Historic resources specialist appointed to Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership

Anne Haaker, recently retired as a deputy state historic preservation officer for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, recently was appointed as historic resources specialist for the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership. According to a new release this week from the partnership: As deputy deputy state historic preservation officer, Haaker was involved in the preservation of buildings, … Continue reading Historic resources specialist appointed to Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership

The Uranus Examiner newspaper suspends publication

Louis Keen, owner of the infamous Uranus Missouri complex and publisher of The Uranus Examiner, which emerged in September after a nearby daily newspaper shut down, announced the suspension of his publication because of financial difficulties after lenders pulled their funding. In a lengthy Facebook post Friday, Keen explained what prompted him to pull the plug on … Continue reading The Uranus Examiner newspaper suspends publication

Bill Deck of Deck’s Drug Store in Girard dies

Wyman P. "Bill" Deck, co-owner of the historic Deck's Drug Store in downtown Girard, Illinois, died Monday at age 91 at a hospital in nearby Springfield. A Girard native, Deck was a pharmacy technician at the store and formerly was a librarian at Auburn Public Schools in nearby Auburn, Illinois, according to an obituary in … Continue reading Bill Deck of Deck’s Drug Store in Girard dies

Nursing-home residents go to Route 66 car museum

This is such a good idea, I'm surprised it hasn't caught on in a more widespread fashion. Residents of the Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County in Illinois recently visited the Midwest Classics on 66 Museum in Wilmington that Mike Bell of Perth, Australia, and Jeff Hubrich of the Joliet and Wilmington area opened in … Continue reading Nursing-home residents go to Route 66 car museum

Route 66 Road Ahead launches YouTube channel

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership recently launched its own YouTube channel and uploaded its first on-the-road video filmed by three young guys in an eight-week campaign that seeks to attract younger generations to the historic highway. Here's the first video from the trio in Illinois, uploaded today: https://youtu.be/mJrOWGMre0Y According to a news release from … Continue reading Route 66 Road Ahead launches YouTube channel

Bill Geist 1991 segment on Route 66 finally goes online

Back in 1991, about the time the renaissance of Route 66 was starting, "CBS Sunday Morning" correspondent Bill Geist traveled a section of the Mother Road from Albuquerque westward for a nine-minute segment on the weekly program. Those nine minutes had never made it online -- until now. The occasion was prompted by Geist's retirement … Continue reading Bill Geist 1991 segment on Route 66 finally goes online

Woman worked for two Route 66 icons in Arizona

Here's an obituary you don't read every day -- an Arizona woman who died earlier this month worked not for one, but two bona fide Route 66 icons during her lifetime. Dorthy “Dottie” Ann Hatch Hansen, 83, of St. Johns, Arizona, died Oct. 19. She was born in Pinedale, Arizona, but spent most of her … Continue reading Woman worked for two Route 66 icons in Arizona

Nominees sought for Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission

This summer, the governor signed the Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission bill into law, and now the panel seeks three people to fill available seats, including one that will lead it. Unlike a lot of nominating rules, people in this instance can nominate themselves. Gov. Bruce Rauner has the last say over who gets the nod. … Continue reading Nominees sought for Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission

“Almost Ghosts” Route 66 documentary premieres Wednesday in Spain

"Almost Ghosts," a documentary filmed by Ana Ramon Rubio in March along Route 66, will premiere at the Seminci Film Festival in Spain on Wednesday. Among those featured in the film are Harley Russell of the Sandhills Curiosity Shoppe in Erick, Oklahoma. Lowell Davis, an artist who re-created his hometown near Carthage, Missouri; and Angel Delgadillo, … Continue reading “Almost Ghosts” Route 66 documentary premieres Wednesday in Spain

“Outskirts: Route 66” film shows a group’s trip on Route 66 by bicycle

Brennen Matthews of ROUTE Magazine flagged this film, released on YouTube in July, on Facebook a few days ago. The full-length documentary is titled "Outskirts: Route 66," about a group of avid cyclists who try to tackle the full 2,400 miles of the Mother Road. Here's the movie: https://youtu.be/Dh25fH5diwQ The description of the film from … Continue reading “Outskirts: Route 66” film shows a group’s trip on Route 66 by bicycle