Vote on Route 66 Corridor Program may be Sunday January 10, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Preservation.add a comment
For those pining for the reauthorization of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, events this week in Congress are providing hope.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) reintroduced the Omnibus Public Lands Bill on Wednesday. This is the legislative package that contains the authorization to extend the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program for another 10 years. The 66 program provides cost-share grants to help preserve historical properties on Route 66 and other assistance. Without a reauthorization, the program ends in late 2009.
The lands bill enjoys broad bipartisan support. However, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) put a hold on the legislation last month. Coburn is a longtime hawk against federal spending and wouldn’t budge from blocking the bill, despite pleas from Route 66 advocates that include many from his home state.
I confirmed that the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is included in Bingaman”s reintroduced Lands Bill. The summary for the Route 66 program on Page 8 of this nearly 1,300-page pdf file of the legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he would call for a Sunday vote on the bill. Whether this tactic will work is uncertain.
Let’s wait and see.
Hello from Germany January 10, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Music.add a comment
I haven’t been able to track down much information about this band, other than it being based in Germany. I’m not sure whether “Root 66″ is the band’s name or a variation of the title of the Bobby Troop song it performs here.
Still, this sludgy, midtempo version sounds a lot more fresh than others I’ve heard from many rock bands.
Children’s book on Route 66 is out this month January 9, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Books.add a comment
A few months ago, it was reported that Oklahoma author and illustrator Hall Duncan was working on a children’s book that takes place on Route 66.
According to The Oklahoman, that book is finished:
A new book by local children’s author Hall Duncan, titled “Emma Doesn’t Want to Race Today,” will be on shelves this month. The story follows a racing pigeon and her journey along Oklahoma’s Route 66. Duncan wants children to become more involved in the attractions along the famous highway, including The Old Round Barn at Arcadia, the barges at the Port of Catoosa and the huge Braum’s milk bottle in Oklahoma City. The book costs $19.95 and will be available in Oklahoma City at Full Circle Bookstore and the Oklahoma History Center, and in Edmond at Best of Books.
Duncan’s Web site is here, but it appears he hasn’t yet updated it regarding his new book.
Rock Cafe update January 8, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Preservation, Restaurants.1 comment so far
Rock Cafe owner Dawn Welch posted an update to her blog concerning the restoration of the Stroud, Okla., restaurant that was heavily damaged by fire last year.
In short, she now has a contractor that’s going full speed ahead in getting the cafe rebuilt to her standards. You can read about it here.
Route 66 Rendezvous reels January 8, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Events, Vehicles.1 comment so far
The festival was a few months ago, but a media group just posted videos of scenes from the Route 66 Rendezvous in San Berndardino, Calif.
This isn’t all of the videos, but ones I thought roadies would like.
Hello from Indonesia January 7, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Music.add a comment
Here’s a recent clip of the Manhattan Transfer singing Bobby Troup’s “Route 66,” during the Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Blue Dome to house Tulsa trolley operations January 7, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Businesses, Preservation, Railroad.add a comment
T-Town Trolley, a transportation system that takes passengers around Tulsa’s entertainment districts, is moving its operations into the historic Blue Dome gas station on Route 66 in downtown Tulsa, reports the Journal Record.
[Blake] Lund is meeting with interior designers to help spruce up the inside, but the building will retain its original structure.“We are going to keep the theme of Route 66 and downtown,” he said. “We are going to have it be a fun and cool place where people can collect information and learn about downtown Tulsa.”At the depot, Lund will sell T-Town Trolley memorabilia such as T-shirts and maps. He anticipates the depot to be up and running by early spring.