Posted by Observer22 (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 6:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Extending Franklin drive to Elm Street would be the best idea to come out of this planning group. Fanklin should be extended not only to Elm St. but also from US 231 to the Sportsplex. Rough topography a problem? Highways have been paved over mountain ranges, across swamps and coastal areas. Pine St., Murphree St., St Paul, lots of streets have been built in rougher terrain than Franklin would encounter. It won't be cheap - but the federal incentive money is not meant for cheap projects, and it is something that should have been done years and years ago.

Posted by WDM (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 7:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't know all the details to the cemetery problem but my question is where was this group when this project first started.You would think if they had gotten together with the people building oak park from start and marked off the cemetery there would not be a problem now.Out of 400+ acres I don't think leaveing out 1.1 acres would been a problem. Just my thoughts.

Posted by OldTimer (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think I read or heard somewhere that cemeteries are protected
by law. Does anyone know if that is true?

Posted by blissfullygreen (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Is this the "city of Troy University" or the City of Troy? Watts says he, "will feel good after we talk to the University." If we continue to let "the university" dictate what happens to our city, we will be in trouble. The CITIZENS OF TROY need to dictate what happens here. Not the university.

Extending Franklin, like Observer22 said, is the smartest thing to come out of this city planning effort. Like he said, the extension should continue out to the Sportsplex. That is the extension that is needed the most, IMO.

Posted by Ramsey (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Franklin probably should be extended in both directions, but it will lead to the further decline of residential life on Franklin.
@blissfullygreen
I don't think including the university in the discussion is unreasonable. We can knock the university around all that we want, but without the university and the students that attend, Troy would have great difficulty attracting the population base and the businesses that have developed here. I am not implying that Troy wouldn't exist nor that it exists only because of the university, but it would be much less than what it is today!

Posted by Mook (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Is Oak Park the new park that's going up on Hwy 87? Are you saying there is a cemetary there or there are plans to have a cemetary there. What exactly will Oak Park have. Will it be like a walking trail or picnic areas or playground area if so why would there be a cemetary there?

Posted by turtle (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with you WDM, they should have voiced opposition before now. Yet there is something inside of me thinking that bathrooms and a playground have no place in a cemetary. I just couldn't work for a company that would go into the final resting places of people and do those things. It just seems wrong for some reason.

Posted by WDM (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Mook did you not read the story,there is an old,old cemetery there now and oak park is a new subdivision for new homes.

Posted by White_Lightning1 (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Does the movie, Poltergeist, ring a bell? I'm just sayin'.

Posted by Mook (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well i've been trying to find out what was going to be at Oak Park. I pass it everyday and i originally thought it was going to be a subdivision but then when they started marking sections off i wasn't sure what it was going to be. How old is the cemetery, before they started cleaning off for the park it was just woods. Was the cemetery marked off before the work was started on Oak Park and was there anyone tending to the cemetery before Oak Park? I know i'm behind on this one so i have to read the comments to see what's going on and what been going on.

Posted by elvis2 (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm afraid that I must disagree this time with WDM and turtle . Here you have an existing cemetery , yet you question why they didn't come forward sooner . Well in my opinion you respect the resting place of the deceased . They should not have to defend that cemetery since it was there long before a sub-division was considered . I read the article and it states that some of the graves are gone or covered over to the point they can't be found . Seems the developers just don't care nor respect the burial sites. The planning commission shows no backbone what so ever in this . Old Timer it was my impression that cemeteries were protected by law too but looks as if the developers wishes deny that . As for marking it off many old cemetery's aren't marked off or fenced .

Posted by OldTimer (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If they are indeed protected by law, then everything else being
discussed is a moot point(including the Planning Commission's
Ruling).

Posted by elvis2 (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I did some checking and found there are over one hundred cemeteries in Pike County that are listed in the U.S. Geological Survey and I thought it interesting that Jones Cemetery is one of them .

Posted by turtle (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I see your point elvis2 and tend to agree with it. I'm not messing with a cemetary! And for whoever posted Poltergeist, that is actually a real concern LOL. I've heard of several developments being plagued by strange occurances when messing with graves for development. I believe in that stuff and am not messing with it, plus it just seems disrespectful.

Posted by davish (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The Jones Cemetery had a chain link fence around the whole acre. That is pretty hard not to recognize.

Posted by WDM (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I still stand by my first comment untill I get more details than just from Ms.Shipp.Now if they disturbed the graves that was wrong, I also don't think they should have put a play ground next to it either.It is hard for me to belive anyone would have removed any tombstones or graves when they have 400 + acres more to use.I also wonder when was the last time any of this group had been to the cemetery before now.I plan to go look myself in the next couple of days ( like that will help anyone)but just to see for myself.I just don't always believe everthing I read or hear.

