Today closed a chapter in the tragic story of the Joplin tornado. Gov. Jay Nixon announced that all of the missing people from the May 22 twister had been accounted for, and that the final death toll stood at 134. The Springfield News-Leader reported: The total of 134 includes 124 people on the unaccounted for … Continue reading Joplin tornado, continued
Category: Sports
Students help design Mickey Mantle projects
Students from Oklahoma State University helped design what will be called Mickey Mantle Monument Park and other related projects in the Route 66 town of Commerce, Okla., where Mantle grew up, according to a story in the Tulsa World. A 9-foot-tall Mickey Mantle statue dedicated last summer stands at Mickey Mantle Field, next to a … Continue reading Students help design Mickey Mantle projects
Injured endurance athlete closes a chapter
Six month after nearly dying in an accident on Route 66 in Arizona, endurance athlete James Cracknell participated in an ultramarathon in Yukon Territory of Canada during severely cold temperatures, according to an excellent article by Chris Harvey for The Telegraph in London. The Yukon adventure closed a chapter for Cracknell, who is still dealing … Continue reading Injured endurance athlete closes a chapter
“Get Your Tricks on Route 66”
I found this documentary video about skateboarders who live in the Route 66 town of Glendora, Calif. The interviews aren't much, but the slow-motion footage of their skateboard tricks is worth viewing. https://vimeo.com/20541672
‘No chance’ marathon organizer will be rehired
Joplin's city manager said there was "no chance" Dean Reinke would be rehired as the director of the 2011 Mother Road Marathon, according to a report in the Joplin Globe. In an e-mail headlined “A Special Message from the Mother Road Marathon,” Reinke, of Winter Haven, Fla., questions the city’s ability to put on the … Continue reading ‘No chance’ marathon organizer will be rehired
Event revives the Bunion Derby
One of the fabled moments of Route 66 history was 1928's Transcontinental Foot Race, better known as the Bunion Derby. Going more than 3,200 miles from Los Angeles to New York City, it gave early publicity to the fledgling U.S. Highway 66 and provided fame and $25,000 in prize money to Oklahoma native Andy Payne, … Continue reading Event revives the Bunion Derby
Joplin marathon may be run by locals
After having a Florida-based firm run the inaugural Mother Road Marathon from Commerce, Okla., to Joplin, Mo., it appears the 2011 edition of the footrace will use locals to organize the 26.2-mile race instead. The Joplin City Council instructed Joplin Sports Authority and the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau to put together the Oct. 9 marathon, … Continue reading Joplin marathon may be run by locals
Name that baseball team
The new Frontier League baseball team in Joliet, Ill., soon will begin its inaugural season, and it is asking its potential fan base to come up with a name: We have held some brainstorming sessions and come up with a list of names. BUT… We know that someone out there may have a better idea! … Continue reading Name that baseball team
Man finishes cross-country run
Using the 1928 Bunion Derby as his inspiration, John Radich recently completed his transcontinental run from Santa Monica to Atlantic City, N.J. -- two-thirds of it on Route 66. The Pasadena (Calif.) Star-News caught up with Radich, who lives in nearby Monrovia. It required four months, 20 days and seven pairs of shoes for him … Continue reading Man finishes cross-country run
Joplin sues marathon organizer
This certainly explains why the city of Joplin, Mo., announced so quickly in November that the organizer's contract for the Mother Road Marathon wouldn't be renewed. Joplin filed a federal suit for an injunction against Reinke Sports Group, alleging the Florida-based organizer infringed on the Mother Road Marathon trademark, according to an article Friday in … Continue reading Joplin sues marathon organizer