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Turkey Trot helps support Pathways Coalition awareness education
BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer
Pathways Project Coalition of the Ozarks would like to thank all those who helped support the Coalition’s educational awareness goals for the coming year by braving a chilly morning to participate in the annual Turkey Trot, held on Thanksgiving Day at Branson Landing. Pathways was the designated benefiting nonprofit for this year’s event. Several Coalition members were also on hand as volunteers.
Pathways Project Coalition is dedicated to helping fight human trafficking in the Ozarks in the following ways:
Providing educational opportunities to build awareness and equip communities to identify the vulnerable; Sharing factual and current information and providing training opportunities to help community agencies work together;
Working to identify and support victims and survivors, with a crisis response team trained to offer pathways to safety, support, healing and hope.
Community members wishing to learn more or get involved as a volunteer are invited to follow the Face-
book page and to attend the next Coalition meeting, to be held Tuesday, December 17, at 12 noon at the Stone County Health Department, 701 Old Wilderness Rd., Reeds Spring. A Zoom link is available for those unable to attend in person. Much can be accomplished when caring people work together!
Grocery grab fundraiser benefits Christian Action Ministries
BY LUANNA FULLERTON, Entertainment Writer
Junior Auxiliary of Taney County held their annual grocery grab fundraiser and had a great time with it.
The drawing was held on November 18, and the event itself was held on November 23. Sponsors were Rhodes Family Price Chopper, Doug Baker State Farm Insurance and Branson Tri-Lake News. They helped the auxiliary make
Food
Truck
BY GARY J. GROMAN,
this happen another year and to bless many people’s lives.
“Drew Rhodes, Price Chopper store owner; Matt Young, Price Chopper store director; and Chip Robertson, Price Chopper store manager were such a pleasure to work with,” stated Sheryl Schiller, corresponding secretary for the auxiliary. “We would like to extend a ‘big thank you,’” stated Sheryl.
Ordinance
Independent Journalist
At its November 26, 2024, regular meeting, the Branson Board of Alderpersons received an overview of the city’s new “Red Tape Review” initiative from Mark Colussy, the city’s Strategic Initiatives
Winners were Mandy Farrow: first place, shopping spree; Christine Bailey; second place, $100 gift card; Rachel Goeke: third place, $50 gift card. Mandy who now lives in Texas donated her winning ticket to CAM, as did Rachel Goeke.
Michele Dean (CAM Executive Director) did the four-minute shopping spree on behalf of CAM and col-
shows
SEE GROCERY GRAB, PAGE 6A
impact of Branson’s ‘Red Tape Review’
Coordinator. The overview came as part of the Board’s consideration of an ordinance to amend the Branson Municipal Code for Food Trucks, an early example of the potential benefits to Branson businesses from the initiative. He said the city will host an information session on December 12, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers to discuss this important initiative.
The Red Tape Review is at the direction of the Board of Alderpersons. It’s a “priority initiative designed to modernize lo-
cal government to be more accountable to taxpayers while becoming more business-friendly.” This includes the collection of input from those that use city services before acting on changes within city operations and Codes.
Colussy said that the Red Tape Review directs city leadership [staff] to identify and address things like excessive, burdensome and outdated regulations and procedures; regulations or internal procedures that are burdensome to local economic SEE RED TAPE, PAGE 6A
courtesy Pathways Project Coalition Facebook page)
Left to right: Chip Robertson, Michelle Dean, Drew Rhodes, Matt Young (Photo by Sheryl Schiller, Junior Auxiliary of Taney County)
BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
tion Army for use in their Toy Distribution, providing gifts for children in our area
ages 0 to 16. Toys received December 16 and after are used to help provide last minute gifts for children who would otherwise receive no gifts on Christmas morning. Donations may be
dropped off at The Flagstore (114 South Commercial Street in downtown Branson), Motel 6 (1023 West Main Street), The World’s Largest Toy Museum Complex (3609 West 76 Country Boulevard) or the Branson Globe Office (2460 South Business Highway 65, Suite 106 in Hollister). Thank you for helping us make the holidays brighter for our neighbors this season!
Minimum wage in Missouri set to increase January 1
Mo.gov
On November 5, Missouri voters approved Proposition A, amending Chapter 290 of the Revised Statutes of Missou -
VITA:
Looking
Submitted to Branson Globe
Join the University of Missouri Extension in Stone County as a volunteer to provide FREE tax preparation services for the upcoming 2024 tax filing season
ri to provide an increase to the state’s minimum wage. Pending certification of the election results, a minimum wage of $13.75 per hour will take
effect on January 1, 2025, and a minimum wage of $15.00 per hour will take effect on January 1, 2026. Thereafter, all future annual adjustments to the
minimum wage will be based on the Consumer Price Index.
Current state law provides for a minimum wage of $12.30 per hour.
Missouri’s minimum wage has increased from $7.65 in 2015 to $12.30 in 2024, with adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index (this mini -
mum wage was set as a result of Proposition B, approved by voters in 2018, and would have increased the minimum wage to $12.65 in 2025).
to build volunteer team for tax preparation assistance in Stone County
through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. You can become a tax volunteer and help make a difference in our community.
Stone Co. VITA Site Coordinator and 20-plus year VITA
CONGRATULATIONS
LIEUTENANT BURNETT – Lt. Burnett
graduated Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC)! This intensive 10-week program, hosted at the Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy, is a cornerstone of leadership and management training for law enforcement professionals aspiring to senior command roles.Through this program, Lt. Burnett gained invaluable expertise by combining academic knowledge with practical skills. Key leadership areas were mastered, including strategic planning, media relations, organizational behavior, budgeting and resource management—preparing Lt. Burnett to tackle the complexities of command with confidence and precision. Join us in recognizing this incredible achievement and commitment to public safety!
(Photo from Branson PD Facebook)
veteran, Luanna Fullerton states, “Thanks to our volunteers, last year we served over 475 people from nine different counties and 12 states. Many of these people rely on the tax benefits that only come once a year, and our volunteers help make the complicated tax process as simple as getting an oil change. Clients drop off their documents and return a little while later to pick them up with their completed tax forms.”
We have room for the following roles:
• Greeters – Welcome clients, provide their starting documents, and collect ID information.
• Intake helpers – Work with clients collecting documents and needed information.
Preparers – Complete Federal & State tax returns for clients.
Quality reviewers –Work with clients to re-
view the work done by the preparer and finalize the filing process, ensuring client confidence in the work done and their choice to use VITA. There are different levels of certification required, depending on your role: Greeters and intake helpers – Pass two IRS tests on ethics and the intake process; twenty multiple choice questions in total (very easy).
• Preparers and quality reviewers – Pass those two previous tests, and an Advanced Certification which you get in-depth training for (somewhat challenging). However, our training ensures that all volunteers, regardless of prior experience, are well-equipped to fulfill their roles confidently.
We will complete training sessions with an MU Extension Personal Finance
Professor that teaches the required tax knowledge topics, how to use the software, and how to use the various resources provided by the IRS.
• This training can be done live on Zoom or any time after with the recordings.
All materials are provided for free.
Continuing Education Credits are available. What else do you need to know?
• We value your time and offer flexible scheduling. You can contribute four-six hours a week or have limited availability. Tax season runs from early February to midApril. We have three sites: Galena, Crane and Kimberling City on separate days.
• An experienced site coordinator is always available at the sites to answer questions and provide guidance.
• We only do taxes for individuals and families with low-to-moderate income.
• No business or farm taxes, which are much more complicated and need a CPA.
Our VITA program has been helping people for over 20 years in Stone Co. By volunteering, you’ll play an important role that allows us to continue serving others, guiding them through the complicated tax filing process, and ensuring they receive the benefits they deserve.
To sign up or ask questions, please contact us at:
• University of Missouri Stone County Extension Office
• Phone: 417-357-6812
Physical Address: 108 East 4th St., 2nd Floor Mailing Address: P.O. Box 345 Galena, MO 65656
Branson Bank’s Hunt is HR Professional of the Year
Submitted to Branson Globe
Branson Bank is proud to announce that Jamie Hunt, Vice President of Human Resources, has been named the HR Professional of the Year for the Branson TriLakes Human Resources Association. This prestigious award recognizes HR professionals who exemplify integrity, leadership, strategic excellence and a passion for advancing the
human resources profession within their organizations and communities.
Jamie Hunt’s dedication to elevating the HR profession, her commitment to mentoring peers, and her strategic leadership have set a new standard for excellence. As a role model for HR professionals in the TriLakes area, Hunt’s innovative approaches and unwavering integrity continue to
make a meaningful impact both within Branson Bank and the broader community.
“We are excited to celebrate Jamie’s well-deserved recognition,” said Bill Jones, CEO of Branson Bank. “Her leadership and passion inspire those around her and reflect the values we strive to uphold every day.”
Hunt (Photo submitted)
nition is a testament to her outstanding contributions.
The HR Professional of the Year award celebrates individuals who not only excel in their field but also demonstrate a profound commitment to serving their peers and community.
Hunt’s work exemplifies this mission, and her recog-
To learn more about the Branson Tri-Lakes Human Resources Association, an affiliate of SHRM, please visit: www.branson.shrm. org.
Tax assessment freeze for seniors: What you need to
BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff
Writer
The spring and fall election seasons in 2024 have left some Missourians wondering exactly where their counties stand on adopting the senior property tax assessment freeze. A bill signed by Governor Mike Parson in 2023 gave counties the power to freeze rates for seniors eligible for Social Security, but failed to provide definite steps as to how counties should enact the law or exactly who would qualify. That situation led to different interpretations in different counties, some counties adopting their own adaptation of the law. A 2024 clarification bill, SB 756, helped clear up
some of the confusion, such as whether pension workers could qualify based on their age if they did not receive Social Security, but some residents have still wondered whether their county had adopted the clarifying language if county action had already been taken, and if so, how and when to apply.
In Stone County, concerned citizen Denise Tomanek spearheaded a petition drive for an ordinance on a local ballot, one of the two ways the state bill provided for counties to enact the bill, the other being a vote of the county commission. After commissioners responded that they had adopted the state bill, citizens requested to move forward
with the petition so that any future changes would also require voter approval. The Stone County Commission approved the petition, and the ballot question passed by a large majority.
Stone County senior residents may now access the application form via the county website or in person at the courthouse, and return the completed and notarized form by mail or in person, along with a copy of their deed, current tax receipt, and Missouri driver license or other state-issued ID. If the property is held in a family trust, a copy of the trust certificate is also needed. Deadline is January 31, 2025, for freezing tax assessment rates at the 2024 level.
In Taney County, commissioners passed an ordinance on May 20 pursuant to SB 190, per minutes posted on the county website. A Taney County resident also headed a petition drive attempting to clarify the SB 190 language and place the issue on the ballot. However, the Taney County Commission, realizing new legislation was under discussion at the state level, opted to wait for the state to approve SB 756 and passed a new ordinance in October in accordance with the updated state law.
The online form for Taney County is online at the county collectors’ office website: https://taneycountycollector.com. Seniors will be able
to access the form and submit their application starting January 2, 2025. The deadline for freezing the assessment at the 2024 rate is June 30, 2025, and residents must reapply each year during that January-June window.
The ordinance does allow for increases in the event of significant improvements to the residence, but in general, if an assessed value has risen, credit will be issued for the difference between the increase and the rate for the year of eligibility, starting with 2024 for currently qualifying residents. In future years, the deadline for new residents or those newly eligible will be June 30 the year following eligibili-
ty. Residents will be expected to provide proof of age, such as driver license, and documentation such as voter registration showing the property is the primary residence for a person over age 62. Situations such as family trusts, newly acquired residence, etc., will be handled on an individual basis once the form is completed, notarized, and submitted. Applications may be submitted in person or using the drop box at the Taney County Courthouse, or by mail. County Commissioner Sheila Wyatt shared that the firsttime process, including website updates and other details, is a learning experience both for residents and county staff
Ozarks Alive: Death, funeral and burial traditions
BY LUANNA FULLERTON, Entertainment Writer
Let me introduce you to Kaitlyn McConnell, an Ozarks enthusiast and seventh generation Ozarkian, who explores and writes about the people and places that make the Ozarks unique.
Kaitlyn has published over 450 stories since the beginning of her preservation project started in 2015. The majority of her work is based on the Southwest region of Missouri, but occasionally flows into Arkansas Ozarks. She states, “My goal is to document the way life is now so it’s better understood in the future.” She was born in Webster County and raised actually, in the same house that her grandmother bought in the early 1900s. When she started the project, she continued working another job to support herself, then in 2022, she made the decision to make it a full-time business for herself. She said, “It has been one of the greatest joys and privileges of her life to be able to spend the time learning and sharing with others about the region. This will help us learn and appreciate and consider who we are.”
Kaitlyn began writing when she was 17 years old. She graduated with
an Integrated Media degree from Drury University and then moved to Norway. This is when her desire to write about the Ozarks only deepened. So, she came back home and started the Ozarks Alive. She has served as chair of Springfield’s Landmarks Board and president of the Webster County Historical Society. She has penned a pictorial book on the history of Marshfield in 2011, which also was chosen as a Best Book by Missouri Life magazine, and published “Passport to the Ozarks” in 2019, and recently Volume 2 has been released.
At her talk, “Buried History: Death, Funeral and Burial Customs of the Ozarks,” Kaitlyn took us on a journey through discussion and photos of the different places that she has visited. Discussed were the different superstitions to services to the headstones and meanings. The topics were how the Ozarks and other regions have different and some similar tasks. She also shared the works that others in the know have shared on these topics. This has been documented as a part of an ongoing oral history series being produced by Missouri State University Libraries and Ozarks
Alive. She explained how the different topics have evolved with time. She spoke about the coin method, the laying out, sitting up with the dead, building of the coffins, Decoration Day different from Memorial Day. How embalming had evolved into what we know it today. Funerals from long ago to today and the differences in a time frame. She gave some history on the funeral home evolution and how women became morticians during a time period that was mostly a man or family
business.
I will say this was a very interesting talk, and if you ever have a chance to attend one of Kaitlyn’s talks or check out her media, I would invite you to do so. As John and I travel, we often visit different cemeteries to look for history and to pay our respects to the military/veterans that have moved from their “Earthly Bodies.” If you haven’t ever stopped at a very old cemetery, I encourage you to do so and look at the different shapes of the headstones. We shared
with Kaitlyn that we have learned from some of the caretakers that headstones would sometimes reflect the career that the person was involved in. There are so many interesting facts in what she is doing and discovering. Check out the Jones Memorial Chapel & Museum in Mt. Vernon in Lawrence County.
To contact Kaitlyn, email: kaitlyn@ozarksalive.com. Mail: P.O. Box 2004, Springfield, MO. 65801; or follow her on media at Ozarks Alive on ozarksalive.com or Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
McConnell shares fascinating regional burial traditions. (Photo by Luanna Fullerton)
Reader’s Corner: What you might not
BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff
Writer
Many residents and visitors around the Branson area have enjoyed meeting and chatting with Randy and Ruth Ryel, who opened Steamy Joe Café in downtown Branson in 2020. The restaurant subsequently relocated to The Bradford on Hwy. 265, where it is now owned and operated by the Flota family since the Ryels returned to Kansas to
live closer to family, but Ruth and Randy still enjoy visiting Branson, and Steamy Joe continues their tradition of friendliness and great food. What casual acquaintances may not have known, though, is the courage and obedience that led the Ryels to step out in faith in the late 1980s as independent Christian missionaries to China. That story is now available in Randy’s re-
cently released book, “No Fight, No Glory,” an honest look at the challenges they faced, along with God’s leading and provision. With their four young daughters, the Ryels left a newly-built home in a good community and Randy’s good job to go live and preach the Gospel in communist China, following God’s leading even though they did not have official Bible college credentials
Out of This World Teacher named
Marla Rider, Intervention Teacher from Blue Eye, was named Central Bank’s most recent Out of the World Teacher. Rider was recognized for going the extra mile for the students she guides. As Out of this World Teacher, Rider was interviewed on Legends 106.3 FM’s morning radio broadcast, Josh and Them. She also received a basket full of gifts including a plaque from The Sign Man, radio station items, and a variety of other gifts. Joining Rider at the radio station interview was her daughter, Sarah Rider. Sara also works for the Blue Eye School District, as a second grade teacher. They are pictured above with radio hosts Josh Clark and Kari Garrison. Central Bank and Legends 106.3 team up each month to honor an Out of This World Teacher. To nominate a teacher that is rocketing students to success, visit Legends1063.fm and click Out of This World Teacher, and fill in the form. Your favorite teacher might be named the next Out of this World Teacher. (Photo submitted)
and had no promise of financial support. The book highlights the struggles faced by independent expatriate missionaries, but readers will also see miraculous victories shared with some engaging humor and the spiritual insight gained only through experience. This Globe writer, friends with the Ryels from “way back,” recalls a letter from Ruth recounting family errands with four little blonde
girls in tow—in a country with a one-child policy tending to place higher perceived value on boys.
