Branson Globe, November 25, 2022

‘Freedom from Want’

Globe readers are thankful for family, friends and faith

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

As we approach Thanksgiving, many reflect on what they are most thankful for during this spe cial season. Branson Globe read ers are no exception. We asked the readers of the Branson Globe to share with us what they are most grateful for this year.

Marilyn said, “I am thankful that God spared my life this year, and for all the family, friends and strangers who have helped me re cover.”

“I am so blessed to have a job where I am celebrated, not toler ated,” said Heather. “I have amaz ing family and friends, clothes to

wear, food to eat, a roof over my head. Every day that Jesus wakes me up, I am blessed.”

Bev noted, “I am thankful that God performed a miracle in my husband, whom the doctors said shouldn’t be alive today, due to cancer. God is faithful.”

“I am thankful we made it back from Greece safely, and that we even had that opportunity to fulfill a bucket list item,” said Jessica.

Carrie noted, “I am so very thankful that I am alive, that I am safe and warm, with a room over my head, with a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear, food to eat, a car

Generous donation benefits Taney County 100 Club

By CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer

Taney County 100 Club recent ly received a generous donation to assist with their mission of finan cial assistance to families of local law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders killed or seriously

injured in the line of duty.

Several board members of Taney County 100 Club were on hand Thursday evening, Novem ber 17, at Embers Cigar Lounge, 17 Downing St. in downtown Hol lister, to accept the $5,600 check

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), Story illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, March 6, 1943. Norman Rockwell Museum Collections. ©SEPS: Cur tis Licensing, Indianapolis, IN.

Getting the most out of Branson Christmas shows

By GARY J. GROMAN , Independent Journalist

Christmas is one of the most ex citing times of the year in Branson, especially so for Branson shows. Most shows glow, like a present under the Christmas tree, waiting to bring joy and happiness as they are unwrapped.

Here is a list of five things to know that will help you plan for and get the most enjoyment out of Branson’s Christmas shows:

1. Ozark Mountain Christmas: Branson’s live shows are an es sential part of everything that Branson is, particularly during Ozarks Mountain Christmas running from November 1 through January 7. Its Christmas shows share “the reason for the

season” and fill their audiences with a unique Branson Christ mas Spirit in a very special and personal way during Ozark Mountain Christmas.

2. Two general Christmas Show formats: Branson’s Christ mas shows generally follow one of two formats. The first is Christmas shows that are total ly Christmas. These include, among others, shows such as the “Hughes Brothers’ Christmas Show” (800-422-0076), “Bran son’s Christmas Wonderland (417-334-2500), “Sight and Sound’s Miracle of Christmas,” and “Dolly Parton’s Stampede.”

A second, and the most prev alent, are the Christmas shows

SEE CHRISTMAS SHOWS, PAGE 11

Celebrate Thanksgiving with Elevate Branson

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

Elevate Branson has a long standing tradition of hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner for those in the Branson area. The 15th annu al Love Your Neighbors Thanks giving Day event is designed for those living in extended-stay mo tels or apartments, or for anyone who might be spending Thanks giving alone this year.

After offering a drive-through

event the past two years due to the Covid Pandemic, Elevate Bran son will return to their original concept for Thanksgiving Din ner—an opportunity for Elevate Branson and their volunteers to not only feed their neighbors, but to visit with them and have fel lowship with them, as well. This year’s event, however, will see a time change. Instead of a late af ternoon meal, as the organization

has served in the past, this year’s Thanksgiving day dinner gets un derway at 11:30 and will continue until 1:30.

Dinner is held at the Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church Par ish Center, 202 Vaughn Road in Branson. For more information, contact Elevate Branson at 417335-9915 or visit their website, www.elevatebranson.org/thanks giving/.

Humane Society Bark Ball set for December 2

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

The Branson Humane Society will soon be holding their big gest fundraiser of the year

The Bark Ball will be held at the Atrium Wedding and Event Center. This Black Tie Gala in cludes a plated dinner, catered

by Infused Catering, a live DJ/ band from Elevate Entertain ment, along with dancing, a silent auction with a large se lection of items, and a cash bar provided by Shakers Bartending Service LLC.

The event is set for December

2. Proceeds from the gala bene fit the Branson Humane Society, in their mission to find forever homes for the many deserving pets that come their way.

For more information, visit their website, www.bransonhu manesociety.com.

With design for new Fire Station #4 complete, city of Branson now taking construction bids

in the south part of Branson. The City of Branson is now accepting construction bids through Decem ber 20, 2022, at 3 p.m.

Artist’s rendering of new Fire Station #4 (bransonmo.gov)

Submitted to Branson Globe Branson Fire Rescue and design contractor, Hoefer Welker LLC, has completed the design of the new Fire Station #4 which will be locat ed in Ward 3 off State Highway 165 on Champagne Boulevard. The lo cation of the new station will reduce fire and emergency response times

Fire Station #4 has a total pro jected budget of $5 million which will be funded from the half-cent Public Safety Sales Tax Branson residents passed in 2017. This fire station is projected at a maximum of 11,000 sq. feet and will be de signed to house up to six firefight ers, three drive-through bays, and a community/training room.

“I am very pleased with the fi nal product of this design. Hoefer Welker took the time to include input from all our employees, in

cluding the firefighters. That was very important to me. We look for ward to setting a groundbreaking date once we get a construction bid,” said Branson Fire Rescue Chief Ted Martin.

