The article headlined "Officials search for cemetery", was listed February 5, 2003 in the Washington Time-Reporter, which is a weekly newspaper in Tazewell Co., IL. It appears, some land developers have purchased 130 acre tract of land located between Centennial Drive and U.S. Route 24 in East Peoria, IL., of which was annexed into the city of East Peoria, IL January 21, 2003. The developers intend to construct 300 new homes in the southern portion of the property. The Northeast corner of property has been slotted for commercial development. However, Tazewell County Historical Places have stepped in stating, an unregistered burial site from the 1800's, Keil Cemetery, may be located in a spot slotted for the development. In 1989, the State of Illinois, however, passed the Human Grave Protection Act, a law that forbids the disturbance of human skeletal remains and grave markers in unregistered cemeteries. They also believe, the grave markers have been moved, as they found some under a tree. I know probably some of you know of this law, but thought, I would forwarded it, to the people that don't. My opinion, I think this is a wonderful thing the Tazewell Co. Historical is doing to preserve our ancestors. I feel all Historical Societies should be on top of new development to prevent this kind of thing from happening. They further stated, if there is a question as to a cemetery, they ask that a phase-on archeological survey be done. The IHPA is a state agency which protects historic sites, including old, registered and unregistered cemeteries. If a cemetery is located, then the landowner must develop around the property or exhume the bodies and then notify next of kin. If there is no next of kin, the remains will be sent to a university for study or they will go to the Illinois State Museum. Linda Holmes White