• A nine‑year‑old boy given the name Arthur Wheatley was taken in at the home of J.W. Wilson near Crowder after wandering into the town alone. He told residents that his parents operated a restaurant in Henryetta and that he had made his way from there to Crowder, a distance far too great for a child to have walked without help. It was believed he had been given several rides along the road. With no telephone at the Wilson home, the Crowder exchange relayed word to Henryetta, urging the boy’s family to claim him at once, as no child of such age should have been traveling the countryside unaccompanied.
• Evangelist Dr. D. L. Coale continued his revival meetings at the Methodist church, drawing a large and attentive crowd for a sermon on “Life’s Greatest Question” and urging listeners to consider their standing with God above all other concerns. The evening included a spirited song service with 75 children participating, a conference with the men of the church, and announcements of further meetings for the young peo- ple as daily services moved forward.
— 50 Years Ago (1976)
• Rick Thompson returned to Bob’s Clothiers after several years in Seminole, where he operated a clothing store. A 1974 graduate of the University of Oklahoma School of Business, he had previously worked at Bob’s for seven years and was regarded as a capable young clothing man. His return was welcomed by the staff, though the store expected to lose one member in June when Genevieve Sisson planned to join her husband in California.
• The Henryetta city council established admission rates for the new municipal swimming pool, scheduled to open at the end of May. Children under 12 were to be admitted for 35 cents, older patrons for 50 cents, with seasonal tickets priced at $7.50 for individuals and $20 for families. The council also heard requests to lower the speed limit on Lake Road, discussed maintenance and expansion needs for the city’s tennis courts, condemned a deteriorated building on W. Main and reviewed progress on several municipal projects, including the nearly completed sewage treatment plant and plans for a tornado warning system.
— 25 Years Ago (2001)
• Twelve-year-old Sherman Monk, a sixthgrade student at Dewar School, won the Tulsa World Okmulgee County Spelling Bee held in Wilson. He received a trophy and certificates from both the Tulsa World and the county, and his name was placed on the Dewar School marquee. His victory advanced him to the area competition in Tulsa, with the possibility of reaching the national finals in Washington, D.C.
• Facing sharply increased winter utility bills, the City of Henryetta began making improvements to reduce heating expenses in several municipal buildings. The fire department garage received insulated ceilings and new doors, and temperatures were lowered in City Hall and the Civic Center. The garage was fitted with new heaters, while the library-still heated by its original 1935 boiler- added ceiling fans to conserve warmth. December gas bills had exceeded $1,400 in multiple buildings, prompting officials to adjust operations as they prepared the upcoming budget.
— 10 Years Ago (2016)
• The McIntosh Tumblers held their home meet at Henryetta High School, earning 55 medals that included 26 first-place trophies and eight overall level championships. The event opened with a flag ceremony by Girl Scout Troop 727, and one of the tumblers, Emily Stockholm, performed the national anthem on clarinet. Coach Katie Thompson called the meet a success and praised the use of the school facilities for the competition.
• The Henryetta Middle School academic team completed a highly successful season, highlighted by winning the state Science OAAC online competition in the Mid-Level Division I. The group also claimed first place at the Preston Middle School Interscholastic meet and earned runner- up honors in the state social-studies contest. Throughout the year they collected district, regional and area academic-bowl titles, along with strong county-conference finishes for the sixthand seventh-grade teams.
