This Land Press, based in Tulsa, recently put together this audio story about the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, combining clips from the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program and narration by musician and historian Tom Naples. What's eerie about this program is that Oklahoma -- and much of the U.S. -- also is going through a … Continue reading Tales from the Dust Bowl
Category: Weather
Section of Route 66 west of Oatman closed
A section of Route 66 between Golden Shores, Ariz., and Oatman, Ariz., remains closed after weekend storms washed debris onto the roadway and damaged it, reported the Mohave Daily News. Monte Wilson, onstruction/design manager for the Mohave County Engineering Department, says it's uncertain when the road will reopen. The road is closed from Boundary Cone … Continue reading Section of Route 66 west of Oatman closed
One killed when storm strikes Cuba, Mo.
A woman was killed by flying debris when a storm, possibly a tornado, struck the Route 66 town of Cuba, Mo., on Saturday evening. According to KTVI-TV in St. Louis, the fatality was Kayla Martin, 28, who was sitting in her car at the Alps grocery. Crawford County Coroner Paul Hutson said debris shattered Martin’s … Continue reading One killed when storm strikes Cuba, Mo.
Dancing with the sun
A lot of striking images were seen during the solar eclipse a few days ago in the Southwest. However, this video for the Route 66 Powered Paragliding club in New Mexico beats 'em all. The video was produced by Barak Naggan.
Joplin — one year later
Today marks the first anniversary of the tornado that ravaged Joplin, Mo. The mile-wide twister killed 161 people, injured more than 1,000, and destroyed nearly 8,000 homes and businesses. It remains the worst tornado to hit the U.S. in 60 years, and is without a doubt the worst disaster to befall a Route 66 city. … Continue reading Joplin — one year later
Tornado-stricken antiques business in Williamsville will reopen
Williamsville Route 66 Antiques in Williamsville, Ill., will reopen the original building was destroyed by a tornado more than two years ago, reported the Springfield State Journal-Register. Dan and Linda Spann, and partner David Ruiz, say the shop will have much the same look and mix of antiques. The owners rebuilt after the storm but … Continue reading Tornado-stricken antiques business in Williamsville will reopen
Brush fire destroys three structures in Cuervo
A wildfire on March 1 destroyed three structures in the Route 66 ghost town of Cuervo, N.M., and damaged another, reported the current print edition of the Guadalupe County Communicator, based in nearby Santa Rosa. The newspaper reported: Nobody was injured in the blaze, which has left a big, black scar on a stretch of … Continue reading Brush fire destroys three structures in Cuervo
Severe storms rake Lebanon, Rolla in Missouri
The storm systems that roared across the Midwest late Tuesday and early Wednesday -- including one that caused fatalities in Harrisburg, Ill. -- affected the Route 66 towns of Lebanon and Rolla in mid-Missouri. Ramona Lehman, longtime co-owner of the Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, said in a phone interview that no damage occurred at … Continue reading Severe storms rake Lebanon, Rolla in Missouri
The legendary blizzard of 1956
I stumbled today onto this story in the The Courier of Montgomery County, Texas, about a freak blizzard that struck the Plains of New Mexico and Texas on Feb. 4, 1956. The storm blanketed snow from Amarillo to the north, Tucumcari, N.M., to the west, and Wink to the south. Even El Paso got 5 … Continue reading The legendary blizzard of 1956
Should Joplin provide tornado maps?
A new map that details the path of a deadly tornado that ravaged Joplin, Mo., is being distributed by the local chamber of commerce, reported KOAM-TV in nearby Pittsburg, Kan. And that's causing a few headaches for the agency. The station reported: The map is being put out by the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau (on Facebook) and … Continue reading Should Joplin provide tornado maps?