries in 2015.

The group has been renovating a number of cemeteries throughout the county--there are 89 cemeteries in Winneshiek County, 42 of which are considered "Pioneer Cemeteries."

Volunteers did a lot of work at the Rice Cemetery northeast of Ridgeway, for instance.  Heavy equipment was even brought in to straighten one of the markers.

Commission members are now planning where to work in 2016.  If you would like to volunteer to help with one or more of these projects, please e-mail the Commission at cemetery@co.winneshiek.ia.us

A skid loader was brought in at the Rice Cemetery work day

The "after" photo