During their Nov. 14 meeting, the Holbrook City Council welcomed 10 dedicated members of the Navajo County Sheriff’s Posse Hashknife Pony Express to receive the proclamation for next year’s ride from Holbrook to Scottsdale.
From 1860 to 1861, the US mail was delivered by men on horseback who rode from Missouri to California. Though the route lasted less than a year, it was the most successful and quickest way to communicate at the time. After the invention of the telegraph, the organization was abolished but decades later would be revived through a group of men dedicated to honoring the short lived old west historical event.
In 1958 and every year since, the Hashknife Sheriff’s Posse embarks on a three-day journey from Holbrook, through Payson that ends in Scottsdale to carry out a 62-year tradition held by the organization. As the only commemorative organization of their kind, the posse carries official mail and rides it all the way to the Scottsdale Post Office.
As part of the process the mayors of each town along the route will proclaim their town as an official Hashknife Pony Express location dedicated to celebrating the tradition on the same week. Mayor Merrill Young read the proclamation to the audience in representation of himself, Payson Mayor Tom Morrissey and Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane, all of whom declared that Feb. 3-8 is officially Hashknife Pony Express Week. For more information on the events taking place during that week, their website can be accessed at www.hashknifeponyexpress.com.
In other business, City Manager Ted Soltis gave a brief overview of changes that are planned. Soltis attended an Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System meeting in Phoenix where there was a program demonstration that offers tools which will provide the city with projections of the financial output that can be expected based on how many employees the city has, wages and other factors.
Soltis also shared that Northland Pioneer College (NPC) has designed a sign using the city’s logo for Hunt Park, Heward Park also known as West End Park and the dog park at the north end of town. On topic with parks, Barbara DeSpain was recognized by Soltis for her contribution to the Heward Park where she added new posters at the kiosk for visitors. Another contribution from NPC in the form of grates for the troughs that collect waste inside the kennels at the Holbrook Animal Control to better accommodate the animals and reduce the health risk of piled up waste was recognized by Soltis who thanked the college for their support.
Soltis also announced that Officer David Hall would be retiring after 20.5 years with the Holbrook Police Department. “Thank you for your years of service,” said Soltis.
The council approved a bid in the amount of $36,588 for the installation of new equipment on three police department vehicles to Airwave Communications for the Holbrook Police Department.
Soltis noted that due to changes made by Facebook the meeting cannot currently be streamed live but a solution is being sought.
The next council meeting, which was scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 28, will be moved to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, in the Holbrook Council Chambers.
