Apr 12, 2021
There might be a chance Riverside Cemetery could get some help from FEMA for paying for derecho-related damages.
After the Times-Republican covered the denial on April 8, Riverside Cemetery General Manager Dorie Tammen received a call from the Iowa Homeland Security office, explaining why the cemetery was denied funding. She said he told her there might be a chance to appeal and reverse the decision if Riverside could prove the value of the historical location as something more than just a cemetery.
Tammen posted on the Riverside Facebook page asking for people to send letters about their experiences in the cemetery fishing in the pond, feeding the birds, going for walks and on picnics, sitting in the infamous Death Chair and more – to prove Riverside is more like a city park.
Apr 9, 2021
T-R PHOTOS BY LANA BRADSTREAM Riverside Cemetery General Manager Dorie Tammen reads the rejection letter received from FEMA. Initially, the cemetery was approved for funds to help pay for derecho damage, but the federal agency then switched.
The historic Riverside Cemetery is having a hard time catching a break. They did get approved for a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Marshall County, but then got denied for Federal Emergency Management Agency funding.
The denial came as a surprise to Riverside General Manager Dorie Tammen, especially when they were approved in December.
“The next thing I knew, we got a letter saying we were denied,” she said. “I was crushed. And it was because non-profit cemeteries are specifically excluded from the list of non-profit organizations that can receive funding. Why? I have no idea.”
lbradstream@timesrepublican.com
T-R PHOTOS BY LANA BRADSTREAM Riverside Cemetery General Manager Dorie Tammen reads the rejection letter received from FEMA. Initially, the cemetery was approved for funds to help pay for derecho damage, but the federal agency then switched.
The historic Riverside Cemetery is having a hard time catching a break. They did get approved for a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Marshall County, but then got denied for Federal Emergency Management Agency funding.
The denial came as a surprise to Riverside General Manager Dorie Tammen, especially when they were approved in December.
“The next thing I knew, we got a letter saying we were denied,” she said. “I was crushed. And it was because non-profit cemeteries are specifically excluded from the list of non-profit organizations that can receive funding. Why? I have no idea.”