The Branson Board of Alder men approved the design contract in May 2022 and increased the project’s budget in August. There is no estimated completion date for this project as it is in its very early stages. For more information on this project, go to the City’s website, www.BransonMo.Gov and click on the floating bar at the bottom called “City Projects – A look at Where Our City Is Headed.

With the Haygoods, it’s always high energy, amazing talent, outstanding special effects, and a spectacular entertainment experience. (Special to Branson Globe)

Veterans Week visit turns into community involvement for entertainer Steve Spurgeon

By CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer

Veterans Homecoming Week in Branson often brings people into town to participate in the support and honor given to veterans, and some end up staying, or planning to retire in the area, and getting involved in the community. One of those is Steve Spurgeon, who visited Branson during Veterans Week to honor veterans and to be with the Convoy of Honor.

Spurgeon is a talented musician and participated in the Convoy of Honor “Hootenanny” on No vember 8, but he quickly realized there were larger purposes at work in his visit. Spurgeon’s father served 31 years in the Air Force and was a Korean War and Viet nam veteran, so he says honoring veterans is a core value for him. In addition to using his guitar, vo cal, and songwriting skills toward

good causes, he has also founded USA Superheroes [https://usasu perheroes.org] through which he addresses the mental health crisis in the first responder and military personnel community, using his personal resources to visit such groups and honor them as the real superheroes of America. Since 2019, he has visited nearly 100 groups across 20 states.

“I can’t go to a community without trying to reach out to first responders in the area,” said Spurgeon. “I knew Branson, Mis souri, was famous for entertain ment, but I hadn’t visited before and didn’t know what to expect.”

During his week in town, he camped at Black Oak Mountain Amphitheater with the Convoy of Honor but spent time at Veterans Village as well as driving around town and popping in on police and fire stations. He was invited

to address roll calls at the Bran son Police Department, and was also greeted with appreciation at three fire stations.

He was also invited by Branson Deputy Chief Eric Schmidt to at tend a City Council meeting and share his message, where he said

Pets of the Week

Tri-Lakes Humane Society, Reeds Spring Call (417) 272-8113 or visit www.tri-lakeshumanesoc.org

Wishing you a... Happy Thanksgiving!

CHARM is a 1-year-old female. She’s is a little bashful but has warmed up to the staff and is one of our favorites. She’s playful and sweet. This girl is ready for a forever home.

SANFORD is a 1-year-old male Labrador Retriever mix. He and his three brothers were owner relinquished. Their previous situation was not good and they are all pretty shy. The boys will take a bit of time and a lot of love to come out of their shells. They do love to Run and play now that they are comfortable and safe at the shelter. They get along well with other dogs.

Spurgeon performs at the Convoy of Honor Hootenanny (Photo by Cynthia J. Thomas)

Meeting Branson PD (Special to Branson Globe)

Meeting Deputy Chief Schmidt (Special to Branson Globe)

SEE STEVE SPURGEON, PAGE 46

A spectacular Christmas blessing: ‘Cassandre´, the Voice of an Angel’

By GARY J. GROMAN , Independent Journalist

I saw the “Cassandre’ Voice of an Angel Christmas Spectacular” on November 16, 2022. Wow, what a spectacular Christmas blessing!

Cassandré Faimon-Haygood, the show’s star, said, “I enjoy singing and performing with my whole heart.” After seeing this show, produced by her husband Timothy Haygood of “The Haygoods,” the truth of that statement is the “magic sauce” that turns an already great show into a spectacular, unique and inspiring Christmas blessing.

Like many of Branson’s Christ mas shows, the show has two parts. The first half is non-Christmas, with the second half all Christmas.

One thing is for sure, throughout this show is a unique, unforgettable Branson entertainment experience guaranteed to fill your heart with the true Spirit of Christmas.

I must admit my bias because she is one of the top female vocalists in Branson. I’ve never heard an an gel’s voice, but when, and if, I do, I bet it will sound a lot like Cassan dre’s. She has a voice like no one else. Its power, passion, range and depth will touch your heart as it en tertains you in true Branson style.

One example of this extraor dinary talent is her beautiful and

poignant performances of “Silent Night” and “O Holy Night.” Two different ranges and “styles,” that spectacularly declare the real mes sage of Christmas.

When asked what her favorite Christmas number was, Cassan dre’ said, “I love everything about our Christmas show, from the funny, lighthearted songs, to the sacred music. My favorite part of the Christmas show is singing “O Holy Night.” The picture it paints of that amazing night when Jesus was born is beautiful. It’s always been one of my favorites. The soaring melody is so freeing and enjoyable to sing. It is, after all, what Christmas is all about!”

And Christmas and entertain ment are what the show is all about. She says, “I love the open ing of our show this year! It’s up lifting and fun, and it really show cases our musicians. Another part I really enjoy is singing a medley of songs that feature our string section. It’s a neat time in the show when everything blends together in a unique musical moment. Each piece of music we perform was written and arranged specifically for me and my band.”

