Mc Elvain Cemetery bees to get new home in Alto Pass

<pre class="aLF-aPX-K0-aPE aLF-aPX-aLK-ayr-auR">In its early history, Perry County was mainly an inland pioneer outpost. Early settlers, including some Revolutionary War veterans bearing land grants, moved here from the Eastern United States.

You won't know these names, but their stories are at the heart of our freedom as Americans, some of them buried in the historic McElvain cemetery just off Rt. 152 west of Du Quoin. It is arguably one of the oldest cemeteries in Perry County. Lewis Wells, perhaps the most recognizable local name associated with the Revolutionary War is buried in McElvain Cemetery. His family is from South Carolina. He served in the war, retired to Perry County and is the most notable of those buried among the great Perry County families in that cemetery.

The trustees and caretakers of the storied cemetery are getting older, one in her 20s, most of them in their 60s and some in their 80s, but they will assemble again on Saturday, April 2 for another spring work day.

Before that happens, work began on Monday to relocate a very large hive of honey bees that for the past several years have taken up residency in a 60-foot tall cedar tree that Jackie Mills of Du Quoin thinks may date back more than a century..

On warm summer days, the bees have gone beyond being an annoyance. As protectors at McElvain they have been known to chase visitors who come only to lay flowers on a grave during Memorial Day weekend or during the infrequent burials held there.

Honey bees are protected in Illinois and it takes some specialized skills to relocate them. Particularly to evict them from a 60-foot tall cedar. That's why friends of the cemetery called upon arborist Ryan Pankau of Alto Pass to saw down the storm-damaged cedar so that it fell in such a way that the bees could be removed from the tree and relocated to their new home in Alto Pass south of Murphysboro.

Once the work was done to trim the large branches off, cut the tree trunk apart to be able to get to the bees, the removal and relocation process began on Tuesday.

Those involved include Larry, Colin and Angie Kuehl and 5-year-old Draedyn Castrejon, who arrived at the cemetery suited up in his protective beekeeper's suit.

Jackie said the trunk had nails in it from signs posted on the trees over the decades, so a sawmill won't take the large pieces for cedar boards.

But, Jackie said local woodworkers are welcome to the cedar once the work to relocate the bees has been accomplished. You can reach her at (618) 571-4833.

Friends of the cemetery would also appreciate any help during the work day on Saturday, April 2.</pre>