The Oklahoma Cross Country Racing Association will be using Nichols Park in October for the third time.
Henryetta city council members gave approval for the organization to hold a state-wide race here Oct. 5 through 7.
“The last time we were not happy with them,” said mayor Jennifer Mulholland at a special meeting Wednesday afternoon.
That organization will pay the city $3,000 for use of the park during those three days.
Saying the city received “Multiple complaints” about how the park looked after the two previous times OCCRA used the park, the mayor said they have been assured the group will do better.
“We have met with them (OCCRA) multiple times,” Mulholland said. “They will use the same trails Sherry and Trampas Parker have established and not tear up any others.
“They have been told that if they don’t use them they will not recommend they use it again.”
She praised the Parkers for their cleanup effort in the park after their vintage race last year.
“It brings money to the city, why not give them another shot and see if they will respect the historical monuments?”
Last year the city was to receive half of the money from the organization’s use but “that did not turn out well for us,” said the mayor. “They sent us an itemized list that, if they had to do anything, replaced a tire, they took it off the top. If they get rained out, they will still pay us $3,000 this year.”
Council members approved the recommendations from the planning and zoning board meeting Tuesday night that granted two changes in zoning and denied a third.

The arrival of QuikTrip came another step closer Tuesday evening.
Members of the Henryetta planning and zoning board approved changing the designation of part of the property purchased by QuikTrip from residential to commercial.
That property is located on the southern part of the property south of the motel covering about four acres. Two acres of that would be paved. The rest would be landscaped.
Also gaining approval was rezoning of property in the 800 Block of Meacham from R-1 residential to R-3 manufactured homes. Cody Benedict told board members he wants to move in a mobile home to replace a 70-year-old house that is requiring a lot of work. Benedict said there are three vacant lots that he owns. He said he would comply with regulations covering concrete foundations and removal of the axles.
A request to change the designation of a building on South Fourth from residential to commercial was denied. That two-story brick building is owned by Kimberly Wilmoth who said she wanted the change in order to justify investing more money into it. I’m not positive what I’m going to do with it,” she said.
Neighbors opposed the change saying there is not enough frontage for traffic and the property does not meet the setbacks.
City code enforcement officer said the building does have code violations. He pointed out a business would need 100 feet of frontage according to city ordinances. It calls for one square foot of off-street parking for each three feet of total floor space.

This weekend motorcycles from all over the nation will converge at Nichols Park in Henryetta for the second AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association) Vintage National race.
Sponsored by T&S Racing, the two-day event will feature vintage motorcycles compete on a course filled with turns, twists and jumps with riders on their motorcycles that date back 40, 50 and even 60 years.
The organization is for those motorcycles that competed both nationally and internationally in the years following World War II through the mid-1970s.
Trampas and Sherry Parker (the T&S) in the racing name, have been busy laying out the course on the north side of Nichols Park. Racing is open to the public and there will be displays of the vintage motorcycles for motorheads to see and enjoy.
Last year there were over 20 states represented and more are expected this year. Many of the racers are in their 80s and will be making appearances like teenagers, Trampas said.
The public can attend the races with ten and under admitted free. Adult admission is $10 per day.
Two motocross races Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon will be the exciting ones for the public, Sherry pointed out. There will be a special team race that will see three-person teams racing for a special gold boot. The teams have to have a combined age of 150 years old.
The race last year was voted the favorite track by AHRMA.
Oklahoma's heritage will also be featured with Indian tacos being served and a special stomp dance Friday night at the rodeo arena.
Parker is the first American to win two world championships and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. Also on hand will be four-time national Enduro champion Terri Cunningham.
He got the idea for a vintage race several years ago while watching his grandchildren play baseball. "I was looking at the park layout and thought it would be a perfect race venue.

The home of Bea and Larry Kennedy is surrounded by the September Yard of the Month. A long, spacious porch is hilighted by carefully manicured plants and fall colors setting the corner of Fifth and Elm streets off. The selection was announced Thursday by Yard of the Month committee members Ashley Morris, tara Matthews and Staci Alsover. The Kennedys received a gift basket including a $25 gift card from First Family Federal Credit Union. Nominations are being sought now for the October award.