As you read about the family’s experiences with spiritual warfare and God’s miraculous provision, you’ll also learn more about that infamous onechild policy and the early beginnings of Chinese adoptions.
“It is my prayer the book will give you faith in God to
do whatever He says to do, and go where He tells you to go,” says Randy in the book’s cover excerpt, which he recently shared on Facebook. “If there is ‘No Fight, No Glory’ ever comes.”
The book is available at major online retailers or, if you’re passing through Arkansas City, Kansas, get a copy in person at the original Steamy Joe Café, and maybe a chance to catch up a bit with the author.
Wreaths Across America dedication at Snapp Cemetery, Forsyth, Dec. 14
Submitted to Branson Globe
“Say their names and they are never forgotten.” Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach the next generation. These are the goals of the Wreaths Across America program. The Taneycomo Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, will again sponsor this event locally, and along with thousands nationwide will gather to show our remembrance of these veterans by laying wreaths on their graves. The Chapter is grateful to also have participating, the Ozark Spring Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, who will present a proclamation and the Forsyth High School JROTC, who will provide the Honor Guard. This dedication honoring these patriots will occur on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Snapp Cemetery in Forsyth, MO, rain or shine.
The public is invited and welcome to attend this special event. Bring your children or grandchildren and teach them the value of our country’s freedom. Freedom is not free, and this event is a great time to share this important lesson with our youth, as well as our gratitude as adults. Come and honor our heroes with us.
This year, 2024, is the 18th year Wreaths Across America the nonprofit has existed, and in that time, it has grown to include more than 4,700 participating locations and more than 7,000 sponsorship groups nationwide.
From 1992 to 2006, 5,000 veterans’ wreaths have been placed at Arlington National Cemetery as a thank you to all those who enabled us to be free. We hope you will join us in volunteering and sharing the message as we endeavor to unite people in solidarity as we place sponsored veterans’ wreaths to honor our interred heroes across America.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a women’s service organization whose members can trace their lineage to an in-
dividual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War. Today’s DAR is dynamic and diverse, with over 185,000 members in 3,000 chapters in the United States and abroad. DAR members annually provide millions of hours of volunteer service to their local communities across the country and world. DAR chapters participate in projects to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Over one million members have joined the organization since its founding in 1890. If you are interested in learning more about DAR membership, visit their Facebook page, Taneycomo Chapter DAR, Forsyth, MO, or contact dartaneycomo@gmail.com
Oh my goodness, we weren’t expecting much but this place blew
Wreaths adorn a cemetery (FILE)
BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
This Sunday evening the Branson community will gather to enjoy the annual Adoration Parade.
The Adoration Parade, one of the community’s lon-
gest-standing holiday traditions, will begin at the Branson Convention Center. The parade runs along Branson Landing Boulevard and through Historic Downtown Branson. The Adoration Parade
features marching bands and floats presented by local churches and organizations that celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. There will even be an appearance by Santa Claus, himself, direct
from the North Pole.
The parade, which began more than seven decades ago, is a highlight of the holiday season in Branson, with residents and visitors of all ages. With a theme of Keeping
Christ in Christmas, the Adoration Parade kicks off at 5 p.m., immediately following the lighting of Branson’s Nativity scene that sets high above the shore of Lake Taneycomo on Mount Branson.
The 28-foot-tall nativity pieces were refurbished in 2012, following the city’s Leap Day tornado, and continue to share a message of Christ’s love to visitors and Branson residents each holiday season.
Christmas event slated for Pierce Arrow Theater, December 15
BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
The Pierce Arrow Theater will be hosting a special holiday event.
Christmas in the Ozarks is set for December 15.
This will be an evening of holiday fun and festivities for the entire family. Enjoy a fabulous performance by
Branson Chorale
BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
The Branson Chorale Christmas Concert is set for this Sunday.
The 5th Annual Christmas with the Chorale will
Nashville Roadhouse Live and A Garth Tribute. Santa and The Grinch will be on hand for photos, and there will be toys for the children
and many door prizes given out. Admission is free, and seating is general admission. Christmas in the
Ozarks will be held on December 15, beginning at 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Pierce Arrow Theater Box Office at 417336-8742. The Pierce Arrow Theater is located at 3069 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway.
Christmas Concert to be held this weekend
be an exciting night of your favorite holiday music performed by The Branson Chorale and Full Orchestra. The Branson Chorale is a group of vocalists from across
the Ozarks. The singers meet in August and then weekly thereafter to rehearse the music and choreography for their annual holiday concert.
The Branson Chorale is
a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, which relies on donations to make their concerts and events a reality. Donations to the Branson Chorale can be mailed to
Branson Chorale, P.O. Box 504, Branson, MO 65616. Christmas with the Chorale will be held Sunday, December 8, at the Branson United Methodist Church,
West 76 Country Boulevard. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. The doors open at 6:30
Branson area vocalist releases new song for the Christmas season
BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
A new Christmas song, recently released to radio, features a well-known Branson entertainer.
Sue Ann O’Neal Clark and Mary Fay Jackson, both award-winning vocalists and recording artists, teamed up to write and record “Christmas is Forever,” for Millennium Music Group’s Christmas Compilations on AirPlay Direct.
The touching holiday song got its start on a hot
summer day when Jackson, of Gainesville, Texas, was visiting O’Neal Clark, who lives in the Ozarks. The two were standing in the shade, waiting on a tow truck due when the inspiration struck. Said Sue Ann, “It was an almost unbearable, sweltering day and Mary, not paying attention to the heat, says ‘Christmas is Forever.’ I said, ‘What are you talking about? It is 105 degrees!’ Mary then told me about her idea for the song that
Mary Fay Jackson and Sue Ann O’Neal
• GROCERY GRAB
Continued from page 1A
lected almost $900 in groceries and other needed items, including hams and turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner. Michele said, “This
• RED TAPE
Continued from page 1A
development and growth; reduce the efficiency and effectiveness of delivering city programs and services; or have ambiguous code language. The results will identify, eliminate and adopt updated practices and codes to ensure the delivery of public services and programs is cost-efficient and effective.
All city departments were asked to develop a list of
is a true blessing for CAM and will help so many. Branson has such a caring community.”
Grocery grab puts the fun in fundraisers. JATC would like to thank all community members who
items frequently raised as an area of concern, such as Codes and processes. He said that when reviewing these concerns, staff was to list all items, ideas and possible ‘Action Needed’ for review by the City Administration. The process includes the item’s identity, an analysis of the effect, scope, action needed, outcome and consideration of the impact of any changes.
The Food Truck ordinance on the agenda for the meeting is an early example
‘Christmas is Forever’ because Jesus’ love is forever.”
O’Neal Clark and Jackson worked on the song, finishing the lyrics that same day, and collaborated by phone on the production. The holiday song was recorded at McClain Studio near Dallas, Texas.
Sue Ann O’Neal Clark is well-known in the Branson area. A long-time cast member of Presleys’ Jubilee, she also performed with Branson’s Hee-Haw show and Celebrate Sunday with Sue Ann at the IMAX.
purchased tickets for this event. They have something exciting happening regularly, so please be sure to check out their media pages.
If you would like to see a replay of the fun action, I
of how the initiative works. City staff and aldermen heard from food truck vendors that obtaining a business license, temporary use permit, and inspection needed to be easier. As a result, fewer food trucks desire to do business in Branson under current regulations.
The city hosted a Food Truck Vendor Roundtable on September 20, 2024, to hear businesses’ concerns.
Colussy points out that the information gathered at the Roundtable to make the
Mary Fay Jackson, a television and video producer, is the host of Texas Country Gospel, which airs on numerous TV and cable networks.
“I am so excited about the song that I am a part of with Mary Fay Jackson that has been released to radio for this Christmas season,” said Sue Ann. “The lyrics say, ‘It’s not a memory from the past, but a season that will last.’ Christmas is Forever!”
In recent years, Sue Ann has traveled extensively, sharing a message in music at churches throughout the country.
suggest that you watch the live feed playback on the ‘Junior Auxiliary of Taney County’ Facebook page for more information. For more information on the auxiliary, check out the website: jatcmo.org
process more efficient and cut overburdensome regulations is in the Food Trucks ordinance before the Board. Colussy said that the city has a desire to seek additional feedback from the community to see what other forms of ‘Red Tape’ are affecting our business community. “Staff has created a new webpage to seek feedback at: BransonMo.gov/RedTape.” He encouraged businesses and residents to “have your voice heard!” by submitting an inquiry to the website and/or attending the information session on December 12, 2024, at 5:30 p m.
Thank you for reading the
Clark collaborated to write and record “Christmas is Forever” (Photo submitted)
JATC Santa’s Gift House offers shopping experience to children
BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
The Junior Auxiliary of Taney County will host their annual holiday event, Santa’s Gift House, on December 14.
Santa’s Gift House offers an opportunity for children in the community to shop for Christmas gifts for those they love.
Children whose ages co-
‘That’s not my job’
By Stephanie Callahan, Owner/Lightspeed Electrical
If extension cords could talk, they would often be heard saying, “That’s not my Job.” We have seen extension cords used unsafely to accomplish tasks that they were not intended to do. Extension cords should not be:
Run behind drywall as permanent wires
• Permanently stapled to the siding of a house to power outdoor lights.
Laying across the yard to power tools in an outbuilding
It is important to remember that the insulative sheath on extension cords is not designed to handle sun baking and extreme temperatures, not to mention wind, ice and snow. These cords are intended for temporary power, but should not be used on an ongoing basis…but WHY?
The wire used for a regular 20amp circuit in your home is 12gauge wire, (which is rated to carry a MAXIMUM current of 20 amps).
A brown extension cord is made out of much thinner
Stephanie
Owner/Lightspeed Electrical
wire, and cannot handle 20 amps drawn through it continuously for an extended period of time. It can handle one lamp, or a two strings of Christmas lights, but it was never intended to supply power to a space heater or multiple small appliances. Overheated, melted extension cords are one of the major causes of house fires. Even heavy duty cords can get overheated and melt.
It is relatively easy for an electrician to install extra outlets in convenient places. If you are using extension cords, but would rather play it safe with the proper circuitry, give the team at Lightspeed Electrical a call at 417-239-5050.
incide with grades pre-K through fourth grade are invited to shop for gifts for their loved ones. Each child may select up to four gifts, at a cost of only 50 cents per gifts.
Gifts are provided by Junior Auxiliary members, and many of them are beautiful and unique handmade items.
Junior Auxiliary elves will help the children shop,
as well as wrap the gifts they choose. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand to visit with children and take photos.
Santa’s Gift House is set for Saturday, December 14,
from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The event will be held in the Community Room of the Branson Tri-Lakes News, 200 Industrial Park Drive, Hollister.
Response to Food Harvest good despite cold weather
BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
Realtors from around the Branson area braved the cold as they spent the day collecting groceries as part of the Holiday Food Harvest.
The Holiday Food Harvest began in the early 1990s, when what was then Hometown Radio (now Ozarks DynaCom) answered a request by Family Services for help with a food drive. The Tri-Lakes Board of realtors joined in the fun in 2006, and the two organizations continue to work together for the good of the community each
year. The food drive is held the day before Thanksgiving each year—largest grocery shopping day of the year— to help stock food banks for the holidays and coming winter months.
Last Wednesday’s food drive found realtors stationed at eight area grocery stores, in Branson, Hollister, Kimberling City and Forsyth. Food items they collected, as well as monetary donations, were given to Christian Action Ministries and Salvation Army. Travis Spratt, with Weichert Realty—The Grif-
fin Company, and Preston Robertson of Keller Williams were collecting donations at Rhodes Family Price Chopper in Branson.
“I’ve been doing this probably eight years,” said Spratt. “I love to help. It’s wonderful to meet people and to give back. And it’s so cool to see people with so much generosity.”
Preston Robertson, of Keller Williams Realty agreed, noting, “I’ve been a realtor for 11 years, and I think I’ve participated every year, so 10 or 11 years now. I do this because there is a need in our community.
And, our community steps up, every year, in a great way. It really makes my heart happy, just to see how much is gathered and how generous our community is, whether it’s been a good year or a bad year.” Robertson added, “Response this year has been good, despite the cold and the weather.”
At press time, there was no official word on how much food or cash was collected, however hopes were high that this year’s Food Harvest would beat last year’s totals of three tons of food and just over $20,600.
House of Hope: More than a warm place to sleep
BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
With the colder temperatures that the Ozarks have realized recently, the Warming Center, operated by House of Hope, has been busy providing warmth for those in need.
“The Warming Center opens when temperature is projected to be 32 or below overnight,” explained House of Hope’s Alex Sprinkle. “We utilize the KY3 hourly updates to gauge whether the center will be open or not. We will post on House of Hope’s social media if the center is open.”
On those cold nights, the Warming Center opens at 6 p.m. and closes at 7 a.m. the following morning. In addition to a warm place to sleep, guests enjoy a warm dinner, breakfast, snacks and more.
“When a new guest arrives at the center, they are greeted by our intake staff. The guest will complete intake paperwork and review the rules with our crew,” said Sprinkle. “Once they complete the intake process, they proceed to the Warming Center. A warm meal and a safe space to sleep await them inside. There is a men’s
side, a women’s side and a family room. Guests are welcome to utilize the shower facility and laundry facility while at the center. For entertainment, guests also have access to games and online streaming on the TV.”
An important part of the stay is the warm meal provided each evening. Since the House of Hope does not have a stove, generous area businesses donate meals for the guests.
“This year we have had Pappos, Florentina’s staff and Local Flavor provide meals for our guests,”
Sprinkle noted. House of Hope provides many opportunities for the community to help those who utilize the Warming Center. Said Sprinkle, “If you are a local restaurant business, food and beverage donations are always such a significant help. The guests enjoy the variety of food served and often try to pick out their favorites from week to week. If you’re a passionate community member who loves to serve, there is always a need for volunteers to love
Giving makes holidays brighter for all
BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
For many people, the holiday season is a time to look beyond your own needs and desires and help others who may be struggling.
The holidays are a time of reflection, where we truly appreciate what we have and acknowledge that others might not be as fortunate. Giving back is a powerful
way to express gratitude and bless others who are less fortunate. Giving helps to spread joy and hope during the holiday season.
Locally, there are a multitude of ways that you can give and help during the holiday season.
If you desire to make financial contributions this season, there are many
charities and organizations that would welcome those donations. For the Salvation Army, their Red Kettle Campaign, held each Christmas season, is their largest annual fundraising event. Bell ringers are stationed in front of many shopping venues through Christmas Eve, collecting funds for this vital nonprofit organization. You can help by placing cash in one of the red kettles. If you are short on cash, scan the QR code, located at each collection site and make an online holiday donation.
