A few things to move off my plate: --- One of the beneficiaries of federal stimulus package passed earlier this year is a Route 66 bicycle trail in Illinois. According to an Associated Press report, $25,000 in such funds will be used to build a four-way stop signal at an intersection for the Route 66 … Continue reading Notes from the road
Author: Ron Warnick
I'm the editor and publisher of Route 66 News, a clearinghouse of events, information, and entertainment pertaining to historic U.S. 66, the Mother Road.
Route 66 guidebook in the works
Tucked into this story from the Carthage (Mo.) Press about a Jasper County board meeting was this: In other business, Gerry “Ringo” Meyer, Shawnee, Kan., spoke with the commissioners about the county buying advertising space and getting involved in a travelogue his company was putting together about Route 66. He described “Keeping You on the … Continue reading Route 66 guidebook in the works
Another critic of “Great American Road Trip”
I got this e-mail today from Kathleen Miller, a longtime member of the Illinois Route 66 Association and co-editor of the association's The 66 News magazine: Is the Great American Road Trip on Route 66 really that great? Over the past two weeks NBC broadcast a television show called “The Great American Road Trip.” They … Continue reading Another critic of “Great American Road Trip”
Problems with DVDs reported in “Route 66” set
It looks like another botched rollout for the DVDs of the original "Route 66" television series. TVShowsOnDVD.com reports that an exclusive early release of the Season 3 of "Route 66" by Best Buy has playback problems. The site reports: We've received numerous complaints that discs 5-8 will not play in a DVD, and thanks to … Continue reading Problems with DVDs reported in “Route 66” set
Marathon will still be on Mother Road
In December 2008, the Joplin (Mo.) Visitors and Convention Bureau announced with much fanfare that it would organize a Mother Road Marathon footrace on Route 66 from Miami, Okla., through Kansas and to Joplin, to be run in October 2009. Citing a weak economy and problems with certifying the race, organizers announced in February that … Continue reading Marathon will still be on Mother Road
Mother Road couple to mark 70 years of marriage
Gene and Clara Hodkin of Barstow, Calif., will observe their 70th wedding anniversary on Saturday, reports the Contra Costa Times. And their history goes up and down the Mother Road. Gene, 93, and Clara, 87, were childhood sweethearts when they were married just before midnight by a justice of the peace in Carthage, Mo., where … Continue reading Mother Road couple to mark 70 years of marriage
Hail Hale
You usually don't hear the word "toughness" in descriptions of professional golfers. But Hale Irwin is an exception. Phil Richards of the Indianapolis Star talks about Irwin's background: Hale Irwin grew up playing Baxter Springs Country Club, which was anything but the exclusive playground its name implies. Irwin's home course in Kansas was a nine-hole … Continue reading Hail Hale
They’re Cozy Dogs, not corn dogs
Dave Bakke of the Springfield (Ill.) Journal-Register explains that in Springfield, you order "cozy dogs," not corn dogs at the Cozy Dog Drive-In on Route 66 in south Springfield. “We usually give them funny looks when they say (corn dog),” says the Cozy Dog’s Sue Waldmire. The newspaper decided to do an update about the … Continue reading They’re Cozy Dogs, not corn dogs
Portrait of a Route 66 advocate
The Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner has a good story about Route 66 aficionado Jim Hinckley and his efforts to kick-start more Route 66 tourism in Kingman -- efforts which seem to be finally bearing fruit. The Kingman Route 66 Association recently reformed, and Kingman's historic downtown is being revitalized. He's been doing his part by … Continue reading Portrait of a Route 66 advocate
“Oklahoma Hills”
Here's the late, great Hank Thompson performing a song that warms the hearts of Okies everywhere.