The City of Pembroke won’t have to pay for repairing 40 vandalized tomb stones at Rosedale Cemetery after a local business offered to write the check this week.

Pembroke City Clerk Holly Stokes says Maddux Funeral Home called Tuesday morning and offered to pay the entire $1,880 bill.

Ms. Stokes says the city and families impacted by the vandalism are more than grateful for the funeral home’s gesture of kindness.

Hopkinsville Monument Company was awarded the contract Monday evening to make the repairs and Ms. Stokes says work could begin next week.

The Christian County Sheriff’s Office arrested 19-year old Phillip Boyd Walker and 20-year old James Robert Russell of Pembroke and 19-year old George Hill of Hopkinsville less than three days after the vandalism. All three were charged with 40 counts of violating a gravesite, one count of theft by deception, criminal mischief and unlawful transaction with a minor under the age of 16.

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03/06/2013/am