Church members add fence to cemetery

Courtesy photo On Monday more than 25 parishioners with Immaculate Conception Church teamed up to build a temporary fence to secure the church's cemetery after it had be vandalized late last month.

On Monday more than 25 parishioners from Immaculate Conception Church took matters into their own hands to keep their cemetery secure from vandals by gathering together to build a temporary fence in light of recent criminal damage to the church's cemetery.

According to a May 9th Alamogordo Police Department report, grounds caretaker, Jimmy Villabisencio, told police that 11 sprinkler heads were broken and someone damage an irrigation pipe in the cemetery between April 23 and April 26. Villabisencio stated in the report that three rows of barbed wire on the south west fence line of the cemetery grounds were also missing.

Michael Lindsay, priest with ICC, said the APD officers advised them to secure the area to prevent and put up no trespassing signs to prevent future damages to the cemetery in the 1300 block of First Street.

ICC office manager David Gallego estimated the cost to replace the sprinkler heads could be up to $30 each and $175 for the labor.

Lindsay said several parishioners asked how they could help after the recent damage. Father Mike, as his parishioners call him, said he wanted to do something positive and get a group of people who care about their cemetery because it is important to them.

"A number of people were appreciative that we did this," Lindsey said about placing a fence to secure the cemetery.

Gallegos said it took just more than an hour to put up the 623 feet-long temporary fence.

Lindsey said due to the road project to extend Washington Avenue to the new elementary school currently under construction, fences were taken down which left no security for the cemetery. Several parishioners voiced their concerns that the City of Alamogordo never notified the church of construction or removal of the fences.

"We didn't know that they were going to put the construction road in until they cut through the fence and fenced off part of our property," Lindsey said.

Continue reading here:
Church members add fence to cemetery