Looking around Henryetta this week, there are a lot of changes going on that are modifying the town.
After weeks of work clearing out brush and debris in Coal Creek, the east end of Main Street is now much more visible and inviting to motorists along US 75. That work is being highlighted with a new coat of paint on the East Trudgeon bridge superstructure. A primer coat was first applied and will be followed up with a permanent covering.
Looking further on East Main, demolition of the Colonian motel and restaurant has started. New owner Doug Wadley has had workers clearing out the motel room fixtures and removing the building from the site. That demolition project is expected to continue for a couple more months then a new business will be taking its place.
In the downtown area, the Creek Nation Reintegration program has crews repainting the parking spaces on the side streets. They began on Third and will continue through the business district.
At the same time those workers are busy, construction work has begun on the Reintegration Program expansion. Dirt is being bulldozed away in preparation for the start of building the multi-million dollar site that will include classrooms and dormitories.