2 • JULY 15, 2022 bransonglobe.com
Oak Ridge Cemetery gets new flagpole
Families having fun in the foam (Photo by Cindy Thomas)
By CINDY THOMAS, Staff Writer Thanks to several local veterans, a new flagpole has been installed at Oak Ridge Cemetery, just west of U.S. Hwy. 65 off Missouri Hwy. 176 in the Walnut Shade community north of Branson. A ceremony to honor the new flag was held Saturday morning, July 9. A previous flagpole and its base, installed in 1996, had deteriorated over the years to the point of being unusable. A group of veterans from American Legion Post 220 of Branson-Hollister recently set to work to fix that situation. In spite of last week’s hot weather, several members gathered on Wednesday morning, July 6, to get the base ready for Saturday’s ceremony. Oak Ridge Cemetery holds
many veteran graves, some from as far back as the Civil War and Spanish American War and several from World War I and II, Korea and Vietnam. The Post 220 group has honored veterans buried throughout the Ozarks by providing flagpoles for other small cemeteries in the area, and plans to continue doing so as they become aware of needs. This is much appreciated by families, and particularly by descendants of the much-earlier veterans as those graves often have limited identification and no official government recognition. Donations are welcomed to help finance these projects; for more information and to donate, contact Curtis Clark, Adjutant,
American Legion Post 220, at 417-231-3040 or ccc041159@ yahoo.com. Founded in 1919, the American Legion has a history of accomplishments for the good of Americans, encompassing not only honoring veterans but also projects such as disaster relief, youth programs, and general community betterment. Post 220 actively supports ROTC, Boy Scouts, the Branson Veterans’ Garden, and other community projects. Business meetings are held the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Grandma’s Café. Interested individuals and friends are also welcome to drop by for coffee on Mondays, 9 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Branson.
By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer One of Branson’s most popular attractions, Fritz’s Adventure, has received a prestigious honor. For the second consecutive year, Fritz’s Adventure was the recipient of the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, placing them among the best of the best in the top 10% of attractions worldwide. The Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, the highest award given by Tripadvisor, honor travelers’ favorite attractions, based on the reviews
and opinions given to Tripadvisor by travelers from around the world. This award recognizes those attractions that consistently earn excellent reviews and continuously demonstrate their commitment to excellence. Traveler’s Choice Award winners are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor. To be eligible for the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, at attraction must have been listed on Tripadvisor for at least one year, and must receive a threshold number of reviews within the evaluation period
and must maintain or exceed a specified rating on Tripadvisor, according to the online travel company. “Fritz’s Adventure is honored to receive the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for the second consecutive year,” said John Vaughn, Chief Marketing Officer for the Branson attraction. “Our amazing team takes great pride in providing a world class experience. It’s wonderful to see our guests recognize Fritz’s by providing such consistently great reviews on Tripadvisor.”
Families enjoy foamy fun with Lucky’s Foam Factory Fritz’s Adventure receives Tripadvisor’s By CINDY THOMAS, Staff Writer non” over a grassy area approxi- highest honor for second consecutive year Several families, including visitors to Branson as well as area residents, enjoyed an afternoon of foamy fun and games at Branson’s Stockstill Park on Saturday afternoon, July 9. The free event was provided by Robert Morris and his staff at Lucky’s Foam Factory. Children of all ages from toddler to tween, along with a couple of brave parents and a few fun-loving dogs, enjoyed mounds of safe, non-allergenic foam sprayed two to three feet deep by the “foam can-
mately 25 ft. x 25 ft. To add to the fun, Morris and his crew provided upbeat party music and conducted games including the Lucky Duck search. Children searched through the foam for numbered rubber duck toys and when all the ducks had been found, a prize winner was drawn from the numbers. Kids also enjoyed beach ball games, as parents and grandparents watched from a foam-safe distance with cameras in hand. SEE LUCKY’S, PAGE 9
