Our thanks to Nicole Dicks of Cork Tree Creative for providing the following information for us to share:

The Edwardsville Route 66 Festival committee gathered early this year in preparation of what is expected to be one of the most anticipated community-wide events in the City of Edwardsville in 2012. Popular headlining acts like Dr. Zhivegas, greater community participation, a new kick-off sock hop event and car show are just a few of the draws for the festival being held Thursday, June 7, Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9, 2012.

We thank Will County Representative, Dorothy McMullen, for submitting the following information for us to share:

Come join the fun and excitement on Sunday, June 10, 2012, at Elwood’s beautiful Lloyd Erickson Park. The celebration is the finale of the Illinois Route 66 Association’s annual two day motor tour of the historic highway. This event is open and free to everyone.

Listen and dance to the music of Jim Hannah and the Country Boys with Ron Gonsoulin. They will keep the place jumping from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Enjoy the local favorite foods and drinks, explore the Children’s Garden, bring the family and enjoy an old fashioned country gathering.

When the last song is sung and the sun goes down, stay for the movie in the park; reminiscent of a drive-in theatre experience.

Directions
From the north: Travel south on Rt. 66 (Rt. 53) to Mississippi St. Turn right and follow through town to Chicago Ave. Turn right and follow to Lloyd Erickson Park on the left.

From the south: Travel north on Route 66 (Rt. 53) to Douglas St. Go left and follow to Mississippi St. Go left and follow to Chicago St. Go right and follow to Lloyd Erickson Park on the left.

Our thanks to Ellie Alexander of Pontiac Tourism for providing the following information for us to share:

The newest exhibit at the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum will be officially opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to be held outside the Route 66 Museum, south parking lot on May 5, 2012 at 9:00 AM. The Selle-Agner “Remembering the 1940s” exhibit recently ended an extended showing at the Kankakee County Museum, and will be on display in Pontiac through the fall of this year.

Newsletter Editor Gina here, asking for your submissions for the Summer, 2012 issue of the 66 News! I'll need your articles, photos and stories no later than May 15, 2012 to be considered for publication.

It's easy to submit your content!

Mail to:
Route 66 Association of Illinois
Attention: Newsletter Editor Gina Blitstein
P.O. Box 1940
Matteson, IL 60443

Submit through this website:
Click on our handy submission form.

Email me:
gina@writeytidy.com

Thanks to Ellie Alexander of Pontiac Tourism for providing the following information:

The Grand Opening Ceremonies for the Dongbai International Airbrush Art School located at 425 West Madison Street in Pontiac, Illinois, were held on April 14th at 3:30 PM. A ribbon-cutting was held with the Mayor, members of the Pontiac City Council, Pontiac Tourism, The Pontiac Area Chamber of Commerce, and Pontiac P.R.O.U.D. in attendance.

It is with a heavy heart and many tears that we say goodbye to a dear friend of ours and of Route 66, Ernie Edwards.

Ernie was owner of the Pig Hip in Broadwell and was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 1990 for the lifetime of memories he created as a fixture along the Mother Road.

Erine passed away on April 11, 2012 at the age of 94. He will be missed greatly by many.

Click to read Ernie's obituary which includes funeral arrangements.

Thanks to Logan County Tourism for providing this official press release for us to share about Ernie.

Photo credit: Geoff Ladd

This article appeared on the front page of the Litchfield, IL News-Herald on Thursday, March 29, 2012:

Congratulations to Nick Adam, Owner of the Ariston Cafe, on being selected as the Grand Marshall of the Route 66 Association of Illinois' Motor Tour.

Click to read the article itself.

This is an incredibly gratifying Route 66 Economic Impact Study. National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program Manager, Kaisa Barthuli, "It's nice to see that a Federal Agency is reinforcing what we already knew. Your efforts have had a big impact for all Route 66 communities! Well done!"

Click to read this Economic Impact Study in its entirety.

Attention, Route 66 Businesses, Attractions and Communities!

Our newsletter, The 66 News, is mailed to each and every member of our Association. Can you think of a more targeted group with whom to advertise your business or community?

Our newsletter comes out quarterly. The deadline for inclusion in our Summer, 2012 issue is May 15, 2012.

We offer several affordable advertising options in our Newsletter, as follows:

Single Issue Pricing for Advertising in the 66 News
Ads are in black and white only

Whole Page - $125.00
Half Page - $75.00
Business Card size - $25.00

We are privileged indeed to have received the following story and photographs for publication. Enjoy this slice of Illinois Route 66 history.

By Joseph D. Kubal

Wheeling along on the “Main Street of America” through the far southwestern Chicago suburbs, no one would suspect that there’s a historic site in the area. There are no famous battlefields here, no locations of old forts, and the big city is far away – but there is an unusual rural architectural exemplar nearby. Just northwest of Romeoville, in some of the scant remaining farmlands of Bolingbrook, stands a barn unlike the typical box-like structures scattered across much of the country. This is the Ron George Round Barn. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places (NRHP) on December 7, 1982, the barn is worth a visit.

Round barn standing astride suburban development
Photo ©2012 by Joseph D. Kubal; all rights reserved.