Over the past couple of years we have noticed a sizeable increase in the number of people walking and driving the grounds of the Jacksonville Cemetery in search of mushrooms. Unfortunately this has lead to a series of problems that must be addressed and we ask for your cooperation and understanding. We know that the majority of people behave in a responsible manner, however many others do not.

Some of the issues include people parking in the roadways and preventing other traffic from passing, parking on top of grave sites, damage to head stones and grave site curbing, walking over graves, children left unattended running through the grounds and climbing on headstones and monuments, loud radios playing and an overall lack of respect for the cemetery grounds, those who rest within the grounds and those who may be visiting.

While the Cemetery Commission has been considering banning mushroom hunting and/or requiring a City issued permit in order to pick mushrooms in the cemetery grounds, we have decided to first ask for your cooperation in resolving the matter.

Please be aware and pay attention to the following rules:

Picking for commercial use is prohibited.

  • Park only in designated areas, around the traffic circle at the top of the Cemetery Road, by the restrooms, and behind the black metal bollards that indicate a parking spot.
  • Do not drive around the grounds looking for mushrooms, walk and prevent our cemetery fixtures from being hit and damaged.
  • Use walkways and roadways and do not walk over grave sites.
  • Supervise children and do not allow them to go unattended. Remember this is a cemetery and not a playground.
  • Keep noise level down out of respect to those who may be visiting the graves of loved ones.
  • If a notice is posted at the entrance gate that the cemetery grounds are closed for a funeral service, please honor and respect that notice.

We sincerely appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us to resolve this problem and from the Commission having to take further and stronger actions in the future.

Please advise Cemetery Sexton Richard Shields of any issues or concerns that you may encounter or observe. If possible, please get a license plate number and/or description of the vehicle that the individual is driving. Richard can be reached by calling 541-899-1231 or the Jacksonville Police Department at 541- 899-7100. After hours and on weekends Police Dispatch at 541-776-7206.

Thank you for your understanding and anticipated cooperation.

Jacksonville Cemetery Commission Representatives: Joyce Athanas – Improved Order of Red Men, Bill Anderson – Catholic Section, Mike McClain – City Council Liaison, K.C. Carr and Alternate -Jim Simpson – IOOF, Jeff Levin – Masonic, Richard Shields – Cemetery Sexton, Dirk Siedlecki – City, Johan Visser – Jewish