Posted by elvis2 (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WDM that's exactly what you should do though they may not let you trespass on their property . It makes no difference how old the cemetery is nor if no one has been buried in it in the last thirty or forty years . It was there long before the developers decided to build there . Also there is such a thing as surveyors , so why did they not mark out the bounderies of the cemetery and not disturb it . Looking won't tell you much unless you dig to check for water lines,etc. I think the fact it is an old cemetery, that the developers just decided they could do as they please and no one would complain. It happened here where I live and raised quite a stink. In the end the developer had to concede quite a bit . With 400 acres to use surely one to two acres could be set aside and water lines can be rerouted around . Let us know what you find though you sound as if your mind is already made up.

Posted by elvis2 (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh I forgot to mention that there are lots of cemeteries that are not visited on a regular basis and I am as guilty of that myself as anyone . I have not visited my grandparents graves since the day they were buried but yes I'd howl long and loud if someone wanted to disturb that cemetery.

Posted by WDM (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 7:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

elvis2 no my mind is not made up,as I stated before I don't have all the details and I am not takeing one womens word on what took place.It is my understanding that the developer is haveing a machine brought in that can find anytype grave underground because he wants to make sure none was disturbed.And if Ms. Shipp can tell a water line is run through the cemetery so can I.

Posted by leroy2 (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The extension of Franklin to Elm street should be a top priority for the city of Troy. George Wallace is going to be an even more dangerous road now that the Easy street development’s only exit is via a blind down hill curve on George Wallace. The traffic on Highland Avenue is getting to be more like a major highway artery than a leisurely neighborhood street that it was intended to be. It matters not, the time of day or night, Traffic on Highland is fast and steady. Troy is growing towards the Wall Mart side of town and there is going to be more traffic on that side of town the faster Troy grows. With the outstanding leadership of the Mayor and the city council Troy will grow to be a great city.

Posted by Observer22 (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 11:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If for no other reason, Franklin should be extended at least to Elm, preferably to the sportsplex as a matter of public safety. In an emergency, getting someone from the residential areas on Elm Street road requires traveling on Wallace - and when Troy State has some event going on in the stadium Wallace is virtually impassible (due to gross negligence on the part of the college in eliminating parking on its property while doing all it can to draw larger and larger crowds to its events and virtually inviting the crowds to park in eveyone else's yards.

Also, consider the sportsplex. If a player is injured or a spectators has a heart attack - the ambulance has to go all the way back to 87 and then battle through the 87 and 231 traffic when Franklin would provide a direct route to the hospital cutting the time to a fraction of what it requires now.

Posted by turtle (anonymous) on January 31, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

When we lived on Franklin Care used it as their preferred route to reach the hospital. To begin with I was like "why?" but then I realized they were cutting through to avoid 231 as much as possible and also the back way to the hospital is off Franklin. I agree it would be more beneficial to extend it through to the sportsplex and that area, but 231 is so congested now especially from 87 to Wal-Mart would that make it even worse? Just some thoughts to ponder and why I love living in the country again!

Posted by WDM (anonymous) on January 31, 2009 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Also the long term plans for the oak park subdivision is to have a street come out at Lowes,don't know if that would help with the traffic from 87 to Walmart or not.And turtle that is why I live in the country.

Posted by turtle (anonymous) on January 31, 2009 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am so glad we moved to the country WDM, country folks unite LOL. It is convenient to live in "town" but I prefer the quiteness, the calmness, and the sunsets in the country. I don't have to worry about my windows rattling thanks to someone's obnoxiously loud radio anymore on a constant basis, the sirens of the ambulance on their way to TRMC, neighbors screaming at one another. I missed seeing the sunset, moon, and stars at night. And best of all, I don't have to worry about how the things in this article are going to affect my daily routines LOL.

Posted by WDM (anonymous) on January 31, 2009 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You got that right girl,I was born and raised in almost down town Troy but have lived afew miles out most of my adult life,as you said it can't be beat.

Posted by Sunny (anonymous) on February 1, 2009 at 6:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I AM A JONES descendant and I DO MIND the bull dozers, a rest room and a play ground atop of hallowed ground. And yes, there most certainly are laws that protect cemeteries but "the developer" seems to think he is above the law and for some unknown reason the "law" is taking it's sweet time to move. Perhaps it will take the federal government coming in, all it takes is just one Native American buried there to bring them in and then this developer will find out there are people who are willing to stand for our ancestors. WDM - "I don't think leveling 1.1 acres would be a problem" that's because your family is not buried there. Let me go disrupt your families burial site and let's hear what you have to say! WDM - "Where were these people when the project started"? No one thought anyone would be so brazen to break the law and disrupt a cemetery. Many in the group are of the age they are unable to visit graves of their beloved ones as often as they would like and many like myself no longer live in Troy. Imagine my disbelief and shock to go looking for my ancestors and to not be able to find the graves where they were buried because they have now been excluded from the cemetery! Where are they? What has happen to the graves, their bones??? I CAN'T FIND THEM and I know that's where they were left.

