BENTON -- Members of a community group in Morley are making plans to raise funds for and build a new war memorial in Scott County.
During Thursday's regular commission meeting Wade Amelung, president of Citizens for a Better Community of Morley, asked commissioners for their support in raising funds and working with economic development to erect a civil war memorial in the Old Morley Cemetery on the north side of town.
"We have a lot of Union and Civil War soldiers buried there," Amelung said, noting some stones date back to the 1840s and 1850s. "There's a lot of history out there."
Commissioners encouraged the effort.
"I don't think there's anybody in this community who would have any problem helping you in any way we can," said Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn. "We're honored you came to us."
Commissioner Ron McCormick said he talked to Morley's mayor at the Boutwell Memorial dedication in Morley last week, honoring three brothers who lived in Morley and served in the Civil War. McCormick said he was "very impressed," with the initiative, especially that residents were trained to properly fix the headstones.
The commissioners also offered advice for raising the necessary funds, as well as asked County Developer Joel Evans to help, including securing grants. "People are willing to give money to benefit projects like this," Evans said.
For instance, the Scott County War memorial was completely funded by donations, ranging from $5 to $1,000 gifts, Evans said. Ziegenhorn also suggested the committee sell items such as benches, trees and bricks, such as what was done to fund the Veteran's Park in Sikeston.
Evans noted the relevance of such a memorial and the location. "Scott County has a rich Civil War history, and I think we should preserve that history and capitalize on it as well," he said. "In the Morley Cemetery, northern and southern victims lie side by side."
Amelung said the memorial is in its early planning stages, but he and other members hope it will be done within the next year and a half.
In other news at Thursday's meeting:
* Commission members said they hope to get the county memorial back in working condition by Memorial Day. Due to a leak, it isn't working, but maintenance is seeking a temporary fix.
"It would be nice if we had that fixed and available for the city of Benton to use if it so chooses," McCormick said.
* Evans informed commissioners of two grants he is working on. The first is for phase two of the Cybercrimes grant, which would pay for personnel and computer hardware. The second, which Evans described as "just in its infancy," is called Secure our Schools, and would likely pay for training related to school safety. Evans said he'd like to hold a countywide workshop if the funds were granted.
"I think it would be a good way to bring the county together by including all the schools," he said.