And what a band it is! There’s not another one in Branson like it. Its members are like a “Who’s

Who of Branson instrumental ists.” This includes Timothy Hay good-violin; Dino Phillips-percus sion; David Brooks-piano; Brian Zerbe-bass; Seth Darby-guitar; Ray Harris-trumpet and keyboard; J.R. Rollins-cello; Drew Ax ley-saxophone and flute. But wait, there’s more. This al ready extraordinary musical en semble also includes the fantastic

SEE CASSANDRE´, PAGE 46

The show’s emotional heart glows during this special moment in the show as Cassandre’ introduces her husband and the show’s producer, Timothy Haygood. (Photo by Gary J. Groman)

First Amendment to the United States Constitution

Congress shall make no law re specting an establishment of reli gion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assem ble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

ROB DOHERTY Publisher (504) 583-8907 robd@bransonglobe.com

JANET STEINKAMP Editor editor@bransonglobe.com

BY DAVE RAMSEY, CEO, Ram sey Solutions, and an eight-time No. 1 national best-selling author, and host of The Ramsey Show

Dave Says: A church car? You’ve got to be kidding

going to talk to my wife about this. I knew I needed another car, I just didn’t know I needed a church car. Oh, my goodness!

GARY

GROMAN, A.K.A. THE OLE SEAGULL Independent Writer

KIM CHAPPELL Ad Designer gabbydor210@gmail.com

PATTY DOERPINGHAUS

Stone County Account Representative (530) 739-5560 pattyd.ads@gmail.com

MARK FEDER

Taney County Account Representative (805) 320-3746 shotgunart@yahoo.com

TIFFANY GRAVETT Staff Writer tiffanykathleenbrown@ gmail.com

KAREN HALFPOP

Digital/Production Manager production@ BransonGlobe.com

KD MICHAELS Staff Writer kdmichaelsbranson1@ gmail.com

CYNTHIA J. THOMAS Staff Writer cjthomas74@yahoo.com www.cynthiajthomas.com

Dear Dave, My mom took out a Parent PLUS loan in 2009 to help pay for my college education. I also took out $70,000 in student loans my self. My mom never made a pay ment on the loan she took out for me, and now the amount due on the Parent PLUS loan has ballooned to $100,000. She recently told me

in her mind it was my loan in her name, and I should be the one to make the payments after I became financially stable. Thankfully, I just got a new job making $140,000 a year. With this I can finally make a dent in my own loans, but she asks me every week if I’m going to pay the Parent PLUS loan. My mom is a nurse practitioner, so she makes good money, but she recent ly financed two new luxury cars within 24 hours of each other—one for work and one for church. She also has loans out from borrowing on her 401(k) and credit card debt. Should I take over the Parent PLUS loan under my name?

Tommy

Dear Tommy, Wait, are you serious? Your mom has a church car? I’ve never heard of such a thing. But hey, I’m

Ok, here’s the deal. If you had an agreement with your mom, or promised at any time to pay back the Parent PLUS Loan when you were able, you should cover it. But that’s not what you told me. It sounds like your mom has a good heart and was just trying to help, but she did it in a dumb way. From what you told me, she’s done a lot of dumb things with money.

Under no circumstances do you take the loan back under your name. In fact, I’m not certain you can even do that with a Parent PLUS Loan. You need to get your debt cleaned up first before trying to help her. If you choose to be a bigger help after that, you need

to start things by having a serious conversation with your mom. She needs to hear that she’s being ab solutely silly with her money. Let her know you’re willing to help be cause the loan was for your benefit. But make sure she understands you won’t pay it all, and you won’t do it while she’s making two luxury car payments—including one on a church car. That’s ridiculous.

Offer to be her biggest cheer leader, and help her find a good fi nancial coach—someone with the heart of a teacher. You might want to let her know you’ll match what ever she pays toward the loan, so it’ll feel like a team effort. But also make sure she understands if she pays nothing in any given month, you’ll match that, too.

Good luck, Tommy! — Dave

Stock Market Insights: Stocks rise first

me watch it, I only look for the mess-ups. I prefer seeing the girl get kicked in the face more than the perfect routine. The stock market and the economy wouldn’t be very good synchronized swimmers.

BY DR. RICHARD L. BAKER, AIF® Founder & Senior Wealth Advisor at Steadfast Wealth Management

I’m not a fan of synchronized swimming. If my wife makes

The stocks tend to bottom out and start getting better long before the economy does. I have recently studied every major recession since 1953 and saw one continual theme. The market gets better long before the economy. It might have already bottomed out in this bear market and begun its rise. Only time will tell.

I read an enormous amount of re search every week and I’m seeing a lot of doom and gloom about stock valuations, earnings, inflation, and of course, the Federal Reserve. I see the words “downturn,” “deteriorat ing,” and “drop” pretty frequently in my reading. (By the way, doom and gloom sells more papers than truth, but that’s a story for another day.)

I think we will see more, not less, negative news as the Fed’s interest rate increases continue to work their way through our econo my because of their delayed effect.

The stock market and the econo my aren’t always in sync.

This is why we will probably see headlines saying something like “Stocks surge while the economy continues to sink.” This happens because the stock market is for ward-looking and often hits bot tom and starts to climb while the earnings, unemployment, GDP and payroll data continue to decline.

The market looks ahead and of ten takes into account negativity. So whatever you are afraid of today,

The comments on opinion pages are the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily those of Branson Globe, or its staff. Want to weigh-in? Have something to say? Share it with us in your own Letter to the Editor. Letters to the editor that are sent via e-mail and are fewer than 400 words are given preference. Published or unpublished letters become the property of the newspaper and will not be returned. All letters must include name, address, and verifiable phone number.

