Santa Rosa newspaper soon will change hands

The Guadalupe County Communicator, a weekly newspaper based in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, that caught nationwide attention in 2009 when a well-known, laid-off veteran journalist bought it, soon will turn over the office keys to another veteran journalist. Communicator owner and publisher M.E. Sprengelmeyer made the announcement during his  "From the Publisher" column in the … Continue reading Santa Rosa newspaper soon will change hands

The story behind the rise of The Road Crew

Bandleader Joe Loesch recently uploaded a series of four videos about the genesis of The Road Crew, a quartet that's written a slew of Route 66-related songs and performed at Route 66 events and festivals. It's fascinating, because the videos show Loesch's roots with the Mother Road are deeper than you might expect, dating all … Continue reading The story behind the rise of The Road Crew

Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame needs nominees for 2018

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is taking nominations for its biennial Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame. Every two years, the association honors two people -- one living and one deceased -- for the Hall of Fame. The 2018 ceremony will be April 28 at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. This information is … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame needs nominees for 2018

Michael and Suzanne Wallis honored by Tulsa Global Alliance

The Tulsa Global Alliance last week honored residents Michael and Suzanne Wallis for their decades of work promoting and contributing to the preservation of Route 66. The alliance's Global Vision Awards event's theme was "Route 66: Where the World Meets America." The Wallises were lauded for their 'outstanding contribution to Citizen Diplomacy." The author of 18 … Continue reading Michael and Suzanne Wallis honored by Tulsa Global Alliance

Butch Breger, longtime caretaker of the Round Barn of Arcadia, dies

Ernest Lee "Butch" Breger, longtime caretaker of the historic Round Barn in Arcadia, Oklahoma, died Tuesday at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. He was 74. Breger also was part of the original Over the Hill Gang that helped restore the dilapidated Round Barn during the 1980s and '90s. One local told me Breger was the … Continue reading Butch Breger, longtime caretaker of the Round Barn of Arcadia, dies

David Clark to lead Chicagoland tour after Miles of Possibility conference

David Clark, aka the Windy City Road Warrior, on Saturday will lead InSites to Go's Saturday Night Sunset tour on Route 66 between Joliet, Illinois, and Chicago after the Route 66 Miles of Possibility conference in Joliet concludes. According to a news release from InSites to Go, which is a Chicago-based tour agency: The tour features … Continue reading David Clark to lead Chicagoland tour after Miles of Possibility conference

Michael Wallis inducted to Circle Cinema Walk of Fame

Michael Wallis, author of the best-selling "Route 66: The Mother Road" and the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs in the Disney-Pixar "Cars" movies, recently was inducted into the Walk of Fame at the Circle Cinema in Tulsa. Wallis received a medallion embedded on the sidewalk in front of the historic theater, which opened … Continue reading Michael Wallis inducted to Circle Cinema Walk of Fame

Charley’s Automotive Service in Grants named to National Register

The long-closed Charley's Automotive Service building along Route 66 in Grants, New Mexico, was named to the National Register of Historic Places. The designation became effective Oct. 4, according to a recent email from the National Park Service. The station is at 1308-1310 W. Santa Fe Ave. (aka Route 66). The New Mexico Historic Preservation … Continue reading Charley’s Automotive Service in Grants named to National Register

Tom Petty, R.I.P.

Word came down late Monday that rock 'n' roll legend Tom Petty died after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Southern California home. He was 66. I'll let others wax poetic about his marvelous career, including one of my favorite music writers at the Chicago Tribune. But it's almost a given Tom Petty and his … Continue reading Tom Petty, R.I.P.

A running holiday on Route 66

Salomon TV recently uploaded this well-produced video of ultra-marathon runner Max King taking what he described as a "running holiday" on Route 66 in California, Arizona and New Mexico. Salomon TV describes itself as providing "the best outdoor content, directly to you. Get inspired and see the stories of our athletes and friends around the world. … Continue reading A running holiday on Route 66