Posted by Sunny (anonymous) on February 1, 2009 at 6:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To MOOK - YES my family has been buried there for centuries, this is a very, very old cemetery where my relatives were left to rest in piece not to have a rest room and children playing atop their graves. WDM, you are a little late, it's hard to find graves that have already been removed! Yes, this property was enclosed in a chain link fence that has been removed and when replaced with another fence graves were simply left out of the cemetery NOT TO BE FOUND by the naked eye. I do not know if it is in a registry or not elvis2 - it's still a cemetery! You want to tell me my family doesn't matter because it's not in some book??? VoiceOfReason - you may not mind and I hope you are not kin of mine left behind to stand up for me and the quiet place, in a grove a trees where my family buried me. Perhaps you'd not mind being thrown under a bulldozer but that was not the choice of my family. As for taking "one woman's word" there is a group of supporters, one who is extremely experienced and qualified in the history of Pike county and especially genealogy, who has done their research! Imagine being an out of state relative making a visit to the old homestead only to realize you can no longer find your families graves; not because the marker has been dislodged but the grave itself has been disrupted, moved or destroyed. The research has been done but for what ever reason those that have been given "the power" are choosing to sit on their hands that were raises when sworn into office. They should be held just as accountable as the developer - this has gone on too long without the decent and legal thing being done! One can't help but wonder if all the legalities that have been contacted have somehow forgotten their hand was on a Bible when sworn in not in someone's pocket! I beg the powers that be, make this right and make it right now so that my ancestors may rest in peace and I will have peace of mind knowing they will no longer have buildings built upon them, water pipes run aside, through or on top of them and children are not using the little one acre for a playground.

Posted by Sunny (anonymous) on February 1, 2009 at 7:01 a.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by WDM (anonymous) on February 1, 2009 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sunny,I said nothing about leveling 1 1/2 acres and for your information one of my grandmothers was a Jones.If you are looking for a apology your barking up the wrong tree,this is what this forum is for is for people to give their opinions and I gave mine,you can like it ,love it or shove it.

Posted by Sunny (anonymous) on February 2, 2009 at 5:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WDM, that being said then I too should be allowed to express my opinion and would never consider telling a "relative" to shove anything nor did I request an apology. I did reread what I wrote and cannot find where I wrote that you thought leveling would be the answer to OUR families grave site. My gripe is not with you nor any other poster but with the levels of authority who have allowed this to happen. The developer is clearly breaking the law and the powers that be would rather ignore it than act upon stopping him.

Posted by WDM (anonymous) on February 2, 2009 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Your first comment,WDM"I don't think leveling 1.1 acres would be a problem"that because your family is not buried there.

Posted by OldTimer (anonymous) on February 2, 2009 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If the developer has indeed encroached upon the original boundry of the cemetery(1 1/2 acres?) then everyone involved
has a serious problem. Not only have they broken the law but
I would think they would be liable for civil damages to the Jones
descendents. I wouldn't think many juries would be sympathetic
to disruption of a cemetery. On the other hand, I know of entire
cemeteries being moved for lakes or a major highway. But this
was with the consent of the parties having relatives buried in the
cemteries. It sounds like this case was done with a "heavy hand"
which is very much a different case if so.

Posted by Sunny (anonymous) on February 2, 2009 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WDM please accept my apology. I miswrote, I'm sorry, you did not make that statement, excuse me please. The statements was made by TheVoiceOfReason.

Posted by TheVoiceOfReason (anonymous) on January 30, 2009 at 7:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't think the dead mind the bulldozers

Posted by Sunny (anonymous) on February 2, 2009 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VoiceofReason, My ancestors bones and remains are important to me, even if they are 100 years old - they are my family and were laid to rest, perhaps pre choosing that place, thinking their remains would be with other family members. I ask you, you think it's ok to recklessly move graves or destroy a grave site? As for my personal bones.... well I'd like to think someone would care if I was bulldozed and used to level out the ground for someones home. For all I know their bones are under that restroom - ugh! I was not aware my character needed defending but thanks for the offer! I believe the developer is the one who will need a defense when he is finally brought to court!