DARYL WEATHER Weather Forecaster bransonwx@gmail.com info@BransonGlobe.com • Phone: (417) 334-9100 • 2460 S. Business 65, Suite 106

BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS Staff Writer

As usual, I’m inspired by my daily devotional read ings from Proverbs 31 Ministries First5 app and the way the writers connect the Scriptures with daily life and applicability. After sev

Reflections: Our Father

eral weeks in the Old Testament, looking at the amazing ground work laid there for the coming of Christ, the study turned to the book of Matthew and Jesus’ earthly life and teachings. Recently I looked at chapter 6, where Jesus taught his disciples, saying, “This is how you should pray: ‘Our Father . . . . ‘”

I had to stop right there, because “Father” brought up so many thoughts. Jesus had much to say about God the Father, to whom He submitted as an obedient Son by coming to earth.

In the Matthew context, Jesus reminds His disciples that God knows and meets our needs even

before we ask. I was blessed with a good earthly father who made sure my needs were met. We had gro ceries and a comfortable, although not fancy, place to live. He made sure I had a good car to drive to school events, and he taught me to change oil and check tire pressure. I could count on my dad, a good word picture for Jesus telling me I can count on God.

On the other hand, I didn’t get everything I wanted. Jesus tells us to ask, and keep on asking, but He also reminded his followers that life would not be easy. Sometimes my dad knew from his greater life experience that something I wanted

would not be beneficial in the long run; other times he figured I should work for it instead of him just hand ing over extra allowance. Jesus himself asked God if there was any way other than the cross to accom plish atonement for sin—and God said no. Jesus accepted that plan as the best, although it was hard.

In Hebrews, we read that God “disciplines everyone He loves” as one disciplines a child to shape character. I deserved every spank ing I got as a child, usually for things like backtalk or blatant dis obedience. God allows us to expe rience consequences of bad choic es so we learn from them.

The best of earthly fathers may still fall short; for my dad, that was in the area of conversation and communication, which was not modeled well by his own father and took us years to do well. For some readers, I realize the picture of “father” triggers thoughts of someone who was abusive, mod eled poor choices, or wasn’t pres ent at all, and my heart goes out to you. Please know that wasn’t God’s original plan for families, but in the midst of this world’s pain, He wants to be there for you. He won’t fall short, ever.

God is our perfect Heavenly Father.

Been Thinkin’ About... The obligatory holiday letter

mail. And inside one or two cards may be the obligatory holiday letter, detailing a family’s past 12 months of events.

Holiday letters are hard and I won’t be writing one. In fact, I’ve never written one. Adherence to social obligation has never been one of my better points.

long months’ worth of events into a cheery two pages. Instead we are typically burdened with superfi cial tripe, the kind of “who should I sue to get the last five minutes of my life back” nonsense that is con sequential only to the writer.

BY JOSHUA HESTON StateoftheOzarks Media & Design

Thanksgiving is upon us and before long the Christmas cards will begin appearing in the

To summate a year of one’s life is — at best — problematic. I have read good holiday letters but they are few and far between. It takes a special knack, a kind of self-dep recating awareness, to distill the

Like I said, holiday letters are hard. Mainly because life is hard. No amount of holiday cheer is going to change that cold of real ity. But a superficial society has no time for the things that keep us up at night, plagued with wor ry. We also have little context for

the things that make our hearts truly soar, haunted by wonder ment and hope. That successful seventh grade recital back in May was important to you for a variety of understandable reasons but re counting it usually means a narra tive laden with artifice and social expectation as uncomfortable as the bleachers upon which you sat.

Better to write about the hope you felt as the cold winter sun shimmered in purple shadow one last time before passing below the western ridge, filling your heart

with joy and despair. Sadness at the passing of the day, the generations lost, the lives that have run their course. Hope that this next new crop of kids might possibly leave the world better than they found it.

Those thoughts might better summate the feelings in your heart as you saw your child on stage, your offspring, a wide open life yet to be lived, full of hope, prom ise, fear and love. But of course, in a busy holiday season full of good cheer, we don’t have time for po etry like that.

Train Up a Child: Giving or receiving? Which is best?

rather than simply being onlookers.

BY PAT LAMB Columnist

I

n today’s world, it seems that most of the focus on raising children centers around what we can do for them. The truth is, children learn much more by what they do for others and participating in events

As Christmas approaches, let us incorporate children in as many ac tivities as possible. There is actually more self-satisfaction in giving an appropriate gift than in getting a gift that children think they “just have to have!” How often have we seen chil dren receive a gift just to have it set aside after a few days? On the other hand, when they give an appropriate gift, they have a sense of self-satis faction that cannot be matched.

When our youngest son was in the upper elementary grades, he took a shop class. His teacher wisely had the students make a gift for their parents. I remember how he had this unusual

ly happy look on his face as he tried in many ways to get me to encourage him to tell me what he had for me for Christmas! I was tempted to give in, but I didn’t. He went for days with a beaming face. He was feeling a real sense of satisfaction!

Finally Christmas morning came. He kept watching me to see when I was going to open his gift to me. Fi nally the gift was handed to me and I opened it. It was a gum ball dispens er made with two slabs of wood and a pint jar filled with gumballs on top. There was a third piece of wood that slid in and out with two holes drilled in it. When it was pulled out, two gumballs filled the holes and a nail

was there to pry them out! What a nice gift!

Last Christmas when our son’s family came to visit, I put out the gum ball machine for his two sons to enjoy. They certainly did enjoy it!

The experience that our son had of making the gift for me far out weighs the pleasure he got by his gifts. I doubt if he can remember any gifts he got that Christmas, but I’m sure he remembers making and giving the gift to me!

BY GARY J. GROMAN a.k.a. The Ole Seagull

To an Ole Seagull, Thanks giving is a special day of giving thanks. To him, that’s a sim ple concept that transcends every thing else.

