HOISINGTON — Volunteers from Superior Essex in Hoisington and from the Methodist Church spent some time on Wednesday evening at the Methodist Cemetery located outside of Hoisington restoring tombstones to their proper place. The Barton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the vandalism..

"It’s a disgrace," said Shawn Jonas, volunteer. "People have no respect for the deceased."

Jim Bell, Bell Memorials, also volunteered to help. He said he estimated that there was $10,000 to $20,000 worth of damage. "There are a lot of stones turned over," he said. "There is damage and some stones are chipped and some broken. We’ll stand them up and assess the damage."

He planned to bring a boom truck over on Monday to set the stones back up that were too large for the volunteers. Bell is volunteering his time and resources to the restoration and plans to take the broken stones back to the shop for repair. Most of the stones were marble, he said.

"I would like to see it looking back to the way it was," said Bell. The stones that were broken will have to have pins added to restore them.

The Barton County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation. At press time, Undersheriff Larry Holliday reported no new leads.

The Hoisington Police Department will turn all information if they receive any over to the BCSO. "All leads are going to the BCSO," said Kenton Doze, Hoisington police chief. "We’ll help them, but the BCSO is handling the case."

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers, 792-1300 or 1-888-305-1300.