Council approves Chamber, Questers road usage requests

The Red Oak City Council has approved road closure and road use requests from two organizations this month.
Elaine Carlson, executive director of the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association made the annual request to the Red Oak City Council for closures around Fountain Square Park June 22 through 25.
“We are asking for the city’s continued partnership in helping to facilitate a successful Junction Days weekend for the community and those who are visiting during the event,” Carlson said. “We are also requesting the approval of a liquor licenne on June 24 for the downtown beverage garden and facilities and a security presence to facilitate activities.”
The first closure was requested from 3 to 7 p.m. June 22 on Third Street between Reed Street and Coolbaugh Street for a “Show and Shine” car show.
More closures and barricades were requested for June 23, with the requested closure of Coolbaugh Street between Second Street and Fourth Street from 6 a.m. June 23 through 6 p.m. June 25.
The Chamber also requested the closure of Reed Street between Third Street and Fourth Street between 6 a.m. June 24 and 8 a.m. June 25 for the Junction Days beer garden. Carlson said set up and fencing would be put in place following the Red Oak All-Class Reunion on June 23.
Another Saturday closure was from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 24 on Reed Street, between Second Street and Third Street for Junction Days vendors, as well as a request of use of the Kolterman’s lot for vendors and seating.
From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 24, Carlson said the Chamber was requesting street barricades at Third Street and Hammond Streets, with both the east and west traffic lanes blocked. Closures were also needed between Fourth Street ad Coolbaugh Street and Fourth Street and Reed Street for downtown Junction Days activities.
“After the parade, the barricades at Third Street and Hammond Street will be moved to the south side of the intersection. We are requesting more than two barricades per street as last year we had some issues with people ignoring them and driving around,” stated Carlson.
The final closure requested was for Third Street between Hammond Street and Reed Street from 6 a.m. June 24 to 6 a.m. June 25 for downtown Junction Days activities.
Carlson also outlined the proposed route and times for the grand parade that would be held on June 24.
“Line up will begin at 8:30 a.m. along Fourth Street north of Linden Street. The class floats will line up at 8:30 a.m. beginning at the intersection of north Third Street and Linden Street and will continue north to east Cherry Street. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m., traveling west on Linden Street to north Third Street, south on north Third Street to east Coolbaugh Street, east on east Coolbaugh Street to north Fourth Street, then north on north Fourth Street and officially ending at north Fourth Street and east Hammond Street,” advised Carlson. “We are requesting the use of a police barricade at the intersections of north Third Street and Oak Street and east Corning Street for the grand parade.”
Carlson also outlined the route and schedule of the June 24 Fun Run. The five mile run was scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. and the two mile run will start at 7:35 a.m.
“The five mile route starts at Third Street and Coolbaugh Street downtown and utilizes north Fourth Street from downtown to Commerce Drive, loops around Commerce Drive and onto the Red Oak Trails all the way to the back entrance of the cemetery and continues along the south side of the cemetery until it reaches the cemetery exit where the trail segment south of the Red Oak Jr./Sr. High School begins. Once they reach north Fourth Street, runners will head back south to the finish line downtown,” commented Carlson. “The two mile route starts downtown and utilizes north Fourth Street until Alix Street, the turns around and heads back downtown. We request police assistance at the intersection of north Fourth Street and east Oak Street to help assist runners crossing the intersection.”
Carlson added they had multiple instances where police presence would be greatly appreciated.
“We’d like appearances from 8 p.m. to midnight June 23 at Stadium 34 for the Red Oak All-Class Reunion, and appearances throughout the day on June 24 downtown, but a strong presence between the hours of 8 p.m. to midnight June 24 at the Junction Days downtown beverage garden located on the concrete parking lot of Coolbaugh Street and Second Street,” Carlson said.
The council approved the Chamber’s request for street closures as presented. The street closures were also approved at last month’s meeting of the Red Oak Park and Tree Board.
Cemetery Walk
The second request was from Questers of Red Oak, which is teaming up with the Calendar Girls and the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Court of Honor to host “Stories in the Stones” from 10 a.m. to noon June 23 at the Evergreen Cemetery.
The request was for parking on the east side of Eighth Street in front of Evergreen Cemetery from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The walk is a new event to both the community and Junction Days.
The event includes a walk-through Evergreen Cemetery where participants will learn about those who helped pave the way to where the community of Red Oak is today. The walking tour would be making stops at notable grave sites, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Darwin Robert Merritt, Smith McPherson, C. Frank and Charles Wilson, Justus Clark,  D.B Miller and Joseph Junkin, Dorothy Deemer Houghton, Bertha Faunce, James Ballard, and Thomas D. Murphy.
Sharon Bradley, representing Questers of Red Oak, shared with the council that 10 of the gravesites will feature local actors.
“The actors will portray the historical figures at each site. We’ll have lunch during that time for a free will offering, and everything will be in the older section of the cemetery. It’s going to be a lot of fun. This is the first year we’re doing it. We hope to do it every year since we have a void on the Friday morning of Junction Days,” Bradley said.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for students, and kids 12 and under can make the walk for free. Bradley said the money collected will benefit the Red Oak Cemetery.
“The money goes back to the cemetery to do the tuck pointing for the entrance of the cemetery,” Bradley commented.

The event is also welcoming the family of some of the historical figures being highlighted during the walk.
“All of the Houghton family is flying in, and some of the members of the Murphy family. We’re also going to have the Red Oak Alumni coming,” stated Bradley.
Bradley said they anticipated at least 100 people to be attendance, and there were no limits to the number of people who could attend.
Tickets can be bought in advance at the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association, Valley Antiques, and the Pudgy Pumpkin Patch Gift Shoppe. Also, Bradley said tickets will still be available at the entrance.