Common sense tells him that something celebrated as “Thanks giving Day” should be a day of

Giving thanks is what Thanksgiving is all about

“giving thanks.” Generally speak ing, who among us says “thank you” to “no one?” When “thanks” is giv en, it is for something and “given” to the person or entity believed to have provided that something.

Yet, even as some would take “CHRIST” out of CHRISTmas, they would take the “Giving” out of Thanksgiving. To whom are we giving “thanks?” Coronado’s 1541 Thanksgiving in Palo Duro Canyon, the 1600 Puritan Thanksgivings in New England, and the earliest days of American history testify to the fact that our modern-day Thanks giving is rooted in giving thanks to God for blessings bestowed.

The true meaning of “Thanksgiv ing” and its involvement with the very foundation of our nation can

be readily gleaned from the Procla mations establishing it and history itself. One of the “First Thanks giving Proclamations,” issued in 1676 by the Governing Council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, pro claimed, “a day of Solemn Thanks giving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favor…”

On December 18, 1777, after the victory over the British at Sarato ga, the Congress recommended, “That at one time, and with one voice, the good people may ex press the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine bene factor; and that, together with their sincere acknowledgments and of ferings they may join the penitent confession of their sins; and sup plications for such further bless ings as they stand in need of.”

On November 16, 1789, the First President of the United States, George Washington, issued a

Please join the Branson Globe and The Flag Store as we collect new, unwrapped toys for Salvation Army and House of Hope’s Chimney’s of Hope program, and food for Christian Action Ministries, and Branson and Hollister Blessing Boxes Watch for more details coming soon!

BY TIFFANY GRAVETT Staff Writer

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

– 1 Thess 5:18

Corrie Ten Boom and her sister, Betsie, were prison ers in a Nazi concentration camp. They had been captured for hiding Jews inside the wall of their Holland home, which doubled as a watch shop. The suffering they were now experiencing was unimaginable and almost unbearable. In her book, “The Hiding Place,”* Corrie de scribes the agony they faced…

“It grew harder and harder. Even within these four walls there was too much misery, too much seem

Thanksgiving Proclamation stating, “Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and Whereas both Hous es of Congress have by their joint committee requested me to ‘recom mend to the People of the United States a day of public thanks-giv ing and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many single favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to estab lish a form of government for their safety and happiness.’”

Perhaps Abraham Lincoln, in his 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation, said it best. “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things.

“They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath

nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverent ly and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

“I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and ob serve the last Thursday of Novem ber next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

Particularly at this time in our na tion’s history, it would seem appro priate to stop and give “Thanks” to Almighty God for the many bless ings he has bestowed upon this nation and its people. As Lincoln so beautifully said, “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God.”

Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Thankful for fleas

ingly pointless suffering. Every day something else failed to make sense, something else grew too heavy.”

At one point, Corrie and Betsie were moved to a different place within the prison camp: Barracks 28. They were greeted by the pu trid smell of soiled, rotting hay–the only bedding provided on the wooden platform bunks they were to sleep on. Even worse than the smell was the multitude of fleas that infested those makeshift beds. Despair began to wash over Cor rie. Then Betsie, with an irratio nally joyful voice, chimed in, “‘Rejoice always, pray con stantly, give thanks in all circum stances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.’ That’s it, Corrie! That’s His answer. ‘Give thanks in all circumstances!’ That’s what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!”

So they bowed their heads and thanked God that they were still

alive, still together, and that they had been able to smuggle a little Bi ble into the camp with them. Then Betsie thanked God for the fleas.

“I [Corrie] stared at her; then around me at the dark, foul-aired room…The fleas! This was too much. ‘Betsie, there’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.’”

“‘Give thanks in all circumstances,’ she quoted. ‘It doesn’t say, “in pleas ant circumstances.” Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.’”

“And so we stood between tiers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.”

As the days wore on, women from all over the barracks began to gather around Corrie and Bet sie every day to hear them read from their little Bible. The sisters’ words shined a ray of hope into the lives of so many despairing women who now turned to God for strength. What surprised them

BY KRISTINA ELLIS, Ramsey Network personality, and expert on college finance and graduat ing debt-free.

It’s no secret that the col lege application process can get expensive fast. I mean, think about it: Admissions experts usu ally recommend students apply to anywhere between five and eight colleges, but some students apply to 10 or more! And most colleges charge an application fee—so that money really starts to add up. Luckily, there’s something your high schooler can get called a fee waiver that will let them apply for

Saving money on college application costs

free (yes, I said free) if they qual ify, and this can seriously help cut back on college application ex penses. And the best part? Getting these fee waivers typically only takes a few minutes. So, here are the fee waivers your kids need to be aware of and how to find them.

1. Fee waivers based on financial need

This is the most common type of application fee waiver. Some of the things that can qualify a stu dent for a financial need-based fee waiver include:

• Being eligible for the feder al free or reduced price lunch program

• Being eligible for (or having already received) an SAT or ACT fee waiver

• Having a family income that falls within Income Eligibility Guide lines established by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service

• Having a family that receives public assistance

• Living in federally subsidized housing or a foster home, or being homeless

• Being a ward of the state or an orphan

A high schooler can get these waivers from a few different sources. Here are the most import ant ones to be aware of:

• National Association for Col lege Admission Counseling (NACAC): Typically, a student can ask their school counsel or to give them the NACAC waiver, or it can be download ed from the NACAC website.