Posted by Boocat (anonymous) on February 2, 2009 at 10:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Alabama Criminal Legislation
as Pertains to Cemeteries


Desecration, defacement, etc., of memorial of dead; invasion or mutilation of corpse.
(a)
Any person who willfully or maliciously injures, defaces, removes or destroys any tomb, monument, gravestone or other memorial of the dead, or any fence or any enclosure about any tomb, monument, gravestone or memorial, or who willfully and wrongfully destroys, removes, cuts, breaks or injures any tree, shrub, plant, flower, decoration, or other real or personal property within any cemetery or graveyard shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(b)
Any person who willfully or maliciously desecrates, injures, defaces, removes, or destroys any tomb, monument, structure, or container of human remains, and invades or mutilates the human corpse or remains shall be guilty of a Class C felony and upon conviction the person shall be punished as provided by law. Any person who maliciously desecrates an American Indian place of burial or funerary objects on property not owned by the person shall be guilty of a Class C felony and upon conviction the person shall be punished as provided by law.

Posted by Sunny (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank you Boocat - pretty much clarifies any legal questions. Only one question remains - why has this developer not been arrested???? What can be done to the "folks in power" that have allowed this to happen and have done absolutely nothing to prevent him from continuing?????? This is absurd! I guess it's not an election year there? Who is this developer that he can break the laws and simply get away with it and continue to break them without being stopped or arrested? Is there an injunction for him to cease and desist? He sure must have a lot of nerve or is he not aware or the aftermath of dealing with Native Americans, not to mention their burial grounds??? Has he no concept of the consequences from Nature that will befall him? "We" are a mighty powerful group in life but in afterlife??? I'd certainly be backing my bulldozer out and asking how I can make restitution and find a way to make these grounds peaceful and hallowed again fast!!! Most bones are bones but those of our Native American ancestors never loose their power.......

Posted by WDM (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sunny,I went to the cemetery today,they have it named Jones Park and it looks nice but there sure isn't 1.1 acres fenced in.The play ground to me is ok it is not as close as I thought and I don't see kids playing would be disrespectful as long as the don't enter the cametery.But I can see now why you and your group are upset.Mr. Wheeless I think that is his name should do what is right about this.If you will read my first few comments you will see where I said I didn't have all the facts.All I can say now is good luck!

Posted by hammer (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 6:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There is a lot of dicussion about the Jones Cemetery. The Sunday issue of the Messenger said there would be a follow up of the"Planning Commission Meeting" in Tuesdays paper. So what happened? I know two of the Jones desendants were interviewed by a Messenger Reporter and the story was to run Tuesday. This is the second time the Messenger has ignored this story. Why?

Posted by Sunny (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WMD - thank you for your well wishes. Time will tell.....

Voice - Quite serious - read your history - Part of a quote from the Native Americans 10 commandments "the Earth is our Mother, care for her. Honor all your relations. All life is sacred; treat all beings with respect. Take from the earth what is needed and nothing more. Do what needs to be done for the good of all. Follow the rhythms of nature. Enjoy life's journey but leave no tracks. From Chief Seattle's speech in 1854 "...To us the ashes of our ancestors are sacred and their resting place is hollowed ground. ...Our religion is the traditions of our ancestors... the dreams of our old men, given then in the solemn hours of night by the Great Spirit; and visions of our sachems, and is written in the hearts of our people... Our dead never forget the beautiful world that was given to them. Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove, has been hollowed by some sad or happy event in days long vanished. .......Let him be just and deal kindly with my people, for the dead are not powerless...." You might look up the entire speech, it is very moving. So, again, yes, I say, I am quite serious.

Posted by Sunny (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hammer - it makes no sense to me either! I have been dealing with some issues here in North Carolina and it seems like when it comes to boards, commissioners and newspapers, even when faced with blatant facts and truths "they" want to soft shoe it or sweep it under the carpet. They don't want the truth, that's often not sensational enough. Certainly the headlines "Developer Wheeless (as I believe someone said was his name) Destroys Graves and Native American Burial Grounds" would get some attention and sell a few papers but then the truth rarely sells papers.