Food insecurity is always an issue in the Ozarks, but the need is greater during the holiday season and the winter months. Locally, Christian Action Ministries
and the Salvation Army operate food pantries and appreciate donations of non-perishable food items or cash to purchase food for our neighbors in need. If you prefer to give directly, why not place food items in one of the many Blessings Boxes located throughout the community. They can be found at Real Life Church in Hollister, Riley’s Treasures in downtown Branson, Christian Action Ministries on Highway 165, Flowers by the Stemmery in Hollister and City Hall in Forsyth. The Blessings Boxes are available to all, and can be filled with non-perishable food items and hygiene that greatly help those in need. There are many fami-
GIVING, PAGE 10A
Callahan,
Holiday Food Harvest (Photo by K.D. Michaels)
‘Thirty-one Biblical Virtues to Pray For Your Kids
1. Salvation—
“Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” (Isa. 45:8; 2 Tim.
2:10)
2. Growth in grace—
“I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 3:18)
3. Love—
“Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them. (Gal. 5:25; Eph. 5:2)
4. Honesty and integrity—
“May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection.” (Ps. 25:21)
5. Self-Control—
“Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do.” (1 Thess. 5:6)
6. Love for God’s Word—
• GIVING
Continued from page 8A
lies that struggle to provide Christmas gifts for their children, and a number of
“May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb.” (Ps. 19:10)
7. Justice—
“God, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do.” (Ps. 11:7; Mic. 6:8)
8. Mercy—
“May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)
9. Respect (for self, others and authority)—
“Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as Your Word commands. (1 Pet. 2:17)
10. Biblical self-esteem—
“Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:10)
11. Faithfulness—
“Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin
area businesses and organizations hold toy drives during this time of year. A fun way to give back during the holidays is by purchas-
virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts.” (Prov. 3:3)
12. Courage—
“May my children always be strong and courageous in their character. (Deut. 31:6)
13. Purity—
“Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions.” (Ps. 51:10)
14. Kindness—
“Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” (1 Thess. 5:15)
15. Generosity—
“Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share, and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age.” (1 Tim. 6:18–19)
16. Peace-loving—
“Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace.” (Rom. 14:19)
17. Joy—
“May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” (1
Thes. 1:6)
18. Perseverance—
“Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them.” (Heb. 12:1)
19. Humility—
“God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all.” (Titus 3:2)
20. Compassion—
“Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion.” (Col. 3:12)
21. Responsibility— “Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load.” (Gal. 6:5)
22. Contentment—
“Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength.”
(Phil. 4:12–13)
23. Faith—
“I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them.” (Luke 17:5–6;
Heb. 11:1–40)
24. A servant’s heart—
“God, please help my children develop servants’ hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men.” (Eph. 6:7)
25. Hope—
“May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Rom. 15:13)
26. Willingness and ability to work—
“Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work at it with all their heart, as working for the Lord and not for men.” (Col. 3:23)
27. Passion for God—
“Lord, please instill in my children a soul that ‘followeth hard after thee,’ one that clings passionately to You.” (Ps. 63:8)
28. Self-discipline—
“Father, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.” (Prov. 1:3)
appreciated.
29. Prayerfulness—
“Grant, Lord, that my children’s lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers.” (1 Thess. 5:17)
30. Gratitude—
“Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 5:20; Col. 2:7)
31. A heart for missions —
“Lord, please help my children to develop a desire to see Your glory declared among the nations, Your marvelous deeds among the peoples.” (Psalm 96:3) *** Content taken from “31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids,” by Bob Hostetler. Copyright © 2005. NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
ing new toys to place in a collection box to put a smile on a child’s face on Christmas morning. Throughout town you will find collection boxes for Toys for Tots and other organizations. As in years past, the Branson Globe is collecting toys for children in need. Drop-off points are at The Flagstore in downtown Branson, Motel 6 on Main Street, the Toy Museum/Beck Museums on West 76 Country Boulevard, and the Branson Globe office on Business 65 in Hollister. Organizations such as House of Hope also accept donations of new toys to help with holiday programs they provide for families in the community. Organizations that help
animals can also use support during the holiday season. The Taney County Animal Control is looking for donations of treats, toys, collars, leashes, thick blankets and much more. The Humane Society can also benefit from these items, as well as food for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. Why not pick up a bag or can of pet food while you are doing your holiday shopping, to donate to a local agency.
Area nursing homes try to make the holidays brighter for their elderly residents. They are seeking donations of fuzzy socks, snacks, sweat pants, sweat shirts, slippers, toiletries, nail polish and more, to be used as holiday gifts. Donations for the nursing homes can be dropped off at facilities, where they will be greatly
Many area organizations can benefit from donations of items you have at home. Good used clothing, used toys, working household items, decor and other items can be donated to organizations such as Riley’s Treasures, the United Methodist Church, the Humane Society, the Forsyth Library, and many others, to be sold in their thrift stores that are used help fund those nonprofits.
Often, giving of yourself and your time is the best way to help another person or organization during the holidays. Volunteer as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army, or to help with House of Hope’s Chimneys of Hope program. You might choose to volunteer with Elevate Branson, who helps
many in our community, not just during the holidays, but all year long. Why not volunteer to babysit for a friend so they can finish up last-minute holiday chores or to help your neighbor rake leaves or shovel their drive? You might help someone you know clean their house, or spend an evening helping them wrap presents for their children. There are countless ways to give back during the holiday season. And, by doing so, you will reap many benefits, including a boost in your mood, happiness and satisfaction, as well as a feeling of pride and accomplishment. When you find a way to help someone this holiday season, you will make the holidays brighter for them, and for yourself!
DEATH NOTICES
Create a new holiday tradition by giving blood or platelets at upcoming area drives
Submitted to Branson Globe
As holiday celebrations continue into December, the American Red Cross encourages donors to keep the blood supply top of mind by giving blood or platelets this month. Donors who come to give in December can give a gift and get a gift.
Type O negative blood donors and those giving platelets are especially urged to give now to help ensure patients can continue
• WARMING CENTER
Continued from page 8A
on our guests. Another way the community can help is by providing goodies to stock the Warming Center. Current needs include Hot Hands, feminine hygiene
to receive the care they need in the coming weeks.
Record-breaking November travel is expected to carry into the new year, which could cause some potential donors to put off blood donation until after the holiday season. In addition to millions of Americans traveling to spend holidays with loved ones, extended vacations are also surging in popularity at a time when fewer people may be avail-
items, coffee cups, plates, high-protein snacks and drinks.”
Donations can be dropped off at House of Hope, at 217 Veterans Boulevard in downtown Branson.
able to give lifesaving blood products.
Bring joy to someone facing a medical emergency; give something that means something with a blood or platelet donation. Schedule an appointment this December by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800RED CROSS (1-800-7332767).
For a limited time, those
In addition to the food and services provided, House of Hope guests should anticipate experiencing community.
“Our greatest hope at the Center is that guests will experience a sense of
who come to give Dec. 9-15, 2024, will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Those who come to give Dec. 16, 2024-Jan. 3, 2025, will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last. For details on both offers, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Gifts.
Branson
12/16/2024: 12:30 p.m.
- 5:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 420 West
belonging,” said Sprinkle. “There are so many of our guests who have experienced trauma and hardship. While they are at the center, we want them to know they are safe and they are loved.”
Main
• 12/30/2024: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Bungalows at Branson Meadows, 5351 Gretna Road
Hollister
• 1/3/2025: 11:30 a.m.3:30 p.m., Ozark Mountain YMCA, 175 Industrial Park Drive
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit
RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.
Beeler, Stella 80 Kissee Mills Snapp-Bearden Forsyth Chapel Droste, Lester Joseph 87 Forsyth Cremation of the Ozarks
BY HEATHER HAYGOOD
What is Christmas all about?
Whether you believe in God or not, you cannot deny that the average person is more willing to extend a hand to the needy and put their best foot forward during the holiday season. We want to feel good at Christmas. We want to reminisce, create new memories, and more than
any other time of year, we are hoping for a little more joy and warmth. I’ve often said that humanity and hardship are old companions. We can see that hardship is at the forefront of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s mind as he wrote Christmas Bells during the American Civil War. I have found myself, like him, questioning the goodness of humanity. I think it is very easy to feel small and useless when we look at the landscape of the world and see the hurt and the tragedy people are enduring. What can I do to ease the world’s suffering? What can anyone do to ease the
world’s suffering? I am a firm believer in the fact that, although we cannot save the whole world, each one of us, as individuals, can save the world we are called to save.
When we think of saving the world, we often think of moments of grandeur or heroism, but the truth is that the world is often saved by little moments, one life at a time. Our world is saved by these moments that may go unnoticed by everyone else. For one this might look like a classroom of 25 children and the ability to see the one child who carries a bit more sorrow in their eyes. One understanding
SEE HEATHER HAYGOOD, PAGE 5B
Columnist
pinion
First Amendment to the United States Constitution Congress shall make no law respecting an establishement of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
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BY GARY J. GROMAN a.k.a. The
While reflecting on Pearl Harbor this week, as he does every year at this time, the Ole Seagull’s thoughts went to the price a nation and its people pay for the freedoms and quality of life they enjoy: “eternal vigilance, action and unity.” The sacri-
BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS Staff Writer
What do my grandkids, my cat, and I have in common? Well, for one thing, we all need boundaries in order to function safely and at our best.
Over Thanksgiving weekend, my husband and I enjoyed plenty of family time, albeit a little spread out with our three adult kids having different schedules. We loved being with our three adorable grandchildren at area attractions and in our home, leading to the
BY JOSHUA HESTON StateoftheOzarks Media & Design
T
he cold night wind is in the elm branches, making a faint whistling sound. From somewhere nearer the creek comes the light scratching of talons on branch. Starlight is twinkling, save for patches of black, denoting clouds moving in. The weather is changing, getting colder. There is white on the north shadows of the forest floor, white of frost that never melted this afternoon. There is no other light. The night of the dark moon is here. Thanksgiving week. Black Friday. Black Friday
BY TIFFANY GRAVETT Staff Writer
fices made at Pearl Harbor on that fateful morning of December 7, 1941, and the cost to our country of the 9/11 attack solemnly testify to what happens when that price is not wholly paid.
“Vigilance” means being “vigilant.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “vigilant” as “Carefully noticing problems or signs of danger.” One of the first warnings of the importance of vigilance came 151 years before Pearl Harbor and 211 years before September 11, 2001. In a 1790 speech, John Philpott Curran said, “The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance, which con-
dition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt.”
In the 1980s, decades before September 11, 2001, George P. Shultz, U.S. Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan, said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance and a willingness to act in its defense.” Yet, America was ill-prepared for September 11, 2001. The horrific event had a big impact on America’s way of life. This is another consequence of not being vigilant and being willing to act. Most of the time, the warning for “vigilance” primarily applies to physical attacks on
America by its enemies. In his 1838 Lyceum address, a young Abraham Lincoln warns of another, more alarming situation where vigilance is critical. He said, “At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time or die by suicide.”
Jesus Christ, the world’s only perfect man, said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house
divided against itself will not stand.” Today, December 2, 2024, an Ole Seagull wonders how many reasonable people would describe our Nation as anything less than “divided?”
Many have said, in one way or another, “Those who ignore the lessons of history will repeat it.” With the world situation as it is and our divided Nation, an Ole Seagull’s prayer is that our Nation has the vigilance to detect danger and the unity to act before it impacts. Can anyone practically believe that failure to react to the warnings in a united way will be any less horrible today than in 1941 or 2001?
Reflections: Lessons from cats and grandkids
realization that 1) we are not as young and flexible as we used to be, and 2) our son and daughter-in-law are doing a masterful job. We couldn’t be prouder of how they manage jobs and church ministry while homeschooling a six-year-old, keeping up with a threeyear-old who asks deeper questions than some high school students, and chasing little Gil, who has progressed amazingly through his preemie challenges. At 20 months, he finds and opens anything that can be opened—cabinets, fizzy drink cans, the cat food— and gets across the room much faster than I do. Which leads to the subject of boundaries: While there are household rules and the kids are generally obedient, they haven’t reached the point of making entire-
ly good decisions on their own; they don’t think about the risks of dashing off at Silver Dollar City without a grownup or chasing a toy too close to the downward step into Nana’s family room. They need boundaries, just as my kids did years ago, with responsibility gradually shifting to practice good decisions and, yes, learn some things the hard way. The grandkids also learned that while my cat, Dexter, is generally friendly and playful, he doesn’t take kindly to sudden invasions of his nap space.
As for Dexter, he enjoys the outdoors, but is not allowed outside unsupervised unless he’s on a tether close to the house. I don’t want him to be a nuisance in people’s flower beds, but also, our neighborhood is close to the lake, with shoreline
trees housing a population of hawks and eagles. I know the danger, but the cat is likely preoccupied with ground-level pursuits (literally), not thinking about the danger of being pursued himself or being hit by a car.
He’s a smart cat, but boundaries help keep him safe from things he may not even know about.
And then there’s me, and every other human. Adam and Eve were given boundaries, but their yielding to temptation led to problems for all of us. Israel suffered consequences from violating God’s command not to dabble in pagan religious practices. Many Proverbs emphasize the importance of avoiding risky situations.
The Bible gives guidelines for moral purity, faithful marriage, financial management, and more, and our
experience and observations have taught us there are reasons for those boundaries.
An extended family member, who has struggled with alcoholism, recently shared that she now has boundaries, developed with help from a respected recovery ministry. She is careful about where to go for fun, and with whom, to avoid temptation and possible unwise choices. She is growing spiritually as she learns to enjoy fellowship in safe ways that honor God and protect her from consequences.
Been Thinkin’ About...The dark moon quiet
weekend. A time of houses warm and overflowing, of sleeping, stuffed onto the couches before big screen commercials; a time of crammed and crafty parking lots. I drove by the mall Friday and the lots were full, traffic backed up waiting to get in, shoppers hoping for a lone space. Retailers are full of hope after a hard economic season of loss. I wish them luck; less so to the driver who abruptly turns in front of me. Another swerves into my lane and I hit the brakes. My Basset dives nose-first to the dash, then huddles on the floorboards, sad eyes looking up at me. “Seriously, dude, I’m just trying to get to the bank.”
On social media, photos of a vaunted city mall pop up on my feed. The theme is nostalgia. Back in the good old days, the post suggests, we had monolithic parking lots with thousands of shop-
many of us, sadly, relate with these words of Charlie Brown in the TV classic, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” ....
pers clamoring of goods for the holidays. I see little about which to be nostalgic. That time has certainly not passed. ‘Tis the season, of course. My heart yearns for the woods and the cold dark calling. This weekend is, perhaps appropriately, the weekend of the new moon, or dark moon. Moon cycles are surprisingly simple for the uninitiated: Over four weeks’ time, the moon will pass from dark (or new) to waxing (getting larger) first quarter, to full moon (werewolves abound) to waning (getting smaller) quarter, to another dark (or new) moon, just like clockwork. Older generations planted by the moon sign, chose certain actions (like cutting hair) by the moon sign. Beans planted in the two weeks of the waxing moon produce better, it was said. Root vegetables should be planted when the moon is waning, as that’s
when the underground powers are strongest. Silly old superstitions, perhaps, but in a secular world devoid of belief, we still reach for anything with apparent power, often grasping the artificial and commercial.
Modern nights are strange things. We scarcely look for the moon, or notice its subtle changes. The idea of natural rhythms of things, or elemental energies, is relegated to the superstitious. That’s how, in case you wondered, our old cultures were eroded. Just call the old ways your choice of epithets — dumb, silly, backwards — until the upcoming generation walks away completely, worshipping instead at a secular altar of modern. False gods don’t change, they just change masks, and human nature is irrepressibly predictable. And yet the elemental, the meaningful, still remains.
We are created by a loving God who wants the best for each of us. As we navigate a fallen world with many risks, accepting and paying attention to God’s boundaries can help us enjoy life and achieve his good plans for us. “May
“I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel. I just don’t understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents, and sending Christmas cards, and decorating trees and all, but I’m still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed.”
If I’m being completely honest, my feelings often concur with our good
ol’ friend, Charlie. I see so many who are suffering deeply and I ask the same question Charlie asks after finding that no one sent him a Christmas card and thinking that no one likes him –“Why do we need a holiday season to emphasize it?” Why? Why did my young, newlywed friend suddenly lose her husband? Why is another friend dealing with a broken marriage? And why is another friend’s mother in the hospital on her deathbed? Why am I barely making ends meet? And on Christmas? Why, God?