• College Board: This is the or ganization behind the SAT. Students who got a fee waiver for their SAT are automatically qualified for college applica tion fee waivers. Eligible se niors get these waivers when they receive their SAT score, and juniors will receive them in the fall of their senior year.

• ACT, Inc.: This is the organiza

tion behind the ACT. If a student takes the ACT using a fee waiv er, they can also ask for a Waiver or Deferral of College Admis sion Applications Fee, which they’ll then need to submit to the college they’re applying to.

• The college or university where they plan to apply: Some schools will let students apply for an ap plication fee waiver. The pro cess will look different for each school, but it usually involves filling out a form that proves the student’s financial need.

And here’s the great part: Be cause the NACAC, College Board and ACT, Inc. are separate organi zations, qualifying students with financial need can use fee waivers from all three programs—mean ing they can apply to multiple col leges free of charge. Score!

Not every college participates in the fee waiver program, so if your kids are eligible for waivers based on financial need, make sure they

contact the admissions office at their chosen colleges to see if their waivers will be accepted.

2. Fee waivers based on merit Fee waivers based on financial need aren’t the only option out there. Students who have high GPAs and great test scores can ask their col leges of choice for a merit-based fee waiver. Schools are often will ing to do this because they want the top-performing, high-achieving students to choose them. So if your kids are rock-star students, have them check out the websites of the schools they’re interested in or call the admissions office to see if they can save some money.

And if your high schooler is in the top 10–15% of their class but bottom third in family income, they might want to check out the Realize Your College Potential program sponsored by the College Board. Some schools also offer fee waivers to finalists and semifinal

SEE KRISTINA ELLIS,

performing a mixture of the best of their regular season shows and Christmas. Typically, one-half of the show is devoted to the best of their regular season show, and the other half, usually the last half, to their Christmas show. These include, among others, the “The Duttons” (417-332-2772), “The Haygoods” (417-3394663), “Cassandre the Voice of an Angel Christmas Spectacu lar,” the “Grand Jubilee” (417335-2484),” “Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers (417-231-4999),” and “Presley’s County Jubilee” (417-334-4874).

3. All Christmas shows are lim ited engagement performanc es: Branson’s Christmas shows are only available during Ozark Mountain Christmas and run to the end of their 2022 season. That will typically be between the end of the second week of December and January 7. Shows will end their 2022 seasons at various times during Ozark Mountain Christmas. The last chance to see some, such as

Cassandre - the Voice of an An gel Christmas Spectacular - is December 7; “The Duttons,” is by mid-December. To avoid missing a show that you want to see, it is strongly recom mended that you check for the availability of the shows you are interested in, either directly with the show or at https://www.ex plorebranson.com/article/bran son-christmas-shows.

4. Limited seating capacity: It’s no exaggeration to say that Ozark Mountain Christmas is one of the most memorable times of the year to visit Bran son and one of the busiest. The limited time these shows run and the demand for their tick ets make it imperative to make early reservations to not only ensure availability but to get the best seats. This is best done by contacting the show or the ater directly or through a ticket agency such as Branson.com.

5. Lodging: As already mentioned, Ozark Mountain Christmas is one of Branson’s busiest sea sons of the year. To avoid lodg ing problems, it’s a great idea to make advance arrangements.

AN ORCHESTRA of HUMAN VOICES

to drive, best friends who love me, and that my family is coming to Branson this year to celebrate Thanksgiving with me.”

Said Anna, “As a child, I always loved the holidays, but as I have grown older, the empty seats at the table mean some of our loved ones are not with us anymore. Howev er, I am thankful for those that still remain. God has blessed me and I have never wanted for anything. God always supplies every need. I am thankful for friends, family, a warm home, food and clothes. Most of all, I’m thankful that Jesus lives in my heart. Every day that God gives me is a blessing.”

Elva shared, “I’m thankful to be able to put my feet on the ground every morning and wake up, and for my family and friends that I have here in Branson and back home in Oklahoma. I’m thankful for every body that’s been in my life.”

Local business manager Lori not ed, “I’m thankful for the staff that I have. Finally, I have a good staff. It’s been four long years, and I’m thank ful for every one of my staff.”

“I am so grateful for the amaz ing glory of God’s creations at every season of the year,” said Joan. “As the trees have lost their magnificent foliage, the majestic beauty of their design and vari ety become visible. There is such diversity and awesome artistry

displayed. Isn’t it the same with all the children of God? I’m also beyond grateful for my family and friends, my country, my faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Fa ther.”

Karen shared, “I am thank ful for four new additions to my family this year, and I am thank ful for long-term and renewed friendships. I am thankful for my home, my church and the crafts I’ve made and given to others. Yet, this has been a difficult year for many of my loved ones, with losses, illnesses and disappoint ments. As I look back over the year, I can say I am also thank ful for the difficulties of life. Not because they happened, but because with love and unending support from friends and family, we were able to find the strength to get through the hard times one step at a time. I have learned to be thankful knowing that faith is not found in the absence of troubles, but rather in the midst of them.”

The staff of the Branson Globe added their thankfulness for fam ily, health, faith, our veterans and the beautiful area in which we live and work. However, Branson Globe Publisher Rob Doherty and the staff fully agree that we are most thankful for you—our Bran son Globe readers and advertising clients.

On behalf of the entire staff of the Branson Globe, Happy Thanksgiving!

