Nearly a year ago five Henryetta teens were murdered in a shocking event that stirred the hearts of all Oklahoma.
Those five, Rylee Allen, Tiffany Guess, Michael Mayo, Ivy Webster and Brittany Brewer, will be remembered May 5 with a special motorcycle memorial ride in Henryetta.
At the city council meeting Tuesday, Nathan Brewer requested the use of Nichols Park as a staging area for an expected 3,500 motorcycles. He said the ride will start at noon from the ball field parking lot. It will come to town then down Main Street to East Trudgeon then riders will go east on Holly Road. That will take them past the house and land where the murders took place.
He said riders will start checking in at 10 a.m. then the ride will begin at noon. “It’s a come and go event. We are expecting around 7,000 people.”
Brewer said food trucks, vendors and live music will be held at the park.
Council members approved the use of the park but expressed concern over the traffic congestion that many riders may cause at the intersection of Main and Lake Road. Police chief Steve Norman suggested using traffic cones to block off the outside traffic lane allowing the riders to turn onto Main unimpeded.
From Holly Road, riders will turn north on Arbeka Road to US 266 then back through Dewar to Frisco. They will go down Trudgeon to Ninth then out Main Street to Dewey Bartlett, turning onto US 62 and back to Main eventually going back to Nichols Park.
The city council also approved Josh Craig to hold a disc golf tournament the Day before, Saturday, May 4.
A suggested ordinance prohibiting hunting within the city limits will be reviewed and rewritten. The ordinance banned any hunting on city property as well but it was pointed out that Jim Hall Lake is used by duck hunters.
Another special event, the annual First Family Federal Credit Union car and bike show, was given permission to be held on Main Street. First Family CEO Dvid Dykes said the car show will be held Aug. 31 and is expected to have more vehicles on hand. He said the show was moved from Nichols Park after some auto enthusiasts said they did not like parking their vehicles on grassy surfaces. Last year some 120 participants entered the show and more are expected this year.
Dykes pointed out that the show on Saturday will benefit the town through people being able to shop in local stores.
In other council business, Grass Grabbers was awarded the contract to mow all city parks as well as overgrown lots cited by the city.
A request to place a mobile home on a lot near the intersection of Northeast first and John was approved. The city planing and zoning commission approved rezoning the area to allow manufactured homes to be placed there.
City manager David Bullard said the owner would place the mobile home on a permanent foundation.
Council members approved spending $343,735 for a new trash truck. The truck would be financed through First Family Federal for 72 months. The credit unit was the low bidder with a 5.30 percent interest rate.
Also gaining approval was the withdrawal of a lump sum pension payment for Ray Kissee. He has been with he city for 44 years.