Local/Area News
Rodeo committee head Mark Hiatt said the existing bucking chutes, “are worn out,” and presented some problems during the rodeo this past weekend.
The plan calls for four new all steel chutes and gates and would replace the six currently in use. That would also entail the addition of a folding walkway behind the chutes for stock workers and five gates to more efficiently move the stock.
The project, including removal of the existing chutes, welding and dirt work is projected to be $28,700.
That work would also be an enhancement for the upcoming Labor Day rodeo which, for the first time, would be sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PCRA).
“The impact of being sanctioned by the PRCA is a big deal,” he told HEDA members. “It gets us to the level of rodeo that Jim Shoulders would be in. Terry Don West won two of his world championships in the PCRA.”
That PRCA sanction would also allow the rodeo to have access to major corporate sponsors adding to the money available to pay contestants. Because there wold be more money available, Hiatt said the number and quality of rodeo contestants would be improved. “If we have a better event, we provide fans with more entertainment for their dollar.”
He pointed out that Henryetta and Oklahoma is part of the PRCA Prarie circuit but, because of the location, would also be drawing contestants from the Southeast and Texas circuits. “We will be getting NFR qualifiers for our rodeo,” he added.
Even though the rodeos are conducted through the Henryetta Chamber of Commerce, the arena and all the facilities at Nichols Park belong to the city of Henryetta. Since the rodeos began over 25 years ago, the chamber has made a number of improvements ranging from lighting to work on the stock pens and added new bleachers this past year.
Hiatt projected the PRCA sanction would attract more people to town to participate in and watch the rodeos. “They, in theory, will spend money for gas and at the restaurants.”
Unanimously approved by the HEDA members, the request will be going before the city council at the June 18 meeting.
Riders started June 9 in Hugo and will finish up in Sedan, Kansas Saturday. Henryetta’s portion of the ride will see the bikers nearing the end of day three pedaling from Warner to Okemah, a distance of 69 miles. When the ride is completed Saturday, the participants will have covered 432 miles in all.The annual event started in 1979 and has grown to nearly 1,000 riders. They will be covering between 50 to 75 miles each day.
While the riders provide pedal power to get from one camping site to the next, their gear is transported in a semi. In each overnight community, the riders can rest, clean up and are often provided with local entertainment. Henryetta was a host to the riders several years ago.
The route is marked in yellow along the highway surface. From Warner, the riders will be using US 266 to Arbeka Road then turning west on Holly Road and going through downtown Henryetta. The meet up with the old US 62 and follow it to Okemah where they will stay at the fairgrounds.
The more ambitious riders have an option of turning north just past Pharoah and riding a special “century” route that will cover some 50 more miles through part of Okfuskee County before coming back to the highway. After leaving Okemah, they head to Drumright then to Pawhuska before the final push to Kansas.
The 2019 edition of the Henryetta Chamber of Commerce Jim Shoulders Roundup Rodeo featured lots of action, spills and thrills Friday and Saturday night.
One of the main attractions Friday was the appearance of Arley the Cowman who capped off the evening with his intense but albeit, too short bull ride.
Chamber executive director Roy Madden said the two nights of the rodeo featured some of the best performances by the cowboys and cowgirls todate.
Arley the Cowman's ride:
A former Okmulgee County resident has started a project to honor all the servicemen and women who have fallen in battle since World War One.
Thomas Payne said he has seen similar monuments around the state but was dismayed to find none exist at the Okmulgee County court house.
He said he has met with county commissioners who gave him unanimous approval to set a monument on the west side of the building. The only problem is, it will have to be built with private funds.
To accomplish that, Payne, who now lives in Tulsa, has started a fundraising effort
“This is going to take us about $60,000 to $65,000,”he said.
He has the list of names of those service members who would be placed on the rose granite monument. There will be over 200 names on that memorial when finished. “I think that would be a moving tribute to the men who died,” he said.
Anyone wishing to donate can send the donations to:
Okmulgee County Veterans Memorial c/o Thomas Payne, 9920 S. Louisville Ave., Tulsa, OK 74137.
He has also set up a GoFundMe page that can be reached at: www.gofundme.com/okmulgee-county-war-memorial
Lots of greenery, flowers and a comfortable covered patio to entertain friends made the selection of the Bill and Verna Goodner home a perfect Yard of the Month selection. The Goodners were presented with a gift basket from First Family Federal Credit Union this week. With them are Yard of the Month committee members Staci Alsover, Tara Matthews and Ashley Green. To nominate a yard for the July selection, download the form here: {phocadownload view=file|id=44|target=s}