An anticipated marijuana dispensary called Glenrio Smoke Stop opened last week in the Route 66 ghost town of Glenrio in New Mexico just a few yards west of Texas, where pot remains illegal. I packed a lot of details in the Quay County Sun (my day job) about the first new business in the town … Continue reading Marijuana dispensary opens in Glenrio, just west of Texas where pot is illegal
Tag: The Grapes of Wrath
Charlie Nixon, a native of Glenrio who was interviewed in documentary, dies at 89
Charlie Nixon, a native of Glenrio at the Texas-New Mexico border who was interviewed in a documentary about the Route 66 ghost town, died on New Year's Eve in nearby Vega, Texas. He was 89. If you have a few minutes, read the colorful obituary on Nixon's life. It's apparent he enjoyed his time on … Continue reading Charlie Nixon, a native of Glenrio who was interviewed in documentary, dies at 89
$22M federal grant will reconstruct Pony Bridge near Bridgeport
The U.S. Department of Transportation has given Oklahoma a $22 million grant to help rehab and reconstruct the historic Pony Bridge near Bridgeport, which includes keeping its distinctive yellow trusses. The Oklahoman newspaper in Oklahoma City reports: “The investment made by the U.S. Department of Transportation to help restore and upgrade Bridgeport Bridge is welcomed … Continue reading $22M federal grant will reconstruct Pony Bridge near Bridgeport
End of an era: Final Dust Bowl Festival held at Weedpatch Camp
Weedpatch Camp, immortalized by John Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath," recently held its 30th and last Dust Bowl Festival on the outskirts of Bakersfield, California. Simply put, the festival is being shut down because the survivors of that calamity have gotten too old to run it. A local television station did a preview about … Continue reading End of an era: Final Dust Bowl Festival held at Weedpatch Camp
“The Bikes of Wrath” traces the Joads’ journey down Route 66
A new documentary, "The Bikes of Wrath," contains an intriguing premise -- five Australians on bicycles trace the path of the Joad family in the John Steinbeck novel "The Grapes of Wrath." PEZ Cycling News reports: The five Australian friends range in age from 24 to 35 and are a diverse lot: two were raised … Continue reading “The Bikes of Wrath” traces the Joads’ journey down Route 66
Man injured trying to rescue turtle on Route 66
A man suffered injuries Sunday while trying to move a turtle on Route 66 near Claremore, Oklahoma. The Tulsa World reported: Phillip Smith, 79, of Claremore, stopped his vehicle around 9:45 a.m. on Oklahoma 66, less than 2 miles north of Claremore, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol report. Smith was attempting to “save a … Continue reading Man injured trying to rescue turtle on Route 66
Happy 90th birthday, Route 66!
Today -- which also happens to be Veterans Day -- marks the 90th birthday of the official existence of U.S. Highway 66, better known as Route 66. Nov. 11, 1926, was the day the American Association of State Highway Officials formally adopted the 2,448-mile path from Chicago to Los Angeles and number for U.S. Highway … Continue reading Happy 90th birthday, Route 66!
The ghosts of Tom Joad
Below the new and idyllic Route 66 Roadside Park in Springfield, Missouri, a campground for the homeless has sprung up in recent months. KYTV in Springfield talked to Heather Cooper, one of the homeless there: "I have post traumatic stress disorder with traumatic nightmares. I've got stage one bipolar, stage one manic depressive illness, which is … Continue reading The ghosts of Tom Joad
Filmmaker is shooting documentary about “The Grapes of Wrath”
Filmmaker P.J. Palmer of (twenty)2 films is making a documentary movie about John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" novel after acquiring official rights from the Steinbeck estate, according to a news release. The new documentary "The Grapes of Wrath: We Shall Overcome" began filming in New York City last month interviewing James Franco, who is currently … Continue reading Filmmaker is shooting documentary about “The Grapes of Wrath”
Book review: “On Reading The Grapes of Wrath”
I have bad news and good news about Susan Shillinglaw's "On Reading The Grapes of Wrath," a behind-the-scenes look on the writing and marketing of John Steinbeck's classic and controversial novel that marks its 75th anniversary this year. The bad news is Shillinglaw's book (paperback, 206 pages, Penguin) delves very little into the Joad family's journey on Route 66 ("the road … Continue reading Book review: “On Reading The Grapes of Wrath”