Group pulls plug on Illinois basketball museum in Pontiac

The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association announced it is ending its pursuit of a Basketball Museum of Illinois in Pontiac because it fell short on fundraising. The museum was supposed to be in a vacant Kmart building in Vermillion Square in Pontiac, next to old Route 66 on the city's southwest edge. The museum also was planned … Continue reading Group pulls plug on Illinois basketball museum in Pontiac

Mother Road Market in Tulsa shows stunning early success

The Mother Road Market just off Route 66 in Tulsa opened a few weeks ago as an incubator for about 20 food or retail stores and an events center, and the results since then can be described as stunning. John Klein, a columnist for the Tulsa World newspaper, in a recent entry passed along these … Continue reading Mother Road Market in Tulsa shows stunning early success

12,000 participate in Tulsa’s annual Route 66 Marathon

About 12,000 people participated over the weekend during the 13th annual Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa. A race official told the Tulsa World newspaper the annual running event that also features a half-marathon, marathon relay, mascot dash, a 5-kilometer race and a fun run or walk brings $7.5 million to the local economy. Joel Salazar, … Continue reading 12,000 participate in Tulsa’s annual Route 66 Marathon

Sod Poodles chosen as name of Amarillo baseball team

The new Amarillo minor-league baseball team, an AA affiliate of the San Diego Padres, announced Tuesday afternoon the name of its club will be the Sod Poodles. Sod Poodles is another name for prairie dogs, an animal native to the Texas Plains. The team also will be called the Soddies, for short. Other finalists for … Continue reading Sod Poodles chosen as name of Amarillo baseball team

Louie the Lumberjack statue in Flagstaff beheaded

The Louie the Lumberjack statue inside Northern Arizona University's Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff was beheaded -- probably as a prank -- after it was taken down in September during stadium renovations. NAZ Today, which is run by the university's students, has the story: https://youtu.be/LROIs4wFqls The university's newspaper, Jack Central, said the headless statue was reported … Continue reading Louie the Lumberjack statue in Flagstaff beheaded

Hundreds participate in Mother Road Marathon

More than 500 people finished Sunday's Mother Road Marathon and its companion races. The 26.2-mile footrace that started in Commerce, Oklahoma, and finished in Joplin, Missouri, remains the only marathon that goes through three states. Preliminary race results indicate Scott Wilmes, 41, of Liberty, Missouri, was the top finisher in 3 hours, 6 minutes, 19.1 … Continue reading Hundreds participate in Mother Road Marathon

An update on the Texaco gas station in Foyil

When we'd last heard almost three years ago, a local man bought a 1920s Texaco station along old Route 66 in Foyil, Oklahoma, and shortly had it added to the National Register of Historic Places. The station's owner, Kean Isaacs, pledged to restore it to as close as its original look as possible. Last week, … Continue reading An update on the Texaco gas station in Foyil

Grants microbrewery offers free food for Nike items

  A microbrewery along Route 66 in Grants, New Mexico, is offering free food to customers if they donate Nike-brand items they no longer want. A few days ago, sports-apparel company Nike launched an ad campaign featuring former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began taking a knee during the national anthem two years … Continue reading Grants microbrewery offers free food for Nike items

Claremore museum plans new statue of Andy Payne

The Claremore Museum of History in Claremore, Oklahoma, plans to place a life-size statue of local athlete Andy Payne at Lynn Riggs Park, also known as Gazebo Park, a few blocks east of Route 66. The Claremore Daily Progress reported a new exhibit, "The Andy Payne Family Collection," donated by Payne’s daughter, will be shown in the … Continue reading Claremore museum plans new statue of Andy Payne

Proposed names for Amarillo baseball team scored an error

One of the proposed names for an upcoming major-league baseball team in Amarillo contains a Route 66 reference, but if residents have their way, they want the organization to create a new list from scratch. The San Antonio Missions, a San Diego Padres affiliate, are moving its Class AA team to a new downtown stadium … Continue reading Proposed names for Amarillo baseball team scored an error