Vandals strike cemetery

Six headstones were overturned and 10 other plots vandalized in the Lappe Cemetery over the weekend.

An area resident contacted the Thunder Bay OPP early Saturday morning alerting them of the damage to the cemetery on Highway 589 in Gorham Township.

"Upon arrival an officer observed six headstones had been overturned and 10 of the plots that had some ornaments, they had been damaged, smashed," said Private-Const. Diana Cole, adding that garbage had also been strewn about the grounds.

The value of the damages is about $500, but to the community, the vandalism has a much higher emotional cost.

"It’s devastating for the families that have to witness what has happened to the headstones and the plots of their loved ones as well as to the community that lives out there and has to witness what has happened," she said.

The police have no suspects at this time and are asking anyone with information on this incident to contact the OPP or Crime Stoppers.