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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 1.0in" class=MsoNormal><?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape style="Z-INDEX: -1; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN-TOP: -0.7pt; WIDTH: 40.7pt; HEIGHT: 65.9pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; mso-position-horizontal: left" id=_x0000_s1026 wrapcoords="-322 0 -322 21402 21600 21402 21600 0 -322 0" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="bw_shield_wordmark" src="cid:LAOLKEBIIGKW.clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata><?xml:namespace prefix = w ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" /><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></v:shape><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Cemetery Commission Releases Position Paper<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries (OCHC) released today a new position paper regarding unstable markers and other cemetery features. The paper is a response to several recent, national stories of injuries and deaths in cemeteries. </FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">The first purpose of this paper is to remind cemetery visitors to use caution. The second is to offer suggestions to family members, cemetery caretakers and volunteers on how to address this problem. The OCHC has released several </FONT><A href="http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/OCHC/OCHC_Tech_Support_.shtml"><FONT color=#800080 size=3 face="Times New Roman">position papers</FONT></A><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"> and </FONT><A href="http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/OCHC/OCHC_Tech_Support_.shtml"><FONT color=#800080 size=3 face="Times New Roman">Heritage Bulletins</FONT></A><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"> for the care and preservation of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>’s historic cemeteries. The commission also offers annual marker repair trainings and </FONT><A href="http://www.oregonheritage.org/OPRD/HCD/FINASST/grants.shtml"><FONT color=#800080 size=3 face="Times New Roman">grants for training and repair</FONT></A><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">. </FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">State law established the seven-member commission to maintain a listing of all historic cemeteries and gravesites in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>; promote public education on the significance of historic cemeteries; and help obtain financial and technical assistance for restoring, improving and maintaining their appearances. To read the paper or to get more information on historic cemeteries visit </FONT><A href="http://www.oregonheritage.org/"><FONT color=#800080 size=3 face="Times New Roman">www.oregonheritage.org</FONT></A><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"> or contact Kuri Gill at </FONT><A href="mailto:Kuri.Gill@state.or.us"><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">Kuri.Gill@state.or.us</FONT></A><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"> or 503-986-0685.</FONT></P>
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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Poor Richard">Kuri Gill</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Poor Richard">Oregon Heritage</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Times New Roman">725 Summer St. NE, Suite C</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Times New Roman">Salem, OR 97301-1266</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Times New Roman">(503) 986-0685</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Times New Roman">(503) 986-0793 (fax)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Times New Roman"><A href="mailto:kuri.gill@state.or.us">kuri.gill@state.or.us</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c8e0d8" face="Times New Roman"><A href="http://www.oregonheritage.org/">www.oregonheritage.org</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>