Many times as those questions riddle our minds, it seems as though God remains distant and silent. Meanwhile, the lights and trees and stockings remind us of a season that is supposed to feel joyful. Then we often feel frustrated that we can’t recreate the holiday warm fuzzies we had when we were young and carefree. American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was well acquainted with such frustration at Christmastime. In 1861, he lost his beloved wife of 18 years in an accidental fire. On
Some call the rhythms of the moon — and the watching thereof — witchcraft. The dark of night is, after all, the realm of witches and ghosts (haunts, here in the hills). And the night of the New Moon is said to be powerful indeed. The number of place names for the devil are formidable here in the Ozarks: Devil’s Backbone, Devil’s Den, Devil’s Promenade... No wonder we are afraid of the dark, but creation need not be the domain of evil. Instead, there can be solace. Early winter is a strange time. Suicides, it is rumored, go up. Addictions, pretty verifiably, rise. Our vaunted modernity with its promises of tech and happiness have come up all too empty, gutting generations, replacing Ozarks bootleg liquor with meth and opioid addiction. The devastation lies just below the surface. Don’t
Christmas day of 1863, his son was away fighting with the Union Army during the Civil War. Upon hearing the sound of Christmas bells that day, he penned these now famous words sung every year around this time... And in despair I bowed my head; “There is no peace on earth,” I said; “For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!”
The words, “peace on earth, good-will to men”
Ole Seagull
which passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
uring this “most wonderful time of the year”
SEE JOSHUA HESTON, PAGE 5B SEE TIFFANY GRAVETT, PAGE 5B
BY LAURI LEMKE THOMPSON, Columnist
In case you think the Bible is boring, try this story. It may just leave you wanting to read more.
So, “once upon a time”
(except this is a true story!) a God-appointed spokesperson named Hosea was told by the Lord to
BY EVANGELIST TIM KIDWELL,
Church of Christ
Iarrived at the hospital around 1:30 a.m. Upon entering the labor room where my wife lay, I saw all the familiar equipment.
Beside her bed was the machine used to monitor contractions and our unborn baby’s heartbeat. But something was wrong. All the nurses and technicians in the room were very somber and quiet. It was obvious that a serious concern had developed. I went to my wife’s side. Her eyes were filled with tears. In a shaky, quiet voice she said, “They have not been able to hear the baby’s heartbeat.”
The room suddenly felt cold; freezing cold! With one hand I grasped my wife’s, and with the other, I stroked her head. Words
Unrelenting love of God
marry a prostitute, Gomer. What a surprise that had to be! It must have been hard for Hosea to understand, but he did as he was told.
Gomer repeatedly proved unfaithful to Hosea, spending time with many men. Eventually she was rejected by all of them, though, and ended up on the slave block. Then, wonder of wonders, Hosea buys her— not to be his servant but to be restored in the position of his wife.
Tongues must have wagged over both the initial marriage and the two of them getting back together. Many surely wondered
why on earth would Hosea pay money to buy that despicable woman. It was a head-scratcher to their neighbors—and to us. Salespeople on TV sometimes say, “But wait! There’s more!” Well, I need to say that here because there is more. What makes this story so meaningful is that it goes way beyond two people. Hosea represents God, and Gomer represents wayward Israel— and Gomer also represents you and me. By sinning, we have demonstrated our unfaithfulness to God. We leave the One who knows us best yet loves us
Our baby died
would not form in my mouth.
At that moment the door to the room swung open and our doctor quickly entered. He immediately went to work trying to find our baby’s heartbeat. His face was emotionless; just a blank stare as he worked. The doctor picked up an instrument which looked like a small, slender rod with a corkscrew on the tip. He began to explain that he was going to twist the corkscrew tip into the baby’s body. It would be able to discover any electrical impulses that might be present and identify life. I backed up to the room’s window and held my breath.
“Please God,” I prayed, “Let us hear a heartbeat.”
The doctor turned his monitor on, twisted a few knobs and after what seemed liked hours, he looked up and quietly said, “I am so sorry, but your baby has died.” He then abruptly left the room.
“No! No! No!” My whole body was screaming. “I do not accept this! There must be a mistake. You must be talking about someone else’s baby. Someone who does
not want their baby. Someone who does not love their baby. Someone who does not believe in God. Someone who does not love God.” Then I looked at my wife and thought, “And how I love this woman and I know she loves me. With all this love there must be a mistake.”
The doctor soon returned to the room. His eyes were now very red. It was obvious that he had been crying. He shared in our sorrow. The doctor then informed us, “We need to begin a potassium drip which will hasten the delivery process.” The doctor’s voice sounded very far away. I guess I was in shock.
In 2 Samuel 12 we read of King David as he was experiencing deep grief over the sickness of his newborn son. David lay on the floor of his bedroom for seven days refusing to eat or drink. News that the infant had died spread to David’s servants. The king saw them whispering and asked, “Is the child dead?” They hesitantly confirmed his suspicion. What would the king do now? How much more drastic might his behavior become?
most—and for what? For things that end up either controlling us, or becoming our idols? For things that ultimately do not satisfy? Yet God is always willing to take us back.
Gomer had to be shocked when Hosea brought her back into his home. After everything that had gone down, she may have thought she’d have to work hard to please him, but the Bible indicates Hosea accepted her as she was.
Jennifer Rothschild, in her Bible study guide “Hosea: Unfailing Love Changes Everything”, urges us to throw away our “to do lists
Upon hearing this news David got up, bathed, put on clean clothes and worshiped God. Then he requested food. His servants were dumbfounded. David explained himself by saying, “While the child was alive I fasted and wept hoping that the Lord would be gracious to me so that my child might live. But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”
Notice the sequence of events. David grieved; turned to God; then began to live life again. He did not blame God, himself, or anyone else. My wife and I chose to follow this divine pattern after the death of our baby girl. God does not remove all of our suffering nor does he offer an explanation for it. He does, however, care and understand. The apostle Peter encourages us to “cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7). In heaven will be friends and loved ones with whom I have shared many wonderful times. I have precious memories of
for God” and instead just “be” His beloved. He is the Lover of our souls, she reminds us.
Charles Wesley, back in the 1700s, penned these words: “My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”
And in more modern days, Bill Gaither and Larry Gatlin composed a song that reminds us that each of us is a “Greatly blessed and highly favored, imperfect but forgiven child of God.”
Let that sink in for a while.
“Take words with you
those who have gone on before me. But, also in heaven will be the soul of a precious baby girl who has never met her earthly parents. A little girl who has not felt the love of those who gave her life. Even now, years after her physical death, I carry the love within me that belongs only to her. I am convinced that I will one day be able to transport this love into heaven and give it to our sweet daughter. Now, more than ever, I look forward to going home to heaven. This incentive comes from trusting and keeping my faith in God as I have experienced things in life which are bad. And that is good!
The following is a poem I wrote several years after our baby’s death. My love for her will never die.
My Little Angel BY TIM KIDWELL Life began in the womb last night. By love our Angel was formed out of sight. Safe from the world with all its strife; We touched each other as husband and wife.
Our Angel was growing more each day; We could feel her kick, squirm and play.
and return to the Lord…” the Bible tells us in Hosea 14:2. Those would be words of confession, which just means agreeing with God about your sin. Then in verse 4 the Word of God declares “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for My anger has turned away from them.” (NIV).
“Grace is like being able to retrieve files you accidentally deleted, even though the techs say they’re gone forever,” author Fritz Ridenour wrote.
If you think you’ve done something God could never forgive, you’re simply wrong.
We wanted to hold her, but could not just yet; She was still forming in God’s safety net.
The love we felt building was unbelievably strong; We would soon take her home and sing a lullaby song. The doctor said just a few more minutes remained; Our desire to hold our Angel could not be restrained.
We were together, husband and wife; Waiting to share our Angel’s sweet life. Curly black hair, a cute little nose; Rose petal lips, and on each foot five precious toes.
But the doctor slowly shook his head as he turned to say; Your little Angel has gone away. Our tears flowed freely, the pain was deep; But nothing could awaken our Angel from her sleep.
Now in paradise she dwelt; On earth, just her picture was left. Our sweet Angel was gone; Leaving us to hold only a lullaby song.
My Angel cannot come to live with me; But to her I can go and forever be, And give her the love that is hers to keep; My dear, little precious, Angel sweet.
Snuggle up, sit back, and relax on a twinkling tram tour at Big
Guests are invited to take in festive lights and displays around the property while enjoying a complimentary
Tram
Branson
BY DAVE RAMSEY, CEO, Ramsey Solutions, and an
eight-time No. 1 national best-selling author, and
host of The Ramsey Show
Dear Dave, I have $100,000 in student loan debt. Since the amount is so large, is there
BY HEATHER TANKERSLEY, REALTOR®,
provides services for residential, commercial, land and lake properties in the Branson Tri-Lakes area.
W
ith the holidays right around the corner, homeowners planning to move have a decision to make: sell now or wait?
Some may even consider taking their house off the market until next spring. But is that the best choice?
Because at this time of year, your home can really stand out.
Here’s the thing: there are
BY GEORGE KAMEL, personal finance expert, and host of The EntreLeadership Podcast, with
the Ransey Network
If you’re trying to build wealth, I’m going to take a wild guess and say you’d like to protect your wealth
Dave Says: Your income is the key
a special place in your Baby Steps plan for it?
Jules
Dear Jules, I hope you have a nice, large income with which to fight that big pile of student loan debt. I’ve seen even worse situations, though. I’ve talked to people who went $200,000 into debt for a four-year degree in a field where they’ll make $45,000. Yes, that kind of thinking and behavior is out there, and it’s ridiculous.
The fact that it’s a large
Make
plenty of buyers out there who want to be in a new home by the holidays, and your house might be just what they’re looking for. As an article from Redfin says: “. . . there is typically less inventory in the housing market this time of year, allowing your home to easily stand out among the available inventory. And though there are technically fewer buyers overall, the homebuyers that are looking are far more serious about finding a home within a specific timeframe. . . selling your home during the holidays might be your best present this year.”
Here are four key reasons you may not want to wait to sell your house.
1. Serious Buyers Are Looking Right Now
The holiday season doesn’t put a pause on the desire to own a home. Sure,
amount of student loan debt doesn’t change anything. Baby Step 2 is where you pay off all debt except for your home. So, don’t let this student loan debt hang around for years and years. You’ve got to get focused and intense about getting control of your money. That means living on a strict, basics-only monthly budget. After that, start throwing every nickel and dime you can scrape together, and save toward paying off those student loans as fast as possible.
some buyers might delay their search until next year, but others have a reason they need to move now. These buyers are highly motivated and ready to make a serious offer. As Investopedia says: “Anyone shopping for a new home between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is likely going to be a serious buyer. Putting your home on the market at this time of year and attracting a serious buyer can often result in a quicker sale.”
2. You Have an Inventory Edge
While there are more homes coming to the market right now, overall, the number of houses available to buy is still low. So, what does that mean for you? If you work with a trusted agent to price your house right, it could still sell pretty quickly. That’s because
Your income is your largest wealth-building tool, Jules. You can’t save, and plan for the future, when all your money is flying out the door to pay off debt.
— Dave
***
Find a good money market account
Dear Dave, My wife and I are completely debt-free, and we’re saving up for our first house. We currently have about $140,000 in savings, and we’d like to buy a home
today’s buyers are on the hunt for quality options – and your home may be exactly what they’re searching for.
3. You Have Control Over Your Showings
Selling during the holidays doesn’t mean constantly disrupting your schedule. You have the flexibility to set up showings at times that work best for you. This is especially helpful during a busy season, and many buyers are likely to be more flexible with their schedules since they often have extra time off around the holidays. Now, it’s always better to offer more flexible access to your house. But the reality is, you don’t have to stop the process entirely –especially when you have a great agent to help you navigate each step along the way.
with cash when the time is right. Where should we put our money, so it will work for us while we save more?
Andy Dear Andy, If I were in your shoes, and maybe looking at a window of three or four years, I’d just park the cash in a good money market account. You won’t make a lot off it, but your money will be safe. I mean, all you’re looking for is a smart place to stash it for a little while. When it comes to long-
term investing, I’m a big fan of growth stock mutual funds. The problem with that in your situation would be the volatility of the market. By the time you’ve saved up more money, and spent time deciding on a house, the market may be down. You two are in a great place financially right now. With the path you’re on, just imagine how incredible it will be in a few years to have a new home and be debt-free!
— Dave
4. Holiday Décor Can Make Your House Shine
For many buyers, a tastefully decorated home can create a warm, inviting atmosphere. It’s easy for them to imagine holiday gatherings and cozy nights in a space that feels just right. Keep your choices simple to let your home’s charm shine through. An article on holiday home-selling advises:
“If you’re selling around a holiday and have decorations up, make sure they
Line There are plenty of good reasons to put (or keep) your house on the market during the holidays. Let’s connect to see if this is your moving season. It’s Your Move! I believe every homeowner should feel confident when
How to play defense as you build wealth, get the right insurance without breaking the bank
as well. That’s where our oft-forgotten friend insurance comes in. Dave Ramsey puts it like this: “Insurance doesn’t make you money. Insurance protects the things that make you money.” Basically, insurance is your safeguard against the things that could really set you back financially, like a car accident or a hospital stay. As you may have noticed, insurance prices have skyrocketed over the past few years. According to a report
by Insurify,“The average annual [home insurance] rate increased by 19.8% between 2021 and 2023, from $1,984 to $2,377.”
And as of October 2024, car insurance premiums were up 14% year over year.
Let’s find out why this is happening, and what you can contol. Next week, we’ll discuss how to get the insurance you need at the right price. Why are insurance costs rising?
You’re not alone if you feel like you’re getting screwed over by an insurance company you’ve been loyal to for years. Let’s zoom out for a second. When you get insurance, you’re transferring risk to the insurance company. If you file a claim that gets approved, you get a payout. The more claims an insurance company has to pay for, the higher the premiums (the amount you pay for your insurance policy) become. Now let’s talk car insurance. Since the pandemic, cars have become way more expensive. Due to that and the fact that they have more features and technology than ever before, the cost to replace them has gone up, which causes premiums to be on the rise. For instance, in 2016 the average price of a new car was $34,000, and in 2023, that number rose to $47,000. Ouch!
In terms of health care, prescription drugs are getting more expensive, which is the fastest-growing reason
why health insurance is going up. Inflation, the need for mental health care, and just a general increase in people with chronic conditions also affect the rise in health care insurance premiums. What can you control?
• First thing: Medicare’s open enrollment period ends December 7. If you’re 65 or older, don’t forget that you qualify for Medicare. So, if you’ve been procrastinating (but you’re reading this before December 7), there’s no better time than today to sign up for a new plan. (Just to clarify, this is the deadline for folks who already have Medicare to make changes to their existing plan or switch plans.)
Homeowners insurance: Where you live is something you can control. If you live in an area with more extreme weather (hello, flood zones) or in a place with a higher crime rate, you should
expect higher premiums. Also, if you improve your security features at your house—like deadbolting your locks or adding an alarm system—you could qualify for some extra savings once it’s time to renew your policy.
Car insurance: Factors like your driving record, commute, payment history, the type of vehicle you have, plus any extra safety features in your car all contribute to your car insurance rate. But be warned: If you have a newer car with some fancy-pants tech, it’s going to be more expensive to insure. You’re quite literally in the driver’s seat here—if you want a cheaper rate, get a used (and less tech-savvy) car. Health insurance: You can choose a high-deductible health plan. With this type of plan, you take on a little more risk by having a higher deductible (the amount you have to pay until the insurance kicks in), but that risk comes with a lower premium, which means you’ll be holding on to some extra money from month to month. As a bonus, some high-deductible health plans give you access to a Health Savings Account (HSA). An HSA is great because it’s triple-tax advantaged: You fund it with pre-tax money, that money grows tax-free, and you can make tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. Score!
