SEE EMBERS

• EMBERS

Continued from page 1 on all Rocky Patel cigars, drawings, and giveaways, as well as a bourbon pairing between 5 pm and 7 pm.

Betsy McConnell says that Embers Lounge is all about cigar smokers having a great experience. “It starts with wanting people to come into our luxuriously appointed lounge with a friend or by themselves, feel at home, relax, and enjoy a nice cigar, she said. “Also, we offer an extensive selection of cigars and cigar accessories, southwest Missouri’s largest walk-in humidor, and private climate-controlled lockers in the humidor,” she added. “From simply smoking a cigar to buying cigars and accessories, we want Embers to be the cigar lovers one-stop experience.”

When asked about the lounge’s air quality, McConnell said that was paramount in their planning for Embers. To meet that challenge, Embers has three commercial air purifiers. She points out that one could handle the lounge, so she sees no problems in that regard.

Embers has one of the largest selections of cigars in southwestern Missouri. McConnell said, “We are opening with an initial inventory of about 125 different cigars that is expanding as vendors fill our remaining opening orders. They range in price from $6 to $30.”

McConnell said that the quality and price depend on the three major parts

Some of Embers’ large selection of cigars inside southwest Missouri’s largest walk-in humidor. (Photo by Gary Groman)

Embers’ spacious and luxuriously appointed lounge area (Photo by Gary Groman)

of a cigar: its filler, binder, and wrapper. “The type of tobacco used for each part, where it comes from, its aging period, whether it’s hand rolled or machine rolled, and other factors directly influence the quality and price,” she added. “At Embers, we have a cigar for everyone,” she said.

Embers has a great selection of cigar accessories not commonly found elsewhere. These include cigar cutters specifically designed to cut the ends off the cigar, single, double, triple-torch cigar lighters, humidors, and just about every accessory a cigar smoker could want. McConnell said, “If it’s not in stock, we can order it and have it here in a few days.”

Embers Cigar Lounge is at 9 South Boardwalk next to the Paddle Wheel Pub, on Lake Taneycomo. It offers level, close-in parking at Branson Landing’s south Bass Pro parking lot. Regular hours are 12pm to 7pm Tues., Wed. and Thurs.; 12pm to 8pm on Friday and Saturday. Embers is closed on Sunday and Monday.

bransonglobe.com Oct. 16 - 17, 2020 • 9 ‘People can’t recover if they are dead’ Substance use initiative’s effort to equip community with overdose antidote saving lives Submitted to Branson Globe tinuous life of self-destruction. I only seen a few people come don’t believe I would be here covery Experience (CORE).

Destiny Blegen wouldn’t be was no longer allowed to live with back after being gone as long as today, with a whole new life.” “Had my life not been saved here today if it wasn’t for the over- them.” I was, especially with no brain Blegen moved to Branson Sept. 24, 2018, had someone dose antidote naloxone saving her Blegen said she continued to damage,” Blegen said. “Had where she completed a 12-step life. Blegen, who is in recovery break the law to supply her habit it not been for the naloxone, I program at Communities of Re- SEE INITIATIVE, PAGE 12 from opioid use disorder, has now and ended up in and out of prison. made it her mission to give hope to “The last time I was in prison, those still fighting the battle. I was released in October 2017,”

Naloxone is commonly referred she explained. “I did well for a to as its brand name, Narcan. while but again, I fell for the lies Destiny’s story I told myself. At this point I had

“When I was around 13, it be- overdosed several times in my life. came acceptable to smoke weed They are a big blur to me except with my mom, and that’s when for the last time. It was Sept. 23, my life took a big turn,” Blegen 2018. I overdosed and this time explained. “At 14, I started using was different. I saw things that meth and cocaine with my friends, most people would think was crathen with my mother.” zy talk, but I believe it was my

Over the next two decades, God giving me a final warning.” Blegen became a wife and mother She woke up in an emergenbut no matter how hard she tried, cy room in DePaul and was told she was never able to successfully she was considered “dead on maintain recovery. arrival.” It took three doses of

“No matter what I tried, I’d al- naloxone to bring her back. ways turn to heroin to make me “I’ll never forget the nurse better,” she said. “My family was telling me that she had been a finally getting tired of my con- nurse for over 30 years and had