• THANKFUL Continued from page 1

The staff of the Branson Globe is grateful for all our loyal readers. (Shutterstock)

• BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S

Continued from page 8

was that none of the officers were coming in to stop them. Reading the Bible–let alone having one–normally meant certain punishment or even death. Why were they be ing allowed so much freedom? The answer came when one day an offi cer was overheard talking about the conditions in Barracks 28, stating that no one wanted to go inside due to the enormous flea infestation.

It was because of the fleas that the sisters were safe to share God’s word without fear of punishment. The fleas were the reason hun dreds of women gave their hearts to Jesus Christ and found hope

• STOCK MARKET INSIGHTS

Continued from page 6

know that the market has already con sidered it, adjusted for it, and looked past it. Your gut tells you to run, but don’t overreact to current headlines because today is already priced in.

Just because the economy may sink into recession doesn’t mean the market hasn’t already dealt with it. So have a good investment plan and stick to it.

I don’t watch Saturday Night Live anymore because it’s not funny anymore, or maybe I’m just

during those dark, dark times. Is it difficult for you to be thankful this holiday season? Like Corrie, do you feel like every day something else fails to make sense, or some thing else grows too heavy? Let me encourage you to take God at His word by giving thanks, even for the “fleas” in life. Sure…it’s much easier said than done. But God desires that we trust him, even with the things that are difficult. It is when we relin quish all things into his hands that He is able to work all things out for our good and the good of others. Give thanks and let your weary heart be lightened. He’s got this.

*Corrie Ten Boom, The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom (Chosen Books, 1971).

getting old. But in 1984, SNL did a synchronized swimming skit with Martin Short and Harry Shear er. Martin Short’s character wore a big orange life vest because he couldn’t swim. It is hilarious be cause they were so bad at synchro nized swimming, and they were anything but synchronized.

I think it will be a good thing over the next few months when stocks and the economy are out of sync. Hope fully, the market has already bot tomed out and will continue to go up. Have a blessed week!

Continued from page 1

from EMbers Only Cigar Club. The funds were raised through donations and the raffle of a custom AR-9 rifle, donated by St. Louis Tactical with a red dot sight donated by Thorpe Creek Shooting Range. On behalf of the 100 Club, Cory Roebuck thanked the Cigar Club for the dona tion and reminded those present of the importance of being there when these special families are in need.

EMbers Only Cigar Club meets regularly on the third Tuesday of each month at the Cigar Lounge. Club President Lisa McCabe said the purpose of the Club echoes the mis sion of Embers Cigar Lounge owners Kevin and Betsy McConnell to pro vide a relaxing place for fellowship, games, and good conversation while enjoying a good cigar.

In addition, the McConnells and the club members appreciate the supportive vibe in Branson, Hollis ter, and the surrounding communi ties for veterans, first responders, and other important community causes. Previous fundraisers have benefited other good causes such as providing needed equipment for firefighters and raising $5,000 for an area veterans group.

Also at the November 17

meeting, Club members voted to make Taneyhills Community Library their 2023 fundraiser fo cus. During the discussion, Betsy McConnell shared about the im portance of community libraries, which provide not only books but also children’s programming, adult learning opportunities, pub lic computers and Wi-Fi access, and much more. Since Taneyhills is not tax-supported, the Library depends on community support to provide such services. Stay up to date as fundraiser details devel op, or learn more about the Cigar Club, by visiting Embers Cigar Lounge in person or on Facebook.

FIND US AT 2805 GREEN MOUNTAIN DRIVE, BRANSON!

Cory Roebuck of Taney County 100 Club thanks the group on behalf of area first responders. (Photo by Cynthia J. Thomas)

Branson Fire and Rescue offers home safety tips over the holiday season

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer In the kitchen

Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and related injuries. The Branson Firefight ers make the following sugges tions:

• Do not leave the kitchen when cooking, either on your stove top or when using other cooking appliances.

• Do not leave your home if you are baking, and check your items often.

• Children should be kept safe ly away from kitchen appli ances, to avoid burns or in juries.

• Do not use extension cords in the kitchen, plug appliances directly into an outlet. Watch for dangling cords, also, as they can be a recipe for di saster.

• Never use a turkey fryer in side and be careful not to overfill the fryer.

• In the event of a fire on your stove top, cover the pan with a lid, turn off the heat source, and call 911 if necessary.

Holiday decor

• Be sure the decorations you use are non-flammable or flame resistant.

• Make sure your artificial tree is flame retardant.

• Do not place wrapping paper in the fireplace.

• Do not use lit candles. Bat tery powered are a safe alter native. If you must use actual candles, place them in an area where they cannot easily be knocked down, don’t place them on a tree, or leave the house when candles are burn ing.

Holiday lights safety

• Electrical fires are the second leading cause of home fires.

• Carefully inspect your Christ mas lights each year, looking for frayed or broken wires, broken plugs, bare spots, or broken plugs. Be certain that the lights have been inspected by an approved testing labo ratory.

• Do not overload outlets. Read directions on products before plugging in, for limits on how many strands are safe, and that you have the proper ex

tension cords and timers for the job you’re doing.

Live Christmas trees

• Be sure to choose a tree with fresh, green needles.

• Make sure to place tree in a tree stand with water.

• Keep fresh water in the tree and check it daily. Do not

place tree near a fireplace, stove or heat vent.

• If you notice excessive nee dles dropping from the tree, it is too dry and could be a fire hazard.

The Branson Firefighters hope you will follow these guidelines to ensure a safe holiday season.

They also encourage you to keep a working fire extinguisher in your home, practice fire safety drills, and know when and how to call 911.