BY JODY JOHNSON GODFREY Wellness Design Specialist
Alzheimer’s is an ongoing and progressive degeneration of cognition which destroys brain cells and slows down or halts the ability to remember, recognize, reason, use language and recall familiar places. As well, it can elicit a broad range of behavioral or personality changes.
Hope for Alzheimer’s Disease: Lecanemab
In January 2023, the FDA gave a green light for this drug Lecanemab due to its ability to clear out amyloid plaque (fatty substances in the brain that impairs or stops information processing). Christopher Van Dyck, M.D., director of Yale’s Alzheimer’s Disease Unit was lead author of a published study (Jan. 5, 2023 issue) in The New England Journal of Medicine that shared results of a Phase lll Clinical Trial on Lecanemab. Dr. Van Dyck is also a paid consultant for Eisai, the pharmaceutical company who sponsored the trials. This drug is sold under the brand name, Leqembi, and
made by Eisai in partnership with Biogen, Inc. It is a biweekly infusion that works by neutralizing or removing a sticky protein in the brain that seems to advance Alzheimer’s. According to Dr. Van Dyck, this drug, unequivocally, slows the decline of Alzheimer’s, and it is the first time in twenty years that the FDA has granted full approval on a drug for Alzheimer’s, even though it comes with a “black box” warning due to side effects, though mild and minimal. It is imperative to get an early diagnosis for Alzheimer’s as I have read that all medications available work best when administered
“early.” In the trial utilizing 1,795 subjects, Lecanemab slowed the clinical decline by 27% after 18 months of use as compared to the placebo group. By the end of the trial study, participants showed a significant reduction (via imaging) by the end of the trial; a 26% slowing of decline in a key secondary measure of cognitive function as well as a 37% slowing of decline in daily living activities compared, again, to the placebo group.
Dr. Van Dyck, naturally, wants to see higher percentages but he does not see this as a small effect but rather as a healthy “starting point” for a bigger number of suc-
From our readers... Why does humankind hate himself?
Sounds terrible, doesn’t it? But more and more people are asking, “What is this world coming to?”
The Creator of the universe put everything in its place on the earth to work in a fashion that with mankind doing his part there would be a paradise and everlasting life for man. But in the past 200 years mankind
• HEATHER HAYGOOD
Continued from page 1B
teacher can give a child enough hope to push through the darkness. I would know. I was that child. For another,
• JOSHUA HESTON
Continued from page 2B
ask, don’t tell, just drive on by. Let a social worker deal with the problem. That’s what they get paid
• TIFFANY GRAVETT
Continued from page 2B
come from Luke 2:14 when the glorious hosts of angels declared to the shepherds the Saviour’s birth. I have myself wondered, like Longfellow, why that peace and good-will seem non-existent most of the time because of the pain and hatred I see all around me. But maybe the God who asks us to walk by faith and not by sight had something different in mind. Isaiah prophesied the coming of Jesus, saying that he would be…. ….despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain...surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering...he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 3a, 4a, 5-6). I once heard a preacher tell this story… “An art contest was held to find “the perfect picture of peace.” The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and
has been able to “ruin the earth.” Many people don’t like what is taking place in these present times and wish there was a way out of our present circumstances.
We could go on and on regarding all the causes to the world’s situation. But let’s look at just a couple of them. First: war. There are several going at present. How can a
saving the world might look like meal deliveries during the holiday season. For a struggling mother to receive a meal she probably couldn’t otherwise afford means she
for. The real witchcraft of our society happens out in the open, beneath the afternoon heat of the sun, while we — overwhelmed by our own self-imposed demands
paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally, the great day of revelation arrived, and the field had been narrowed down to just two paintings. As a judge pulled the cover from the first one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner! But when the second painting was uncovered, the crowd gasped in surprise. A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating
few people have such power to be able to have thousands of their fellow man killed without any regard for life.
And the destruction of cities, land, animals, vegetation, etc. is disgusting. What has man accomplished with any wars? Left a mess for future people to rebuild. Plus, the pain and suffering of civilian populations is overwhelm-
is seen. It is a reminder that her struggles are not going unnoticed by God. I would know. I was that mother. I, for one, do believe in God, and I am thankful for
of schedule — walk callously by. “There, but for God’s grace, go I.” Fears are often misplaced. Above, the night is dark, blackened by lack of
spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind, and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. But in that tree, a little bird had built a nest. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.
Perhaps today, you’ve been guilty of searching for the kind of peace in the first picture. But the problem is that IT JUST DOESN’T EX-
ing. Yet a “few” men are responsible for all the demise. “Greed” seems to be at the root of the whole problem.
And with all the trouble they produced, Guess what? They are going to die like the rest of man and have nothing for all the trouble they caused. (Eccl.9:5,6 &10).
People in high positions around the world are ad-
the yearly reminder that God sent love in human form to a world that did nothing to earn it. I try to remember this as I go about my life. Love isn’t about
moon. Time stops. There is a soft, almost imperceptible brush of feathered wing on night air. A great owl is aloft, hunting. The creek water is cold, so cold, black
IST. Real peace—the kind in the second picture—is one that’s ready and available to you when you take shelter in the arms of the Savior.”
Turns out, God’s promise of peace was not that we would be exempt from pain. His promise was that Jesus, Immanuel, God with us–the
cess stories down the road with longer treatment durations. Dr. Van Dyck is also experimenting on treatment with “preventative” dosages. These would be for people who are considered high risk whose MRIs have already shown brain plaque build-up (amyloid).
So far the side effects from Lecanemab are quite “benign” purely as a spin-off from the infusion delivery process. They have notated flushing, chills, fever, rash and body aches that can easily be eliminated via diphenhydramine or acetaminophen. Another issue is simply a bit of temporary fluid retention in the brain that will skew an MRI reading. They will just slow or pause the infusion until the fluid dissipates. Also, there can be mini brain bleeds which cause no real damage, according to Dr. Van Dyck. The price for Leqembi is $26,500 annually, which Medicare underwrites 80%.
mitting mankind is “ruining the earth” with his activities which include all the “wonderful” modern science that is “positive” and yet much of it proving negative in many areas. The best thing is how medical knowledge has been so valuable for people everywhere improving life. The world news keeps us updated on all the
what we have done right or earned. Love is freely given, and it is an encounter with unconditional love that often changes the course of someone’s life.
and rushing over rocks reflecting scant starlight. Here, there are no demands. Here, there is hope, a dark strength fortifying our inevitable return to the fold,
bad issues happening so we can’t forget we are headed for our own demise due to bad management of our earth. As mentioned, our Creator had everything in place that the earth would be a paradise forever if mankind would do his part. That’s why it is recorded in the book of Revelation
SEE LETTER, PAGE 7B
Merry Christmas! I would love to hear from you! Please reach out to me at my website, HSHaygood. com, or find me on Facebook under HS Haygood.
to the countless, clamoring voices. Night, silent as a snowfall, save for the cold night wind, whistles faintly in the bare elm branches, here in the dark moon quiet.
man who suffered the ultimate pain for humankind–would never leave us or forsake us. He understands our pain, and he offers his perfect peace that passes understanding to those who cast their cares upon him. It’s not the lights and frills of Christmastime that bring us joy. It’s who they point to. Jesus, Light of the World. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
Van Dyck (Photo submitted by Jody Johnson Godfrey)
C of O Jazz Ensemble to present free concert, December 13
The College of the Ozarks Jazz Ensemble will present a concert on Friday, December 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Auditorium on the C of O campus. Admission is free and open to the public.
“We hope you can come out and join the College of the Ozarks Jazz Ensemble for a fun evening of live jazz. The group is absolutely fantastic this semester,” said Dr. Kevin Powers, director. “Along with other selections, we will be playing two professional level charts, “Nutville” performed most notably by the great Buddy Rich Big Band and “Yo Tannenbaum!” by the fantastic jazz performer and composer Gordon Goodwin. This will be a fun and exciting night!” Hollister School District announces students of the month for December
The Hollister R-V School District is proud to recognize four outstanding students as the December Students of the Month. These students were celebrated for their academic achievements, leadership qualities and positive contributions to their school communities at the December Board of Education meeting.
The honored students are:
Grace Millikan, first grade at Hollister Early Childhood Center
Aubrey Laughery, third grade at Hollister Elementary School
• Abagehl Clift, eighth grade at Hollister Middle School
Harley Viall, senior at Hollister High School
Each of these students has exemplified the core values of the Hollister R-V School District through their hard work, dedication and positive attitudes. The district applauds their accomplish-
ments and looks forward to their continued success.
Hollister School District honors teacher and staff members of the month for December
The Hollister R-V School District is proud to announce the recognition of outstanding staff members at the December Board of Education meeting. Each month, the district celebrates the hard work and dedication of its teachers and staff members who go above and beyond to make Hollister a great place to learn and grow.
For December, the district proudly recognizes:
• Teacher of the Month:
Christina Slocum, Science Teacher for Hollister High School
• Staff Member of the Month: Hannah Fields, Paraprofessional for Hollister Early Childhood Center
Mrs. Slocum is a passionate and innovative educator who is deeply committed to her students and colleagues. Known for her willingness to help and mentor others, she fosters a positive classroom atmosphere and tailors her lessons to meet the diverse needs of all learners. Her dedication to excellence and enthusiasm for new teaching approaches inspire those around her. Dr. Jared Terry, Hollister High School principal, says, “Mrs. Slocum’s commitment to our students and her innovative teaching practices make her an invaluable part of our school community.”
Hannah Fields, a paraprofessional at the Hollister Early Childhood Center, is often the first smiling face students see in the morning and the last one they see as they head home. “She provides more than just consistency on the school
bus—she’s a friendly, welcoming, and dependable presence for our students both on the bus and at the Hollister Early Childhood Center,” said Mark Waugh, PK-5 Principal.
The Teacher and Staff Members of the Month program is designed to recognize the exceptional contributions made by teachers and staff members who inspire students, foster a positive environment, and help make Hollister R-V a family-centered district.
Dr. Jenny Hernandez named new Hollister Elementary School Principal
The Hollister R-V School District is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Jenny Hernandez, a dedicated educator in the district since 2010, as the new principal of Hollister Elementary School, effective July 1, 2025. Dr. Hernandez will succeed Mr. Mark Waugh, who will transition into his new role as Executive Director of Community Relations and Student Services.
Dr. Hernandez has served the district in various roles, including second, third and fifth grade teachers, and math instructional coach. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, holds certifications as an Elementary Math Specialist, eMINTS Educator, and Math Recovery Specialist, and currently serves as president of the Hollister NEA and the Missouri Council of Supervisors of Mathematics. Dr. Hernandez has received multiple accolades, including being named the Hollister Board of Education Teacher of the Month and earning the Outstanding Instructional Leadership award from Learning Forward Missouri.
Mr. Mark Waugh, who has worked closely with Dr. Hernandez during her time in the district, expressed his confidence in her leadership. “Dr. Hernandez is a passionate and highly skilled educator who truly embodies the heart of Hollister. She is committed to fostering a learning environment where students, teachers and families can thrive. I am thrilled to see her take on this new role and look forward to seeing the great things she will accomplish.”
Dr. Hernandez’s appointment is part of the Hollister R-V School District leadership transitions aimed at building on recent successes and maintaining Hollister’s strong commitment to academic excellence and community engagement.
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Millikan, Laughery, Clift, Viall (Photo submitted)
Slocum and BOE Member Evan Bradley (Photo submitted)
Fields and BOE Member Jae Jones (Photo submitted)
Hernandez (Photo submitted)
Miracle on Wolf Lane scheduled for December 7
Reeds Spring High School will host Miracle on Wolf Lane on Saturday, December 7, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Families can decorate ornaments and cookies while drinking hot chocolate. Santa will be there, and parents can pick out a gift for their kids. RSHS elves will wrap it!
This is a free event designed for families to spend some quality time together. It was created and organized by the RSHS Youth Empowerment Project.
Reeds Spring student artwork showcased
More than 30 Reeds Spring students will have their artwork showcased at the Boys and Girls Club in Branson.
The Tri-Lakes Region Elementary Expressions Art Show runs from December 6-13.
There is an opening reception on the 6th from 5:306:30 p.m. The display is available for anyone to visit Monday-Friday from 5-6:30 p.m.
Students from Reeds Spring Primary School, Elementary School, and Intermediate School have submitted works.
Primary School: Kindergarten, Emberlynn Harris
First grade, Matthias Olson and Kayden Escobar Elementary School: Second grade, Charlotte English, Charlotte Mitcham, Natalie Erbelding, Willow Kasper, Sullivan Young, Lydia Piche, Poppy Corporon, Andrea Najera
Third grade, Sebastian Gleaves, Stormi Wilder, Juniper Handy, Westin Pryor, Alexis Mencio, Finley Rogers, Addilynn Reed, Kenzie Phillip Fourth grade, Rylee Sloan, Lilli Shaver, Aaleyah Qualls, Allison Sousan, Aspen Illum, Jayla Bainter Intermediate School: Fifth grade, Natalia Beck, Lyanna Arnall, Lilly McEwen, Kynsey Wietharn, Janie Hoehn, Ellie Bradley, Blakely Birlew, Adria Wilder Sixth grade, Symphony Walker, Arianna Newby, Ashley Smith, Edie Jones, Ava Conner, Adi Sakaan, Olyvia Huff
Wolves boys and girls basketball teams start 2 - 0
Reeds Spring High School has enjoyed a hot start to the winter sports season. Both the boys and girls basketball teams have won their first two games.
The boys defeated Green Forest 71-42 and Gloria Deo 57-48. Jayden Turner scored 19 points in the first game and Jace Bolin added 13. In the second game, Brody Pettigrew scored 16 and Turner added 11.
The Lady Wolves beat Green Forest 43-32 and Spokane 44-35. Saylor Johnson scored 13 in the first game and Kylie Fitzwater added 11.
v isitor BRANSON
Applications available for Agribusiness Academy
Mo.gov
The Missouri Department of Agriculture is offering 30 high school students representing 4-H clubs and FFA chapters, as well as farm families, throughout Missouri the opportunity to explore careers in agriculture through the 2025 Missouri Agribusiness Academy (MAbA). MAbA is a competitive program for sophomores interested in pursuing agriculture-related degrees and careers.
“We love providing an opportunity for Missouri youth to connect with peers and network with industry leaders,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “The MAbA program leads to lifelong friendships and mentorship opportunities year after year and continues to be a highlight for agriculture students interested in pursuing a career in our industry.”
The students selected will participate in a yearlong program to learn about the
unique opportunities for careers in the Kansas City area, volunteer at the Missouri State Fair and learn more about the agriculture industry in Jefferson City.
The 2025 schedule will be finalized in the spring and will include visits with industry and agribusiness leaders, as well as tours of their facilities.
Since 1988, the Missouri Agribusiness Academy has graduated more than 1,110 students through a
competitive application and interview process. The first portion of the 2025 MAbA program will be held June 2-6, and marks the program’s 38th year. Students interested in participating must submit an application by Feb. 1, 2025. For applications and guidelines, as well as more information on the Missouri Department of Agriculture and its programs, visit the Department online at Agriculture.Mo.Gov.
ADAPT Coalition teams with local law enforcement for Drug Take Back Day
Submitted to Branson Globe
On October 26, 2024, the Taney County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT) coalition and local law enforcement hosted DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Law enforcement and coalition partners collected tablets, capsules, patches and other forms of prescription drugs for safe disposal. Live take back events, which were held in Hollister, Branson and Kimberling City, collected a total of 787 pounds of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often become a gateway to addiction. According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a majority of people who use a prescription medication for a
• LETTER Continued from page 5B
Chap. 11 verse 18 relating; “and bring to ruin those ruining the earth.” So, there is going to be a solution to this mess, but not by anything mankind can do. I guess we are going to have to let the Creator take
nonmedical purpose obtained that medication from a family member or friend. Removing unnecessary medications from the home can help prevent situations involving not taking medication as intended or dosed, taking someone else’s prescription, and taking the medicine for euphoric effects rather than medicinal purposes.
