I just got off the phone with Ruth Trew. She and Delbert still have no electricity, and wildfires in the Texas Panhandle have burned all but 75 acres of their 2,500-acre ranch. But they and their home are safe for now, even though they're keeping an eye on another wildfire near Childress. Ruth said cattle … Continue reading Trews remain safe for now
Month: March 2006
Slide show of “Cars” characters
Score one for Becky Ransom of the Big Texan Steak Ranch. She pointed out that the USA Today interview of Pixar director John Lasseter that I reported about a few days ago came with a 14-image gallery of all the major characters in "Cars." Check them out.
Nat King Cole CD and DVD coming out in May
"(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" was written by Bobby Troup, but it was Nat King Cole's performance that made that song -- and the road -- famous. It went to No. 11 on the pop charts and No. 3 on the R&B charts in 1946. That sounds somewhat modest. But it helped cement Cole's … Continue reading Nat King Cole CD and DVD coming out in May
Bloggers hit the Mother Road
As spring approaches, more travelers start to seek adventure on the Mother Road. That includes bloggers. MatthewOU of My Take On Life drives on Route 66 from Tulsa to Oklahoma City. Storm Crypt at Unfinished Journeys hopscotched on Route 66 from Chicago to St. Louis. Both bloggers seemed to enjoy themselves.
Oklahoma Route 66 bridges may be endangered
Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry announced Tuesday that he was signing a bill into law to allocate $125 million for emergency bridge repairs. Reports are that the state in particular is targeting what are called load-posted bridges. These are bridges that are not allowed the full weight of big trucks or other large vehicles because their … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 bridges may be endangered
Panhandle wildfires update
The death toll from wildfires that struck the Texas Panhandle has risen to 11, with two missing. The fires also have killed countless livestock, as recounted by this heartbreaking article from the Amarillo Globe-News (free registration required). Davie Gipson, one of the volunteers at the Devils Rope Museum in McLean, told me on the phone … Continue reading Panhandle wildfires update
New Route 66 map is published
Here's a story about the creation of the "Route 66 Greatest Hits Map" by Dave Brackney and photographer Todd Masinter. The map pays tribute to the 80th anniversary of Route 66, according to the Pasadena Star-News. "The face we are putting forward here is not the face of one-size-fits-all corporate America, with Targets, Wal-Marts and … Continue reading New Route 66 map is published
Third-penny tax includes funds to Route 66 museum
I would have posted this earlier, except I had to verify a few things about it. Here's the skinny: The Tulsa City Council last week passed two third-penny sales-tax-extension questions for a May 9 election. One is for $459 million in capital improvements; the other is $4.3 million for improvements toTulsa International Airport. The news … Continue reading Third-penny tax includes funds to Route 66 museum
Central Avenue chowdown
Eckleburg & Grumblecake have updated their I8Route66 Web site with three reviews of restaurants along Albuquerque's Central Avenue, aka Route 66. Their goal is to review every Central Avenue eatery in 2006. The new reviews are the 66 Diner (8.0 rating out of 10), Loyola's (6.5 rating) and Bob's Fish & Chips (4.5 rating).
Massive wildfires burn Texas Panhandle
This is really bad. Huge wildfires fanned by a lengthy drought and high winds have killed at least six people, closed long stretches of Interstate 40, burned homes and forced the mandatory evacuation of the Route 66 town of McLean. One of the big wildfires started near the Route 66 town of Groom. The fires … Continue reading Massive wildfires burn Texas Panhandle