Dinosaurs Await Permits Necessary For Transport To Their New Homes

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By Linda Kor
    The remaining three concrete dinosaurs are one step closer to their homes within the city.
    Holbrook Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Joshua Wenger is working with the Arizona Department of Transportation and Winslow Truck Repair for special compliance permits that are needed be-fore the remaining dinosaurs can be delivered to their locations at West End Park and at the north end of the city on the northwest corner near the last interchange on Navajo Blvd.
    They have been transported as far as they could go without the permits, which have left two dinosaurs at the old Northland Pioneer College campus off of Hermosa Drive and one at the northern end of Navajo Blvd.
    The permits themselves cost just $60, but the largest of the statues, the one off Navajo Blvd., may cause some difficulties. Wenger mentioned the largest of the statues requires a route survey before the Arizona Department of Transportation would approve a permit. The route survey would involve hiring a company from Phoenix to come up and drive the route to determine if it’s feasible for a statue of that height and width to be moved along the highway. If the statue is more than 20 feet wide, it will also require a Department of Public Safety escort through the city. Measurements are currently being taken to determine the necessary process.
    Wenger suggested that instead of placing it at the originally planned location, it might be better suited for placement near the airport on Navajo Blvd., which would not require the additional measures.
    Wenger also informed the chamber last weekthat the Welcome to Holbrook sign at the south end of town is now complete with petrified wood supports in place, but that the supports for the sign at the north end of town must be placed to finish the project.
    Chamber President Paul DoBell discussed the possibility of creating a media packet and perhaps sponsoring a contest in which individuals can write articles about the scenic aspects of our area, with the winners’ entries included in the packet.
    DoBell also discussed the possibility of purchasing Mylar sheets that would fit into the windows of abandoned buildings along the main street, which would depict scenes either of a historic nature or give the appearance of the building being occupied. The cost for the Mylar sheets is $3 per square foot and would improve the appearance of some of the buildings.
    In conjunction with that a “triage” is being planned for properties along the main street as well. With permission from the private property owners a cleanup is going to be put into the works with some painting and weeding as necessary, with the funds for the cleanup coming through the Main Street Program.
    Members of the chamber discussed having carnival rides and games available during Old West Days. A vender would give a portion of the fees collected to the chamber and, in turn, would have four to five rides and kids games.
    Twyla Taylor stated that the theme of the Old West Days talent show will be “Show Us What You Got,” and the format for the show is still being worked out.
    The Holbrook High School Key Club will once again be in charge of the old fashioned kids’ games.
    The cost for a sponsorship banner will be $500.