A former police officer was sentenced last week to 4 1/2 years in prison for his role in two arson fires in Tucumcari, New Mexico, last year, including a closed motel on Route 66, according to the Quay County Sun. Dustin "Dusty" Lopez, the former officer, and co-defendant Robert Sandoval were sentenced for fires at … Continue reading Former Tucumcari cop gets 4 1/2 years for arsons
Car show Saturday offers peek at Sapulpa museum
A car show scheduled for Saturday will offer a look at the progress of the soon-to-open Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. According to a news release Automobile enthusiasts are invited to show off their cars and motorcycles during the day-long event that will feature updates and a progress report on the … Continue reading Car show Saturday offers peek at Sapulpa museum
Route 66 events on same weekend draw crowds
Two Route 66 festivals on the same weekend but more than 1,500 miles part drew good crowds over the Sept. 25-27 weekend. The president of the board of directors for the 14th annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in downtown Springfield, Illinois, told the State Journal-Register that festival attendance was up "substantially" this year. The … Continue reading Route 66 events on same weekend draw crowds
Clifton’s Cafeteria reopens Thursday
Clifton's Cafeteria, a mainstay in downtown Los Angeles since 1935, will reopen Thursday after a massive renovation that took $14 million and four years. The restaurant was supposed to reopen Sept. 22, but owner Andrew Meieran and its operators decided to delay it a few days after a ceremonial ribbon-cutting Sept. 17 apparently revealed a few kinks … Continue reading Clifton’s Cafeteria reopens Thursday
Book review: “The Trip”
A trip on Route 66 often changes the life of the person taking that journey. Andy Warhol's trip from New York City to Los Angeles in 1963 -- much of it on 66 -- probably didn't change his career, but it accelerated it into him becoming a Pop Art icon. Deborah Davis makes the case about … Continue reading Book review: “The Trip”
Is the Gold Dome leaking?
Over the weekend, a video by Diana Winslow surfaced that shows water damage around the exterior of Oklahoma City's historic Gold Dome, indicating a roof leak or drainage problems. https://youtu.be/W1kcs8gZj3c Winslow works for Examiner.com, but I've seen no story about this yet. Regardless, the video speaks for itself. And she asks an important question -- … Continue reading Is the Gold Dome leaking?
“Greetings from Coldwater” novel is available
This isn't going to be a book review, because I'm married to the author and am understandably biased. Regardless, Route 66 fans likely will be interested to know of the publication of Emily Priddy's first novel, "Greetings from Coldwater," set on Route 66 in the fictional town of Coldwater in eastern New Mexico. Print and … Continue reading “Greetings from Coldwater” novel is available
The story behind Kingman’s water tanks
The Route 66 water tanks in Kingman, Arizona, remain one of the most-photographed sites in the city. What you probably didn't know is the tanks' origins, and how close Kingman came to losing it forever. The Kingman Daily Miner newspaper, publicizing the upcoming Best of the West on 66 Festival, delved into the water tanks' … Continue reading The story behind Kingman’s water tanks
Shea’s Gas Station Museum soon will be auctioned
Everything at Shea's Gas Station Museum in Springfield, Illinois -- including the land on which it sits -- soon will be auctioned almost two years after the patriarch's death at age 91. A bunch of outdoor equipment at the site is slated to be auctioned by Darrell L. Adcock Auction Service starting at 10 a.m. Oct. 10. Bill Shea … Continue reading Shea’s Gas Station Museum soon will be auctioned
Tulsa seeks Route 66 art projects
If you're an artist inspired by Route 66, the Arts Commission for the City of Tulsa is seeking artwork at two Route 66 sites in town. The first site is for the traffic circle at East Admiral Place and South Mingo Road, which is on the original 1926 to 1932 alignment of Route 66 in … Continue reading Tulsa seeks Route 66 art projects