Residents of Stone and Taney counties have other year-round options for safe and easy disposal. Several local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies in Stone and Taney counties provide medication drop boxes. Some drop boxes are available 24/7/365 and all are anonymous and free to use. Boxes are located at:
• Branson Police Department
• Hollister Police Department
over again and do the fixing. The earth is not going to be destroyed cause as Solomon wrote at Eccl. 1:3-4 What does a person gain from all his hard work at which he toils under the sun? A generation is going, and a generation is coming, But the earth remains forever.
• Rockaway Beach Police Department
• Kimberling City Police Department
• Stone County Sheriff’s Department in Galena Taney County Sheriff’s Department in Forsyth CoxHealth Pharmacy at the Cox Branson Outpatient Center
• CVS Pharmacy on Loyd Street in Branson Walmart Supercenter Pharmacy in Branson West
Medication destruction packets are an at-home option used to deactivate, destroy and permanently dispose of pills, patches, liquids, creams and films in less than three minutes – without ever leaving home. There are a couple of different varieties of these, including Dispose Rx packets and Deterra pouches. This option allows
people to dispose of expired and unneeded medications quickly and easily through their household trash. It also provides a safe alternative to other disposal methods such as flushing medications or simply throwing them away without proper deactivation, which can be harmful to the environment.
ADAPT, the Stone County Community Health Coalition, and Drug Free Ozarks encourage local residents to employ safe medication storage and disposal practices by utilizing the permanent drug drop boxes, using at-home medication disposal packets, and locking medications in a safe place. Information on the location of drug drop boxes across Missouri or access to the free at-home option can be found at https://www.taneycountyadapt.com/or www. drugfreeozarks.org.
So, if the earth is here forever, what about humankind? 1 John 2:17 tells us; the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever. What’s the key? Doing the will of God. Simple! Kind of hard for many to do the way this system of things is headed. Think about it! That forever time will be when this evil system of things is gone. According to prophecy that is close at hand. 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Respectfully submitted, Ralph Schumann Branson
Lilly McEwen’s artwork (Photo submitted)
Turner (Photo submitted)
Worship Directory
You are encouraged to worship with us!
Around Town: Here’s what’s going on in the Tri-Lakes
DECEMBER
• Now through Dec 31
Ozarks Food Harvest: Check Out Hunger. Make a difference for neighbors facing hunger while you shop for groceries. Support Ozarks Food Harvest through Dec. 31 at local grocers by adding a $1, $3, or $5 tax-free donation to your grocery bill, at participating grocery stores across southwest Missouri: Apple Market, Country Mart, Harter House, King Cash Saver, King Food Saver, Price Cutter, Ramey, Rhodes Family Price Chopper, Town & Country Super Market, Woods Supermarket. For information: https://ozarksfoodharvest. org/events/check-out-hunger-2/. Ozarks Food Harvest, Springfield.
• 6-7 Neighbors and Friends of Table Rock Lake (NFTRL): 23rd Annual Hol-
iday Home Tour. Tour homes open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Tour four beautifully-decorated lake area homes, with gorgeous lake views and other Ozarks scenery. Tour begins with a checkin and information stop at the Holiday Boutique at Kimberling Area Library, 45 Kimberling Blvd. For a unique shopping experience, check out the Holiday Boutique open to public 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Enjoy complimentary coffee, cookies. Advance tickets were sold through December 4. On tour days, tickets are $25; purchase at Holiday Boutique, Kimberling Area Library, or featured homes. If inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances affecting tour dates, stay up to date via the website or NFTRL Facebook page. Tour proceeds benefit char-
ities in Taney and Stone counties; for info about important work they do: https://www.nftrl.org/. 7 Santa at the Farmer’s Market, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Bring your family out to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Seniors Farmers Market. Bring a camera or phone to take pictures. Free will donation is optional. 11048 E. Highway 76, Forsyth
• 7 Library Center of the Ozarks: Saturday Storytime, 10:30 a.m. At weekend story time with Miss Bobbi, kids will enjoy stories, activities and lots of fun. This is a regular event happening every first Saturday of the month at 10 a.m., excluding library closures and government holidays. Library Center of the Ozarks, lower level program room, 200 S. 4th St., Branson. • 7 Christian Action Ministries (CAM): Mobile food distribution. There is also a
free lunch buffet provided by the church. Join us from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for lunch and take home some groceries. Praise & Worship Church, 9138 E. State Hwy. 76, Branson West. This is our Stone County distribution on the first Saturday of each month. When you come, please let us know how many are in your household and show photo ID before getting your groceries.
• 7-8 Dogwood Canyon: Guided Winter Watch, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Grab your binoculars and join us for a unique winter wildlife tour via warm shuttle van! Explore the park as we cruise the canyon in search of our captivating winter residents. Spot wild bald eagles, bison and elk! Runs Saturdays and Sundays from Dec. 7, 2024 until Jan. 26, 2025. Reservations are recommended. Park admission is a sep-
arate and required ticket. Hand warmers and binoculars are included. 2038 W State Hwy 36, Lampe. https://dogwoodcanyon. org/activity/guided-winterwatch-tour/. 9 Kimberling Area Library: Children’s Hour, 10:30 a.m. Story Time (focus ages 7 and under):
“The Nutcracker” with special guest Jaydie Leigh of a local dance studio. Celebrate the magic of the holiday season with music, dance and stories focused on a Nutcracker theme. 45 Kimberling Blvd., Kimberling City.
• 11 Christmas LuncheonChristian Women’s, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Pointe Royale Clubhouse. Come enjoy a great meal. Men are welcome! Ann Fritz will sing holiday songs and Ron Hutchcraft will bring an encouraging seasonal message. Cost is $17 each, call or text Peggy at 417343-1418 by Dec. 9 to reserve your spot. 142 Clubhouse Dr., Branson. For more information, Christian Women’s Connection Facebook page.
• 11 Library Center of the Ozarks: Healthy twists on holiday favorites, 1:30 p.m. We’re cooking up some nutritious and delicious dishes for you to sample. We’ll share tips to make those holiday favorites healthier without sacrificing flavor. Library Center of the Ozarks, upper level conference room, 200 S. 4thSt., Branson.
• 12 Library Center of the Ozarks: Move more, feel better. Join us as we learn about the four types of exercise, easy techniques for increasing your physical activity and ALL the benefits of doing so. Library Center of the Ozarks, 10 a.m., upper level conference room, 200 S. 4th St., Branson.
• 13 College of the Ozarks Jazz Ensemble will present a concert, 7:30-8:30 p.m., in Jones Auditorium on the College of the Ozarks campus, Point Lookout. Admission is free and open to the public.
• 14 Dogwood Canyon: Guided Winter Watch,
9:30-11:30 a.m. Grab your binoculars and join us for a unique winter wildlife tour via warm shuttle van! Explore the park as we cruise the canyon in search of our captivating winter residents. Spot wild bald eagles, bison and elk! Runs Saturdays and Sundays from until Jan. 26, 2025. Reservations are recommended. Park admission is a separate and required ticket. Hand warmers and binoculars are included. 2038 W State Hwy 36, Lampe. https://dogwoodcanyon.org/activity/guided-winter-watch-tour/. • 14 Dogwood Canyon Nature Park: Don’t miss this opportunity to see these majestic birds up close and learn their conservation story. Join presenters from Dickerson Park Zoo for an informative talk and encounter with a bald eagle and other birds of prey, from 1-2 p.m. Free with general admission ticket or membership pass. 2038 W. State Hwy 36, Lampe. https://dogwoodcanyon.org/event/ eagles-of-north-america-4/2024-12-14/ 14 Jukebox Winos: Live music at Dirt Road Gypsi open house. From 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Enjoy cozy Christmas groovy vibes, snacks, drinks, local vendors and makers plus shopping in this Bohemian and Southern hippie-inspired clothing boutique. From 12-3 p.m.: Jukebox Winos LIVE music. We’ll play favorite covers and original music! 2045 S. Business Hwy. 65, Hollister. For more information, www.jukeboxwinos.com or visit Dirt Road Gypsi’s Facebook page. • 14 Jukebox Winos: Live music at Outback Steak & Oyster Bar, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Best steaks, pork chops, seafood and desserts in town. We will play favorite covers and original music. 1914 W. 76 Country Blvd., Branson. For more information, www.jukeboxwinos.com or call 417-334-6306; outbackbranson.com
Each Thanksgiving finds the staff of Elevate Branson, along with a team of volunteers, serving up Thanksgiving Dinner to members of the Branson community.
From the beginning the event wasn’t just about the
food -- it also focused on fellowship. The Love Your Neighbors Thanksgiving Meal was first served 17 years ago, at the Boys and Girls Club of the Ozarks.
“We had about 50 guests and volunteers attend,” said Elevate Branson
co-founder Amy Stallings, when recalling the early days of the event. “This year we had close to 300 guests and 200 volunteers.”
Just how much food does it take to feed 300 guests?
“Famous Dave’s always donates the turkeys,” explained Stallings. “I’m not really sure how many, but it was a lot!”
The volunteers served a delicious holiday meal to the guests with turkey and all the trimmings, as well as delectable desserts.
Stallings offered her sincere thanks to Famous Dave’s and all who provided food for the feast.
Said Stallings, “We had so many donors that helped, and we would like to thank them all.”
In addition to provid-
ing a tasty Thanksgiving meal, the Elevate Branson volunteers and staff offered their guests companionship, encouragement, hugs and love, as the true purpose of the Love Your Neighbors Thanksgiving meal continued.
STORY AND PHOTO BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
BY COWBOY JOHN FULLERTON,
a native of Taney County, and a member of the Sons of the Pioneers.
ver the last two weeks
OI’ve provided a look at the development of the White River Railroad through our area. Eventually the Missouri Pacific Railroad took over complete ownership and our railroad was simply referred to as the “White River Division.”
Today I’d like to wrap this three-part series by looking into the life and career of Jay Gould. He purchased the Missouri Pacific in 1879. I’ll get into that here in a moment.
Roxbury, New York, was the birthplace of Jason Gould on May 27, 1836. His parents were John and Mary Gould. Growing up in poverty, his family ran a dairy business. Young Jay wanted nothing to do with farming as a boy. His father gave him fifty cents and a sack of clothes, and dropped him off at a nearby school.
Jay’s higher education took place in Hobart, New York, and he paid his way by working as a bookkeeper on the side for a local blacksmith. His school principal
Memories from the Homestead: The Iron Horse – the life of Jay Gould [part 3]
helped him get the job. By the time he was eighteen, his interests were mathematics and surveying. This led to a project where he mapped and surveyed Ulster County, New York.
At age twenty he became involved in leather works and partnered in a tanning business in Pennsylvania in an area that would later be known as Gouldsboro, named in his honor. He also published a book, the “History of Delaware County, and Border Wars of New York.” After the Panic of 1857, Jay would get into ice harvesting from a local lake, providing New York City with ice during the summer months. He built a railroad to provide a way to ship the ice as he had constructed large ice houses along the lake for storage. Jay married Helen Day Miller in 1863 and they would have six children together. His father-in-law Daniel introduced him to the railroad industry and this is where Jay and his family would make their fortune.
In 1859, Gould began purchasing stock in small railways. His first investment was the Rutland and Washington Railroad, and going into the Civil War, his railroad investments would continue.
Into the 1870s, Gould would take over the Union Pacific Railroad after its stock had dropped during
the Panic of 1873. This railroad company would continue to grow, and over the next decade, hundreds of miles of railroad would be constructed throughout the Midwest, a great advantage to farmers and ranchers. In 1879 Gould purchased the Missouri Pacific, as well as the Denver and Rio Grande Railway.
All of this brought great wealth to Gould and his family. He now controlled 10,000 miles of railroad and would also obtain controlling interest in the Western Union telegraph company. As of 1882, Gould owned 15 percent of the country’s railroad tracks. The railroads all made amazing profits since they could set their own rates.
The Missouri Pacific Railroad headquarters were in St. Louis. This would become one of the first major railroads west of the Mississippi River. Their repair shops were established in Sedalia. Gould would expand the Missouri Pacific into Nebraska, Colorado, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. His son George would operate it from the 1890s until 1915. The entire system was reorganized two years later, remaining as the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
There was some unfortunate scandal and political controversy during Gould’s career. He was often criticized, and wasn’t seen as a business
builder, but rather a trader. He decided to step down from Union Pacific’s management team in 1883. His business practices and ethics were different indeed, but not that unusual for the time, according to a number of experts.
The Goulds’ personal residence was Lyndhurst, along the Hudson River, which they purchased in 1880. The family was also members of the West Presbyterian Church of New York City. Their son George would also become involved in much of the railroad business like his father.
Jason “Jay” Gould passed away on the morning of December 2, 1892. He had experienced a number of health issues from complications with tuberculosis in the weeks prior to his passing. He was only 56.
At the time of his death, his fortune was estimated at $72 million (approximately $2.44 billion today). His fortune was willed to his children and family.
Many newspapers across the country paid their tributes to him after his passing. Gould’s business partner, Washington Connor, had this to say just after Gould’s passing. “Jay Gould had a wonderful reputation as a wonderfully able man, those who knew him know that he has been rather underrated than overrated. Wall Street has never seen his equal and never will. I think that every man
for
who has had associations with Mr. Gould has entertained the kindest feelings toward him, and would take his word for any amount in any business transaction, and that is more than you can say of many men who have been much less abused than Jay Gould.”
Today our White River Railway continues as it’s about to begin its 119th year of operation in 2025. The Union Pacific took over the White River Division of the Missouri Pacific in 1982.
Today it’s operated by the Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA). Our dear friends here at the Branson Scenic Railway have been running excursions over a portion of the line since 1993. I highly recommend taking a trip with them and visiting the historic Branson depot from 1906, one of the oldest railroad buildings still going strong, located at 206 East Main St. Visit their website; go to bransontrain.com.
Table Rock Lake Community Foundation awards grants to ten entities
Submitted to Branson Globe
Table Rock Lake Community Foundation (TRLCF) has awarded a total of $24,469 to organizations that serve Stone and Southeast Barry counties. These community-focused organizations and agencies include Children’s Smile Center, Gibson Tech Center, H2Ozarks, His House Foundation, Kimberling Area Library Association, Missouri Environmental Education Association, Noah’s Ark Daycare, North Stone County Food Pantry, Shell Knob in the Spotlight, and the Tri-Lakes Humane
Society.
“These ten organizations truly care about what they do. From making sure that families have the resources they need to lead happy, healthy lives to using innovative education tools to help children learn, each group has a unique mission,” Nita Jane Ayres, who leads the TRLCF’s grant process, said.
Representatives from each of the ten entities joined board members of the TRLCF at the awards luncheon and ceremony on November 15. The event was graciously hosted by
Silver Dollar City. During the event, a spokesperson from each organization shared about how the grants they received will help them carry out their missions.
Board members of the TRLCF include Eric Chavez, Nita Jane Ayres, John Coonrod, Judy Reyn-
olds, Chris Conti, Kadee Brosseau DeCourley, Connie Johnson, Matt Locke, Lisa Rau, Eric Simkins and Vickie Smith.
“Serving on this board is such a great experience. We get to come alongside some of the best organizaSEE FOUNDATION, PAGE 3C
Jay Gould (1836-1892) was known
expanding Missouri’s Railway system, owning over 10,000 miles of track at the high point of his career. (Photo courtesy of Missouri Pacific Historical Society, St. Louis, Missouri)
BY
BOB FORD, Writer, history buff and regular visitor to Branson. You can find more of Bob’s work including his historical podcasts on his website bobfordshistory. com, and on YouTube at Bob Ford’s History. Bob can be reached at robertmford@aol.com.
If you love history, consider becoming a sponsor for this column. Please contact Rob at the Branson Globe, 417-334-9100, for details.
As day one of the Battle of Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing came to an end, it found General Grant’s Army of the Tennessee hanging onto a precarious defensive position along the Tennessee River.
P G T Beauregard and his Confederate Army of Mississippi had their way on day one and were planning to “mop up” in the morning by pushing Grant’s Army into the river or swamp.
