At the urging of several local organizations, Farrell City Council is considering changing the name of Broadway to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Council last month discussed renaming Idaho Street after the famous civil rights leader but Monday Mayor William Morocco said he received a letter from the Shenango Valley Ministerial Association suggesting Farrell, along with Hermitage, Wheatland and Sharon consider renaming the stretch of state Route 60 that runs through their communities.

Route 60 is known as Broadway Avenue in Hermitage and Wheatland and Dock Street in Sharon. In Farrell, it's just Broadway.

Morocco said renaming the entire stretch of road would be more representative of the Shenango Valley.

Councilwoman Helen Marenchin said she supports renaming Broadway and had planned to make the suggestion herself. She said for a man of such stature as Martin Luther King Jr. a street larger than Idaho should be renamed.

"I think he deserves the respect of all four communities," Mrs. Marenchin said.

Councilwoman Rev. Jeanette Wright-Hooks said she too supports renaming Broadway. She stressed there was only discussion of renaming Idaho and no decision was made.

The local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People also sent a letter to the city of Farrell in support of renaming Idaho.

Rev. Wright-Hooks said she thinks the NAACP would be in favor of renaming Broadway, and the letter was meant to reaffirm council's discussion.

Councilman Lou Falconi suggested Morocco get in touch with all involved parties to make sure everyone is on the same page. "I don't want to see an issue become another issue," he said.

It was also unclear if the letter from the ministerial association was sent to all four communities or just Farrell.

The road was renamed once before to recognize someone who had an influence on the Shenango Valley. For years it was called Victor Posner Boulevard, honoring the since-disgraced, former Sharon Steel boss.