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| NewsSaturday, July 28, 2007 10:58 PM CDT |
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Meeting set to develop master plan for the future of Route 66
PONTIAC – Pontiac tourism director Ellie Alexander remembers piling into the car with her four siblings and father and traveling down Route 66 to St. Louis. She also remembers stopping at iconic Route 66 landmarks like the Dixie Trucker’s Home for a bite to eat along the way. Now, Alexander and the Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project are looking for other residents to share their stories and concerns at a meeting to help determine the historic highway’s future. The meeting at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pontiac City Council Chambers, 115 W. Howard St., will help develop the “interpretive master plan” with Schmeeckle Reserve Interpreters, a Wisconsin company hired by the Heritage Project. The meeting is designed to give the firm a better understand of what people want to see in the future along the local stretch of Route 66. “The plan will basically say how to interpret the highway in the future and how to build or capitalize on it,” said Patty Ambrose, executive director for the Heritage Project. “We will have meetings where the community will have the opportunity to ask questions about what the community or area wants, and to share stories or memories.” Ambrose said that when the plan is finalized, the community’s input will be used and that the company may come back again to speak with people. Pontiac’s stretch of the highway is best known for its Old Log Cabin and the Route 66 museum, which attracts international tourism, said Alexander. She added that it’s important for people who care about the road to come to the meeting and help design its future. “They want to hear from the local people about what we have and our own history,” she said. “At the end of all of this they will have a master plan to help enhance Route 66.” McDonald’s opening – A rescheduled ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to celebrate the opening of the new McDonald’s, 13 Northbrook Drive, Pontiac. The McDonald’s will feature more seating, two drive-thru windows and a drink area. The old restaurant, located at the same spot, was torn down in April. Talent show – Entries are being accepted for the annual Fairbury Fair Talent Show, which will be held at 3 p.m. Aug. 19. Entry forms are available at Keck’s Agency, 118 N. Third St., or by calling Lesa Kline at (815) 832-4033. The three age categories for the show are junior divisions (age 10 and under and 11-14) and senior division (15-21). Winners will receive cash prizes and the top scorer from the junior and senior categories will represent Fairbury in the annual Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs in Springfield in January. Entries must be received by Aug. 6. Church closing — After 133 years, Grace United Methodist Church in Streator will host its last service today. With about only 30 people attending Sunday services and mounting financial troubles, the decision was made in June to make the 2 p.m. service the last one. Food pantry – The Livingston County Community Pantry, 420 N. Plum St., Pontiac, will expand its hours starting Wednesday. The pantry will be open from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and remain open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monetary and food donations can be brought to the pantry during its business hours. Population changes — A new estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau shows Streator’s population dropped 2 percent, to 13,900 people, from the 2000 census to 2006, a trend shared by two of three other metropolitan areas in LaSalle County. Only Ottawa showed a gain of about 1,600 people, up to 19,050, since the 2000 census. Livingston County showed a 3 percent drop. Awards – The Pontiac Chamber of Commerce gave the “2007 Yard of the Month” award to Junior and Faith Mund of 504 W. Henry St. To nominate a yard for August, please call the chamber office at (815) 844-5131. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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