That night both sides realized the enormous cost of the day’s fighting. The dead and dying still littered the field as medical teams did their best.
What the Rebels didn’t know was that Union prayers had been answered.
Like a movie script where the hero rides in on a white horse, the 15,000 man Army of the Ohio came overland from Nashville arriving during the night to save the day. The addition of General Don Carlos Buell’s army meant the Union got what the Confederates needed, fresh troops. Grant basically received in numbers the equivalent in men he lost
• FOUNDATION
Continued from page 2C
tions in the area and help them accomplish their missions. However, we also get the honor of learning about their great work and encouraging them to keep going,” board member Kadee Brosseau DeCourley said. “I am personally so proud to be a member of this community, which cares so deeply for its neighbors.”
TRLCF looks forward to accepting grant applications in 2025. Eligible applicants encompass a wide variety of worthy organizations in Stone and Southeast Barry counties, with TRLCF considering grant proposals from nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, and governmental agencies. Applicants can apply for up to $3,000 for this grant. TRL-
Day two at the Battle of Shiloh: A rebel nightmare
the day before. “Day two at Shiloh was the opposite of what happened on day one,” lamented Superintendent Emeritus of the Battlefield Woody Harrell.
On April 7, to try and rectify the debacle of day one by Grant, Sherman and Wallace, Grant ordered an attack, at dawn. That night Grant slept under a tree because his opulent plantation headquarters had been taken over by surgeons, treating the wounded, amputating limbs, trying to save lives. In contrast, General Beauregard slept in General Sherman’s abandoned tent close to the small building where the battle got its name, Shiloh Church. Just like Sherman on day one, Beauregard took no precautions for a Yankee counter-attack. He would regret it and have to, like the Yankee Generals, answer for it. Again as St. Joseph’s Colonel Peabody, who did not survive the battle, felt the day before Confederate Cavalry Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest “sensed” something was wrong. He ordered some of his men to put on Yankee uniforms, infiltrate enemy lines and see what was happening at Pittsburg Landing. Sure enough, his men reported the arrival of the new Army with thousands of fresh troops. Forrest reported to his superior General Hardee who told him to find Beauregard—he could not! In his unread report Forrest stated, “If this army does not attack between now and daylight, we will be whipped like hell by 10 o’clock.”
Grant and Buell didn’t like each other but agreed to work in concert for the dawn assault. Even General Lew Wallace’s—5,000 man 3rd Division who got lost on day one—joined the now formidable 57,000 force
CF will notify the public when the grant application opens via social media and local media outlets.
A major role of the Table Rock Lake Community Foundation is to establish endowed funds for the purpose of funding this
ready for the assault. The Union line was over a mile long with Wallace on the right flank and Buell’s three divisions taking the left. When the attack came, Beauregard could only muster 20,000 exhausted men to counter. They fought gallantly but soon, outnumbered and drained; they would give up all the territory won the day before. As Union troops advanced over yesterday’s battlefield, the dead and dying were everywhere. Several groups of wounded Yankees and Rebels huddled together through the cold night trying to survive another day and keep each other warm. A Union officer wrote, “the groans and cries were heart wrenching, the gory corpses lay all about us...it was shocking to behold.”
Buell’s men regained the Hornet’s Nest about noon. Confederates counter attacked but nothing was sustainable. The southern soldier, marching then fighting for two straight days was spent.
Beauregard hoped to get what Grant received, another army to join the fight. General Earl Van Doren’s Army of the West was out there somewhere but as it turned out nearer to Memphis, too far away. In the afternoon Beauregard ordered the inevitable, a general withdrawal of all Rebel troops back to where it started, Corinth Mississippi.
Lore has it that Confederate Cavalry Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest was commanding the rear guard protecting the withdrawal. He was caught behind lines and rode through a Union picket, grabbing a wounded Yankee putting him behind him on his horse, taking fire, using the Yankee as a needed shield and galloping away.
Grant wanted to pursue
community grant-making program, made possible by charitable donors who have established funding programs and have placed the decision-making action in the hands of community leaders serving on the TRLCF Board of Directors.
the retreating Rebels but his troops were exhausted. He asked, not ordered, Buell to give chase—he declined. The opportunity to destroy the Confederate Army of Mississippi was lost due to the arrogance of two Union Generals. The Battle of Shiloh was over but the South lived on to fight another day, both sides had mismanaged opportunities that could have changed the war in the West.
Shiloh woke up America to the massive cost of this conflict. No longer would the Yankees think it was a 90-day rebellion that could be squashed with one decisive battle. The Rebels lost good men they couldn’t replace. I like what Spencer Tracy said about the battle in his narration of the film, “How the West Was Won.” He sadly stated, “After Shiloh the South never smiled.”
The shocking two-day battle casualty count (killed, wounded, missing) stunned America; Union 13,047 out of 42,000 committed and the Confederates 10,694 out of about 40,000 involved. One of my favorite Confederate Generals, Patrick Cleburne’s brigade of 2,750 had 58 survivors. Grant was surprised on day one and would deny it the rest of his life.
Sherman now knew there would be no negotiated peace, “the South would have to be totally defeated.”
General Lew Wallace, who got lost on day one, went on to write his novel: “Ben Hur.” There was a disgraced General in that book, too, if I recall.
Beauregard’s army limped back into Corinth where slowly the Union Army followed surrounding the city with 120,000 troops for a one-month siege seeking control of those 4 square
feet, the rail junction.
As the Union noose tightened, Beaugard slipped what was left of his army out on rail further south.
Grant, now in possession of the railroad hub, could concentrate on the South’s next crucial stronghold which controlled the mighty Mississippi: Vicksburg.
In two columns a Civil War battle such as Shiloh can’t be justly covered. As
with all articles, I hope this stimulates you to want to know more, read, research or better yet go, become involved. It’s about our country. Check out bobfordshistory.com and his YouTube channel for more American history stories. Bob can be reached at robertmford@ aol.com
We are keeping history alive so you can pass it on.
Shiloh Military Battlefield and Cemetery (Photos submitted by Bob Ford)
BY LUANNA FULLERTON Entertainment Writer
It was in the late 1950s near the time of Table Rock Dam’s organization. Bob Mabe’s father-in-law, ‘Chick Allen’ gave Bob, and his brothers a number of genius ideas of how to portray their image, and they developed their characters from that. Chick, who came up with the ‘Baldknobbers’ named from the late 1800s’ local vigilante group, would finance the band to get them started and going in the early years and also assisted with the bookings of the band.
Chick helped get the band booked into more of a permanent theater setting by renting the Sammy Lane Pavilion, located on Branson’s Main Street along Lake Taneycomo. Performing four nights a week, they charged
Sixty-five years strong: ‘The Baldknobbers, the first show
a dollar for the big’uns and fifty cents for the little’uns. By 1964, the group had outgrown the pavilion space, so they moved a short distance to the skating rink building along Lake Taneycomo. This was in the vicinity of where Bass Pro is today at the Branson Landing. Four years later, the Baldknobbers moved again, this time, after purchasing land and building a theater along Highway 76, which they were at for over fifty years. WonderWorks is located at that site today. Brandon stated, “The theater is no longer there, but the memories will always be there! As times have changed and cost has risen it was difficult to maintain a theater. We didn’t want to stop performing, but just couldn’t continue maintaining a theater and trying to spend valuable family time with our kids as they were involved in activities and growing. We love continuing this legacy and not planning on stopping. This is why we do two shows: Vintage - To honor the past and Modern: To move forward with the future! We want to appeal
and give a choice to all our great fans out there!”
Continuing to expand, the Baldknobbers’ legacy of performances is well on its way to great success. They have some of the finest, seasoned musicians around and it’s my great pleasure to introduce them to you now. I attended the Vintage show this week and oh, my goodness…it takes you back to the sound and fun of the beginnings, too. The Christmas part was vintage sounds as well. Don’t forget how personable they are with you, during and after the show; they will visit with you after the show. You really need to attend both of the shows - Vintage and Modern. The most disappointing part was that YOU were not there with us!
Questions I asked the band this round:
1. Where are you from and how long in the Branson area?
2. What or who influenced you to get into show business?
3. What has been a memorable moment for you while performing?
4. What is a dream or goal you have?
5. What is a funny moment that you’ve had?
Tina Sibley: Violin, keyboards
1. I’m from the Ozarks, a Springfield, MO, native
2. Music artists coming to the Branson area and the opportunities to perform live music
3. Realizing you’re playing for legends and meeting your musical heroes
4. To write and perform original music and to support other talents - a citizen musician
5. Every day at work in a band is fun…a musical sandbox with friends.
Josh Gabriel: Drums
1. I was born and raised right here in Branson, MO.
2. My dad Doug Gabriel is who influenced me to get into music.
3. The opportunity I had getting to film an HBO special drumming for Terry Bradshaw
4. I’m so blessed to be already living my dream!
5. The time I didn’t realize the countdown for the second half had ended and
everyone was waiting for me to start the second half of the show!
John Lance: Lead guitar, keyboard, lapsteel, vocals
1. I am from Smithfield, PA. I moved to the Branson area with the Ray Stevens show in 1991 and fell in love with the Ozarks!
2. My family. My sister was a country recording artist, and my brother was a classically trained opera baritone.
4. The will to avoid Andy’s Pumpkin Concrete, while it is just next door to the theater!
5. I was injured by a falling pirate ship. (Luanna needs to hear this story - ha!) Bob Roth: Bass
1. I consider O’Fallon, MO, my hometown. My dad pastored there and started a Christian School there. My grandmother named some
3. Observing the unique parade of celebrities drawn to visit our Branson shows—from the Chrysler Chairman to notable media personalities
SIX® Show: Eighteenth season striving to crush hunger with drive for CAM
1-877-SIX-SHOW.
Submitted
SIX® will be
experience Christmas with them at a special discounted rate. Bring a minimum of two non-perishable food items and enjoy the show for only $6 (plus tax and fee) at the Pepsi Legends Theater. Help SIX® crush 2023’s goal of 6,000 lbs. of donated and collected non-perishable food items. All donations will benefit Christian Action Ministries (CAM).
Performances of SIX® at the Pepsi Legends Theater are 3 p.m. or 8 p.m. For tickets and more information, call the box office @
*Area Appreciation will run through Dec 28 for the following counties: Missouri: Barry, Christian, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Ozark, Polk, Stone, Taney, Webster, Wright.
Arkansas: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Fulton, Izard,Madison, Marion, Newton, Searcy, Stone, Washington. Monday, Wednesday and Friday shows at 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Shows at 3 p.m.
A few more chances to catch top Branson shows this season
BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
Branson’s 2024 entertainment season is quickly coming to a close.
While several area shows will be offering performances through the end of the year, with just a brief break for Christmas, others are wrapping up their season. There are only a few days left to catch a couple of your favorite shows this year.
Presleys’ Country Jubilee is one of Branson’s longest-running shows.
Complete with outstanding music and hilarious comedy, Presleys ‘Jubilee is a favorite among Branson’s visitors and local residents,
alike. The Presleys’ Christmas Show is a must-see. The first half of the show features the best of the Presleys’ 2024 show, and the second half includes all of your favorite holiday music. There are only a few opportunities to catch the Presleys’ Jubilee this year. Currently performing Monday through Friday at 8 p.m., the last show of the 2024 season is Saturday, December 14. For tickets or more information, call 417-334-4874 or visit Presleys.com. Saturday, December 14, is also your last chance to see the 2024 version of #1 Hits of the 60’s and More!
A high-energy show with over 100 hit songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s, plus a fabulous live band and over 100 costume changes, #1 Hits of the 60’s and More is a true Branson favorite.
Performing at the Clay Cooper Theater, #1 Hits of the 60’s and More can be seen Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m., through December 14. For tickets, call 417339-1960.
While most of the shows at the Americana Theatre have finished their regular season shows for the 2024 season, the stars will be back for one big show to celebrate the new year. C.J. Newsom’s Classic Country and Comedy, America’s Top Country Hits, and Elvis—Story of a King will join forces for an outstand-
ing New Year’s Eve Show to ring in the new year. Another show at the Americana Theatre, Broadway to Bublé, featuring George Dyer, will soon wrap for the 2024 season. A world class music experience, Dyer amazes audiences with his award-winning tenor voice and exquisite showmanship. You can catch one of Dyer’s last shows of the 2024 season on Saturday, December 7, Tuesday, December 10 or Thursday, December 12, at 10 a.m. For tickets, visit AmericanaTheatreBranson. com or call 417-544-8700. This year, many of the shows have extended their season—some until early January. At the Pepsi Legends Theatre, SIX performs through December 28, SEE SHOWS, PAGE 6C
Left to right, front row: Chick Allen – seated; Jim Mabe – kneeling. Left to right, back row: Bill Mabe, Bob Mabe, Lyle Mabe, Delbert Howard. (Photo from the Fullerton family archive vault)
Creamy Chicken Lasagna with Alfredo Sauce
BY CHEF JEFF WOODWARD,
The Rogue Chef TIME: 60 minutes
SERVINGS: 8
INGREDIENTS:
12 Lasagna Noodles
• 2 C Chicken, cooked and shredded
• 2 C Ricotta Cheese
• 2 C Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
• 1 C Parmesan Cheese, grated
• 3 C Spinach, chopped
4 C Heavy Cream
• 1/2 C Butter
• 3 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 tsp Dried Basil
• 1 tsp Dried Oregano
Salt and White Pepper to taste Fresh Parsley, chopped
The Duttons: Katy Cookies
SUBMITTED BY THE DUTTONS
This recipe originated from an intern named Katy who worked with The Duttons for a few years.
Cookies
INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter or shortening
• 1 cup sugar
2 eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Cream butter and sugar.
2. Beat in eggs, vanilla and sour cream.
3. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until mixed.
4. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour. (Don’t leave it in the fridge for more than two or three days.)
5. After removing chilled dough from refrigerator, let it sit at room tempera-
(for garnish)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
3. Cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
4. Melt the butter over medium heat in a medium size pan.
5. Add the minced garlic and heavy cream.
6. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce has reduced to half, about 5-7 minutes.
7. Add the dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper to the sauce.
ture for a few minutes so it’s easier to handle and roll out.
6. On a lightly floured work surface, with floured rolling pin, roll out dough to about 1/2 inch thickness.
7. Cut dough with a floured cookie cutter in the size and shape of your choice.
8. Place cutout dough at least 1-inch apart on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
9. Bake at 350 degrees until they are done (slightly brown around edges, but cookie still light in color) for about 7-13 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies. Don’t overbake.
10. Cool cookies on wire cooling rack.
Frosting
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup butter or shortening, or some of each 1 bag (2 pounds) of powdered sugar
8. Stir to combine, then remove from heat.
9. Mix the shredded chicken, ricotta cheese, chopped spinach, and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese in a medium size bowl.
10. Spread a thin layer of the white sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
11. Place a layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce.
12. Spread ⅓ of the chicken mixture over the noodles, followed by another layer of white sauce.
dles and the remaining white sauce.
14. Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and the grated Parmesan cheese.
15. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
16. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
17. Let the lasagna cool for 10 minutes before slicing.
1 teaspoon vanilla
• A few tablespoons of milk
INSTRUCTIONS
• Beat butter and vanilla. Mix in powdered sugar.
Add milk a little at a time until frosting is the consistency you want.
The Duttons: Performing family with three generations of amazing talent
www.theduttons.com
Committed to family appropriate, quality entertainment, The Duttons have been recording, performing and touring together professionally for over 30 years. The adult Duttons started out their musical training as classical musicians when they were children, but it didn’t take long for them to branch out to play just about any style of music. Along with the classical, they play bluegrass, pop, country and gospel. Their ability to adapt and play just about any style of music is just one of the
• SHOWS
Continued from page 4C
while Legends in Concert continues performances through Saturday, January 4. After a four-day break for Christmas, Miracle of Christmas at the Sight and Sound Theater will offer performances December 26, 27 and 28.
At the Clay Cooper Theater, the Clay Cooper Country Express Show
things that makes them so unique.
