Russell Olsen announced yesterday that the second volume of his "Route 66 Lost & Found" will be out June 1.

In case you're unfamiliar with it, Olsen collects vintage photographs of businesses and landmarks along Route 66 and juxtaposes them with modern-day photographs from the same angle. It's an interesting and often sobering look at what has disappeared on the Mother Road and what remains.

The book retails for $32, and Olsen is taking preorders. For a taste of what the book is like, view this slide show.

Scott Piotrowski, a California Route 66 advocate, reported today on a Route 66 forum that the city council in Arcadia, Calif., has dropped eminent domain proceedings against the historic Rod's Grill at 41 W. Huntington Drive, scheduled for its May 16 meeting agenda.

A Mercedes dealership reportedly wanted the Rod's property for expansion. Route 66 crusaders in the Golden State had been working hard to put the brakes on the development, so they should be commended for their efforts.

But Piotrowski gives this cautionary note:

Those who have spoken to today are all a bit concerned, though, that this is the calm before the storm. The is a feeling that the City Council might have backed down for a variety of reasons now, hoping that once all the smoke clears, there will be clear sailing for eminent domain proceedings to move forward. Among other things, I personally feel that the city might be awaiting more eminent domain developments in the judicial system, as well as some legislative issues that may develop in the coming months.

Well, the Oklahoma Supreme Court this week set a nice precedent by ruling that seizing nonblighted private property for the purpose of economic development was not proper. Maybe Rod's lawyers can cite that ruling to the council. The state supreme court applied the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding eminent domain, so it seems to be on legally sound footing.

For more about recent developments with Rod's, go here.

In the meantime, Rod's is celebrating its 50th anniversary from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Car clubs are invited, and the restaurant is rolling back its prices to 1950s levels.

Kip Welborn of the Route 66 Association of Missouri and Friends of the Mother Road snapped a bunch of photos in last week's ceremony in Springfield, Mo., to mark Missouri's Route 66 as a scenic byway.

Below is a photo during the speech-making and the actual ribbon-cutting on an older segment of the Mother Road.

The Bloomington Pantagraph has details about the first annual Happy Wiener Festival in tourist-friendly Route 66 town of Atlanta, Ill. The festival is May 26-29.

Mayor Bill Martin said the idea is based on the smiley face on the town’s water tower and the large downtown statue of Paul Bunyon holding a hot dog.

"We figured that name was a good way to draw attention to the festival," said Martin.

The festival, Martin said, will be used to promote tourism to Atlanta in conjunction with old Route 66. A Route 66 preservation award will be presented by the Route 66 Heritage Project during the festival.

Bill Thomas of Atlanta will present the award to the Hamlet Arthur Stephens family of Cicero for their efforts to help keep the "Bunyon statue" in Illinois as a Route 66 icon. The ceremony will take place in front of the statue at 10:30 a.m. May 27.

There's a lot more. Read about it here or here.