Posted by Boocat (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 10:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The play grounnd is in the cemetery, not close to it. In fact all but about two of the trees inside the paved road around the cemetery, are on cemetery ground. The two that are not are on the east side. The deep well that has been dug, is on cemetery land. A survay has been done and all that has been put inside the paved road as far as bathrooms, play area, sandboxes, cement walk ways and steps are all on cemetery ground. As well as lights. A sprinkling system was put down, some very close to slabs. Trees were taken out & wood chips were put all over where the fence is now, covering slabs with and with out head stones.
The Alabama State Historical Commissioners are investagateting what has been done. They are the ones who have told these people to get a ground penatrating radar done to see what has been done.
This cemetery from tax records, belongs to "The Jones Cemetery". It has been in the Jones family for about 150 years. Phone calls were made to the phone number that was given in the paper. For the most part they were brushed off or calls not returned.
If they were going to have two parks, the other one at Walters Pond, why didn't they start there with the things instead of at the cemetery? That land belong to them, the cemetery did not - does not belong to them!
State law has; even if you own the land a cemetery is on, you can not destroy it.
They have broken the laws of Alabama by taking the chain link fence down, taking trees out, by tresspassing and building on land that does not belong to them.
On their deed it has "except one acre more or less for the cemetery". How can you say it better? How many turned their heads to keep from seeing what was going on around there? Did the city workers who put lights & water in and the transformer boxes not see they were working in a cemetery? I do not get where they thought it was alright to do this to a cemetery!

Posted by Sunny (anonymous) on February 3, 2009 at 10:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Boocat obviously knows what he/she is talking about! Boocat, other than writing here what can we do?? What can those do who do not have relatives there? Thank you for your help and advice!

Posted by Boocat (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sunny; It looks as if the news paper does not want to bring this news to the people. But people need to know. So if people can spread the word about what is going on, that would help. Also any suport that they can give to the "Jones Family Cemetery Association", the group that is going against this, would help. They had a meeting listed in the paper as being held in the Beulah Church in Troy. They could watch for another meeting and go to it and ask what they can do. They could call the paper and ask why they will not put anything in the paper about this, when they did many on what Mr. Wheelless had to say and those had so many mistakes (or lies) in it. Why do people read the news and just take it for the truth, never asking about or looking into it? Why do people see things going on (like work going on close to a cemetery) and never check to see if the work is too close to the cemetery (as in the cemetery)?

Posted by henrimasters (anonymous) on February 4, 2009 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sunny,

The thing to do is hire a lawyer and file suit against the developer and the city. Until that is done do not expect much action.

Posted by Sunny (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 3:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

henrimasters - There is a group in Troy that has contacted an attorney. It just seems so crazy things should have to go to this length - why can't folks just do as they should or should not do especially when it comes to laws. What really perplexes me is the newspaper - why aren't they covering this in a truthful manner? Why do they not answer or return call that are made to them when questions are left about the article that they said they would publish when folks were out at the cemetery last week ? They were told the story would be in the paper Sun or Wed and nothing...... I appreciate your interest but Boocat is the one who is there in Troy and has all the information and is really heading up this group - I just happen to be in a position to ask more questions and maybe not be as answerable for my opinions as they must be.

Posted by henrimasters (anonymous) on February 5, 2009 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sunny,

It is sad that these people will not just do the right thing. Unfortunately some think that they are above the law and deserving of anything they desire. I wish the Messenger would dig in to this story and out the wrong doers. I would have a much different opinion of the Messenger if they would take on the local powers on issues like this one. Heck, there is enough going on in Pike County and particularly Troy to keep them busy for years. They could start with this issue and then do some indepth research on Jack Hawkins since he is supposedly a candidate for governor. there should be plenty to talk about on that subject.

Best of luck to you and your family.

Posted by Sunny (anonymous) on February 6, 2009 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

henrimaster, Thanks!!! The group is certainly going to try!!! I agree 100% with your comments about the news paper. It seems this runs true for most small town papers. Perhaps they started out with the best of intentions but have some how lost their way trying to compete and be like the bigger papers. Sort of like the missing graves - if ya throw enough "stuff" atop of them no one will look for the truth! Thank you again!!

Posted by spunky431 (anonymous) on February 6, 2009 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am a Jones originally from Troy, Alabama and am told by my relative in Troy I also have relatives buried in the Jones Cemetary. I now live in Texas and have not been back to Troy in several years. I read with interest all the posts regards the Jones Cemetary.

I am a senior citizen in poor health but were I able and I knew that greedy developers desecrated the graves of my family ancestors I would come back there with my Louisville Slugger and take care of business.

Sadly I'm not able to be in Troy to help with others to save this small plot of sacred ground. I just pray justice will prevail.

Posted by Sunny (anonymous) on February 7, 2009 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Spunky - Love your attitude - most assuredly you are a Jones!!!!!! This developer angers me as well but I also am delighted in the ways generations of Jones can still, after all these years and miles of separation, band together for our ancestors. Nothing can keep us down when we are wronged - what a mighty group of folks we can be!!!! Seems to be a prerequisite for all Jones to carry a Louisville Slugger LOL!!!!!!! Knowing thoses directly involved - they won't give up until justice has been had!