In their performances they show off their skills on several different instruments and sing beautifully both as soloists and as an ensemble. They also include dance and comedy with their music to create a delightful, entertaining experience for all ages.
Inspiration for this amazing group has come from various sources. Some performers that are favorites with the family members are The Eagles, Ricky Skaggs, Rascal Flatts, Eric Clapton and James Taylor.
will take off a few days to celebrate Christmas before returning to the stage for December 27, 29 and New Year’s Eve. Likewise, The Haygoods will enjoy a few days off, before rounding out their 2024 season with shows on December 26 and 28, as well as New Year’s Eve.
The stars of Pierce Arrow will enjoy a well-deserved break from December 16 until they return after Christmas, for shows
Their true source of inspiration, however, lies with Dean and Sheila Dutton, a.k.a. Dad and Mom to The Duttons.
The best way to understand what the Duttons are all about is to see them live. The Dutton Family Theater located at 3454 W. 76 Country Boulevard is where they perform April through mid-December. Additionally, they manage The Dutton Theater in Mesa, Arizona, during the winter months, as the artists in residence where they perform January through the end of March. The Dut-
December 26, 27, 28, 30 and New Year’s Eve.
The Hughes Brothers Christmas Show named Branson’s Favorite Christmas Show for an unprecedented 16 times, can be seen through Saturday, January 4. The talented brothers, along with their families, even have a show slated for 8 p.m. on Christmas night.
Traditionally open throughout the winter months, the Grand Jubilee, performing at the Grand Country Music Hall,
tons have had several European tours, performed in all 50 states and Canadian provinces, and appeared on multiple television shows. The Duttons are also the owners of the Dutton Inn and Abby’s Tourist Trap (“Your One-Stop Souvenir Shop”). Abby’s Tourist Trap boasts the Duttons’ famous in-house fudge that has become a trademark of the Dutton experience. And, don’t miss their delicious $1 ice cream! For more information or to order show tickets: www.theduttons.com; phone 417-332-2772.
will have shows nightly through Saturday, January 4. The Grand Jubilee cast and crew will take a few days off before returning to the stage on January 16, to perform four nights a week during the remainder of January and February. Make plans now to catch your favorite Branson shows before the end of the 2024 season. By doing so, you will enjoy some excellent entertainment as well as offer support to our area’s amazing entertainers.
We can help you with your rent, groceries and gas. Please call to get the details 417-337-3772.
LARRY DABLEMONT is an outdoor publisher, columnist, author, speaker, naturalist and outdoorsman.
Iwould rather hunt ducks than do anything else pertaining to the outdoors. I remember when I was laughed at for doing so. It was in the early ‘70s in December when I lived on a mountaintop out west of Harrison, Arkansas. I had been hunting on Bull Shoals Lake for much of the day and stopped into a little country store and filling station just outside of town. I still had my chest waders on and my duck calls around my neck. An old-timer sitting by the stove couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of me.
He said, “Dablemont, is that yore quacker tied around yore neck or are you fixin’ to strangle yoreself?” I told them I had sure enough been duck hunting.
I let my Labrador get out to pee and when I did, three or four of the men came out to look at him. When I explained what his job was,
of the streets of the town, including the intersection of Hollywood and Vine streets.
Outdoors with Larry Dablemont: Chest waders and quackers
one of them said that if his dog ever got his jaws around a whole duck he’d not be inclined to come back for a day or so… Then they saw the four mallards and a gadwall lying across my boat seat, and they could hardly believe they came from Bull Shoals. There was no one back in that day hunting ducks on Bull Shoals. It was a great year because the lake was up fifteen feet or so, and the ducks were finding lots of food in the back end of coves and creeks that few fishermen ever went into in the winter. I had it all to myself and it was a duck hunter’s haven. The water had backed up into the vegetation and there was a lot of food floating in the water. My dog Rambunctious and I motored into the end of a long cove and ducks went everywhere in flight, maybe a couple hundred of them. I covered the boat with camouflage beneath a flooded tree and threw out a dozen decoys. Of course, they would come back…all that food amongst the floating debris.
As they returned over the next hour in small flocks, I picked out the drakes and downed a limit in short order. Some of those hunts, where I had the whole lake
to myself, were the best days I have ever spent out with my dog and quacker, chest waders and shotgun, and I have done the same thing on other Ozark lakes. The water conditions have to be right, but when the water rises into the vegetation you can bet the ducks will come, especially in December and January. I will never forget something that happened that winter on Bull Shoals. My Lab brought me a mallard drake that had earthworms crawling out of its beak. I got to looking and all I killed had earthworms in their beaks, throats and crops. Back in one of those coves I guess worms had been floating to the surface too, and the mallards had been eating them. Never seen anything like that before or since. That would make those particular ducks omnivorous! To see photos from that day 50-some years ago, including one with old Rambunctious, the Chocolate Labrador, find www.larrydablemontoutdoors.com on the internet.
Even though there’s such low water conditions on lakes like Bull Shoals and Stockton and Truman, all of which can provide great water fowling in good years,
when ducks come through ahead of a front, fleeing a blizzard up north or an intense ice-up in the prairie wetlands, the hunting can be good for a while. It just doesn’t stay that way because to hold ducks, you need water in the vegetation. Without it, they just won’t stay long.
A few inches of rain could do the trick this winter, because late in the summer, smartweed, nut-sedge and sesbania and other green growth which attract ducks were growing along tributaries and flats on area lakes. You hope to see the lakes rise into that green growth before the waterfowl migration is in full swing. If our lakes get enough rain to come up just four or five feet, we are going to have some great habitat for ducks.
I wrote a book about duck hunting entitled “Memories from a Misty Morning Marsh” which might make a good Christmas gift for a duck hunter. You can see it on www.larrydablemont.com or come visit me at my nature center on December 14.
This sort of goes along with the way the world is becoming. A few years ago, I went to the county library in Houston, Missouri, just
before Christmas and gave away a book of short stories I wrote for young people entitled, “Dogs, Ducks and Bucks.” Quite a few parents brought kids to get a book inscribed and autographed. Some just came to get a book for Christmas gifts for kids and didn’t bring the kids with them. I gave away about 30 or so that day and it made me happier than anyone else. I wanted to do that again, but the new librarian there said they were too busy for such an event.
So, I will do it again, this time at my Big Piney Nature Center-project a mile south of Houston on Saturday, December 14, from noon to 3 p.m. If you know a child who likes to read and isn’t getting a lot of presents, come by and get a book for him or her. My other books will be available too and if you already have one, bring it by and I will sign and inscribe if for you. The address of the place is 1640 South Hwy 63.
2. We moved to the bootheel town of Malden, MO, for a year when I was 15 years old. The mayor has a gospel group and asked my dad if I could start traveling with them. Later, I traveled playing and singing with the PR Group from Mid-America Nazarene University. Meeting the gospel group, “The Hemphills” and getting my first full-time Nash
ville job with “McKeithen Family Whiners Rebates” to the “The Hemphills”… so, in short answer: Mayor Phil Santie and Mid-America Nazarene Public Relations Dept. and James Gordon Freeze, who is currently with “Bill Anderson.”
3. Playing dozens of Southern Gospel and Country Gospel sessions with Bob Ashley at Briarcreek Studios, Governor Attorney General John Ashcroft’s Gospel Project and some Vacation Bible School curriculum for Regular Baptist Press.
4. My goal has been to play sessions on Southern Projects for DayWind, and choral projects for Lifeway, Lillenas, and Prism Music groups and those types of groups or companies. I received my marketing degree hoping that perhaps I would be able to promote and be a part of the Gospel Music Industry and to help keep its roots in the Ministry and yet maintain excellence! I’m pretty passionate about Christian Music.
snoring, then during a concert the next day the sound tech played the recording of my snoring through the monitors during the concert, and we kept cracking up the whole show, as the audience couldn’t hear it.
Kevin Allen: Lead guitar, vocals
1. I’m from Quincy, IL. I have been in Branson for twenty-five years now.
3. There’s been so many over the years, but two of the most memorable times were playing on the Grand Ole Opry stage and at President Reagan’s Inauguration.
wonderful group of the Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers Show cast. Now it’s your turn to go find out for yourselves what fun and talent they are! The year is drawing to an end, and the time is right now to attend their shows. I hope that you have enjoyed reading just a little about them and the history of Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers Show. The Baldknobbers show is located at The Hughes Brothers Theatre, 3425 W. 76 Country Blvd., 417-2314999; website baldknobbers.com. • BALDKNOBBERS
5. Falling asleep on a tour bus while touring with ‘The Texans,’ and being recorded
2. I don’t really know. I wanted a guitar at six years old and have played ever since. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do.
4. My dream, and goal, is to be the best husband, dad, and person that I can be, while continuing to play music for many years to come.
5. Being a working musician presents funny moments on a daily basis. I’m sorry, I can’t really pick just one out over another.
Well, there you go, you have had your introduction to this
The day fifty years ago - Rambunctious, the Labrador (Photo submitted by Larry Dablemont)
AMERICAN LEGION
POST #220 would love to invite all of our former and current U.S. military friends to join us Monday mornings, 9 a.m., for coffee and pastries, with the exception of the second Monday of the month and national holidays. Come join us at M. Graham Clark Downtown Airport, 491 Blue Sky Lane, Hollister. Monthly business meeting is the 2nd Monday of the month 6 p.m. at Denny’s, 2335 West 76 County Blvd., Branson. We look forward to meeting you! HOOAH!
PUBLIC NOTICE:
The Taney County Board for the Developmentally Disabled is accepting self-nominations to fill pending vacancy on the Board of Directors. Interested persons should complete the online application found at taneycounty. org under Live: Commission Application for Board Position (SB40).
Please contact Troy W. Rasmussen, Executive Director at 417-335-4135 or by mail at 1533 E. State Hwy. 76, Ste. 1, Branson, MO 65616, or email trasmussen@taneydds.com for further information.
VETERANS & MILITARY COALITION OF THE OZARKS is an all-volunteer organization of veterans serving veterans. Contact us if you feel that you, as a veteran or veteran family, may not be receiving the benefits you deserve. Go to VMCO1.org and click on CONTACT at the top of the home page. VMCO meets monthly on the third Thursday of the month (no meeting in July or November) at the Golden Corral in Branson with 11:15 a.m. (optional) lunch buffet and 12-1 p.m. meeting.
We can help you with your rent, groceries and gas. Please call to get the details 417-337-3772.
NOTICE OF ELECTION OF TRUSTEES FOR VILLAGE OF INDIAN POINT
The Village of Indian Point is holding an election on April 8, 2025, for election of two members of the Village’s Board of Trustees. Each of the two Trustees will be elected for a two-year term. The period for filing a Declaration of Candidacy for each of the Trustee positions will open on December 10, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. – December 31, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Candidate Election packets including the Declaration of Candidacy forms are available at the Village of Indian Point Municipal Center, 957 Indian Point Road, Branson, MO 65616 during the Village’s office hours. Completed Declarations of Candidacy forms will be accepted at the same office.
GRIEF SHARE SUPPORT GROUP: A new class for Grief Share will begin Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, at the Branson UMC. This is open to people from our community, surrounding areas and our own church family at BUMC. We welcome both new and returning participants. Gather at 1 p.m. for “social time” and class will begin promptly at 1:30 p.m. For questions call Peggy at 641-919-1533. All are welcome!
CELEBRATE RECOV-
ERY is a place to heal from your hurts, habits, and hangups. We meet every Monday night at 6:30 PM at Music City Centre, 1839 West 76 Country Blvd., Branson. For more information call 417–320-2055
See you there!
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCATION SUPPORT GROUP meets at the Branson-Hollister Senior Center, 201 Compton Dr., Branson, the last Wednesday of every month from 1:30-3 p.m. For more information, call Mark Applegate at 417-955-2513 or email mark.applegate@senioragemo.org.
I WAS OUT WALKING, and I ran into my 80 year old friend named Smokey Bear. He was talking about the clean air. If you smell smoke look for the fire, because it may burn your house. Please don’t throw away your cigarettes outside and remember fireworks start fires. The weather is dry so don’t burn your house down and don’t burn my house either. Please pay attention.
IF MY PEOPLE, WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
ACE HOME IMPROVEMENT
Heating and air, HVAC service and repair, doors, windows, decks, fences, pressure washing, interior and exterior painting, siding, roofing, flooring, tile and drywall. Handyman work! Call Ryan: 417-3351347.
FREE ESTIMATES AND TIMELY RESPONSE. Full remodels, decks, pole barns, garages, fencing and small projects. Call 417699-1635.
FOR SALE: 2004 Nissan Titan with 30k miles, very clean. Was asking $16,500, drop to $12,500 for fast sell. No calls please, text if interested. Text 417-559-0715.
RENTAL: Family friendly. Deposit and rule agreement required. Cable/WiFi included. No dogs. $191/week. Colonial Mountain Inn, Branson West 417-272-8414.
MR. GILBERTI’S PLACE. Need P.M. pasta cook and prep cook. Fun, working atmosphere. Come in and fill out an application. 1451 Acacia Club Rd., Hollister.
LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT full or part time employee? Place an ad in the Branson Globe, and fill that position FAST! An ad just like this one costs just $17.75/week!
49. Alcoholic brew
51. Name on some labels
52. Some baseball execs (Abbr.)
53. Bauxite, e.g. 54. Like interlaced vines
56. Roadrunner’s cry 61. Tailgater’s need 64. “___ boy!” (“Way to go!”)
65. Bacterial infection, for short
67. Pro follower 68. Obstacle 69. Muse of poetry
70. Cozy
71. Angel’s headdress 72. Goat antelope 73. Majestic shield (Var.)
Down
1. Greek portico
2. Work units
3. Washington city
4. Break a traffic law
5. Start of an Alka-Seltzer jingle
6. Weaken
7. Former Asian kingdom (Var.)
8. Tra follower
9. Accident
10. Nickname of one of Kotter’s Sweathogs
On this date in history...
• 1865 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution is ratified, abolishing slavery (except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted)
• 1877 Wahington Post publishes first edition
• 1907 coal mine explosions in Monongah, West Virginia, kills 361 1947 Everglades National
Park in Florida is dedicated by President Harry S. Truman 1956 Anti-apartheid activist and South African
President Nelson Mandela and 156 arrested for political activities in South Africa
• 1964 “Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer” first airs on TV
1973 Gerald Ford sworn
11. ___ avis
12. Engrave
13. Bangkok native 21. Sales unit
23. Troubles
25. Genesis to Deuteronomy 27. It’s a long story
28. Crossbones partner 30. Having divisions, as a window
32. Tropical Asian oil or perfume
33. Biblical city of sin
36. On the law’s side
38. Profits
40. Port of American Samoa
42. Chinese dog
45. Parsley or sage, e.g.
47. Crosby, Stills and Nash, e.g.
50. Pieces seen in “E.T.”
55. Scandinavian
56. Wild party
57. Sicilian volcano
58. And others, in brief
59. Raison d’___
60. Early talk show host
62. Small ornamental case
63. Riches predecessor
66. End-of-page abbreviation
in as first unelected Vice President, succeeds Spiro Agnew who resigned over corruption allegations
• 1990 Saddam Hussein announces release of all foreign hostages
• 2017 President Donald Trump officially recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, announcing plans to move U.S. Embassy there
Sudoku
See more fun puzzles at: https://www.puzzles.ca/sudoku/
Last week’s Sudoku solution
Westerns from Beck Museums of Branson
ROY ROGERS
• BONANZA
• KIT CARSON
• BRANDED
• FURY CHEYENNE
• GUN SHY
BUCKSKIN
• HONDO
• CUSTER
• CISCO KID
• BRONCO WAGON TRAIN
• THE RIFLEMAN
HOPALONG CASSIDY
• BAT MASTERSON
• BEST OF THE WEST
• LONE RANGER
• BRAVE EAGLE
BROKEN EAGLE
• WILD BILL HICKOK
ANNIE OAKLEY
• CASEY JONES
• GUNSMOKE
• BOOTS AND SADDLES
