A fast-moving wildfire raced across Interstate 40 near Shamrock, Texas, on Friday, forcing the closing of that highway and Route 66 for hours. According to tweets from the Texas Department of Transportation, state officials closed I-40 at the Oklahoma state line to Shamrock because of the grass fires. They eventually detoured motorists to state highways … Continue reading Wildfire jumps I-40 near Shamrock, closes road for hours
Route 66 Chamber seeks to move into historic barber shop
The Route 66 Chamber of Commerce recently announced it seeks to move into the historic Dale's Ole 66 Barbershop in Joplin, Missouri. The main building also will host an art gallery. The chamber stated on its GoFundMe campaign and on a separate website that Dale's would would be restored so the chamber could use it … Continue reading Route 66 Chamber seeks to move into historic barber shop
Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces 2018 grant season
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announced this week it is taking applications for its 2018 cost-share grants -- possibly for the last time before the program sunsets next year. Applications for the cost-share grants will be taken through May 10. More details may be found here. The federal program, under the auspices of the … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces 2018 grant season
Man plans to dance the length of Route 66 for charity
An Englishman plans to dance the length of Route 66 and beyond in America to raise money for a charity that fights slavery and human trafficking. Ben Hammond, 40, aka Planet Dancer, is a lecturer and teacher at UCL Institute of Education in London. He began his journey March 28 from the Santa Monica Pier … Continue reading Man plans to dance the length of Route 66 for charity
FFA students create Route 66 sculpture for Riverton
FFA students in Riverton, Kansas, recently finished a 20-foot-tall steel sculpture of a Route 66 shield that will go up on the Mother Road this year. According to the Joplin Globe: FFA adviser Jacob Larison said that his students came up with the idea about two years ago with the aim of bolstering the community. … Continue reading FFA students create Route 66 sculpture for Riverton
Wildfire forces evacuation of Winona
A fast-moving brush fire Sunday near the Route 66 village of Winona, Arizona, forced a six-hour evacuation and prompted the arrest of one resident. The Arizona Daily Sun newspaper, based in nearby Flagstaff, reported Steve A. Carter, 54, was booked into the county jail on suspicion of felony endangerment, felony criminal damage and misdemeanor reckless burning. … Continue reading Wildfire forces evacuation of Winona
Wilder’s neon sign reinstalled; relighting event set for Saturday
The historic rooftop neon sign at Wilder's Steakhouse in downtown Joplin, Missouri, was reinstalled Thursday after being taken down for several weeks for restoration. The official relighting ceremony for the sign will be at dusk Saturday, April 14. Sunset that day is 7:52 p.m., but it may become dark faster if skies are overcast. Here's a … Continue reading Wilder’s neon sign reinstalled; relighting event set for Saturday
Route 66 group buys Painted Desert Trading Post
A new group that calls itself the Route 66 Co-op has purchased the long-abandoned ruins of the Painted Desert Trading Post and its accompanying 94 acres in eastern Arizona to preserve it, according to a news release Sunday afternoon. "Roamin'" Rich Dinkela, one of the co-op's members, stated in the release: It was brought to … Continue reading Route 66 group buys Painted Desert Trading Post
Oklahoma teachers march on Route 66 to demand better education funding
If you've driven on Route 66 between Tulsa and Oklahoma City in the past few days, you may have noticed dozens of people walking along the old Mother Road. Many are schoolteachers who vowed to walk 110 miles on Route 66 in a week's time to demand better pay and better funding of the state's … Continue reading Oklahoma teachers march on Route 66 to demand better education funding
Windstorm flattens Route 66 mural in Lexington
An apparent windstorm knocked down a Route 66 mural in Lexington, Illinois, that was created by a local teenager barely six months ago. Karen Wingo, owner of the Thrift Avenue store along Route 66 in downtown Lexington, told the Pontiac Daily Leader she discovered the damage over Easter weekend. Wingo was first alerted to the … Continue reading Windstorm flattens Route 66 mural in Lexington