Branson Fire and Rescue wishes each of you a safe and happy Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.

Hot Wassail

By KERRY DAWN GREEN

Warm up with some hot wassail. I like to make this in the crockpot; it makes the house smell heavenly.

• 8 cups apple cider

• 2 cups orange juice

• 5 lemons, juiced

• 4 whole cinnamon sticks

• 12 whole cloves

• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger

• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Add all ingredients to the crock pot and warm on low for 4 hours. Remove cinnamon sticks and cloves to serve.

*I like to put my lemon peels in a spray bottle with vinegar. After a few days it makes a great citrus cleaner.

Hollister holiday assistance is provided

Thanks to numerous donations from students and families, teach ers and staff, and many communi ty members and organizations, the Hollister School District was able to provide Thanksgiving meal as sistance to 92 Hollister families (198 students) this year.

The district purchased a turkey for each family through monetary donations that were received and students from preschool through 12th grade participated in the dis trict’s annual Holiday Food Drive bringing in food items including canned goods, stuffing, desserts,

The district is now working to provide Christmas assistance for 116 Hollister families (256 chil dren) who need a little extra sup port this holiday season. Many stu dents have not yet been “adopted.”

The district can provide a list of needs to anyone who would like to adopt a family ($75 per child is recommended). To adopt a Hol lister family this holiday season, contact one of the district’s build ing counselors. Contact informa tion for building counselors can be found at https://www.hollister.k12. mo.us/256723_2.

Submitted to Branson Globe

gravy mixes and more.

Hollister Schools staff distribute holiday meals. (Special to Branson Globe)

By CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer

Elevate Work celebrated its November 2022 graduating class at a ceremony on Wednesday evening, November 9. Class sponsors were Tom and Sandy Center, and student sponsors

were Chuck and Dolly Brannan.

Elevate Work helps move peo ple from chronic unemployment to becoming confident and ready to present themselves to area em ployers. It can also be helpful for people in transition situations, such as long-term employment

Elevate Work graduates class, celebrates achievement November 9

ending unexpectedly or a life event such as divorce, a move, or death of a spouse.

Three students from past class es gave testimonies of how their lives were affected by the class work, the support they received, and the opportunities provided by completing the Elevate Work class program. Brian Reed, a March 2021 graduate, now works at Pizza Ranch; Melissa Ayers, also a 2021 graduate, works at Cox Hospital; and 2018 graduate Shane Haskins is enjoying a job at Sight & Sound Theater.

Guest speaker for the gradu ation was Pastor Jonathan Mc Guire of Bridge of Faith Com munity Church in Rockaway Beach, Missouri.

Nine students graduated this class session: Desteny Oster, Liane Swisher, Theresa Hayes, Randy Baker, Nancy Johnson,

Dayton Mossclark, Tiffany Al len, Waylon Sisco, and Dana Is chay.

Two graduates from Elevate Kids were also celebrated during the evening’s ceremonies: Aar on Johnson and Michelle Wil son-Amoss. Aaron, age 8, was too shy to be on stage but ended up stealing the show by reading his own certificate of completion and announcing that was him!

The common theme in the past students’ testimonies is that it would have been hard to have achieved employment where they are now without the support and unconditional love they received from their class mates, sponsors and mentors. They learned communication and problem-solving skills while gaining confidence.

As for the graduates’ com ments, most shared that they

took this class to find themselves and direction. They now realize they’ve found even more: fami ly, love and a definite action plan that will help them to move for ward in employment.

Following the presentation of certificates and comments from graduates and mentors, the cer emony closed with a cake recep tion.

The next Elevate Work class begins January 9. Anyone inter ested in taking this class or being a class/student sponsor should contact Donna McConkey, Ele vate Work Director, at 417-5271709 or Donna.McConkey@ele vatebranson.org.

Elevate Work graduating class (left to right): Desteny Oster, Liane Swisher, Theresa Hayes, Randy Baker, Nancy Johnson, Dayton Mossclark, Tiffany Allen, Waylon Sisco, and Dana Ischay (Special to Branson Globe)

Reader’s

Corner: ‘The

By CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer

With Ozark Mountain Christmas in full swing, thoughts may now be turning to Advent, celebrated in many churches and homes by a special calendar, devotional read ings, and the lighting of candles representing the Hope, Love, Joy and Peace found in Jesus.

If you’re thinking of doing an Advent devotional, consider “The Songs Tell the Story,” by Janet

Songs Tell the Story,’ an Advent devotional

Denison. With her husband, Dr. Jim Denison, Janet has served as a Bible study teacher and in pas toral ministry for many years.

“The Songs Tell the Story” com piles into daily readings the story behind 25 well-known Christmas carols and hymns.

Most of us have been through holiday seasons that were less en joyable than others; for my fami ly, that would include the season I was in cancer treatment as well

as Christmas 2020, when my hus band had recently lost an elder ly parent, and 2021, when I just couldn’t bring myself to go play the piano and sing carols with nursing home residents without my own dad there. Financial is sues or divorce also complicate the holidays for many people.

What I didn’t realize, though, is the number of Christmas carols and hymns written in times of ad versity; for example, the writer of

“What Child Is This” had suffered a near-fatal illness, very relatable to my cancer season. Others were simply a reflection of the writer’s own relationship with God during periods of unrest in their nation or around the world.

Originally written for children, the book was so popular that an adult version followed; using both versions together is a lovely way to share family devotional time and prepare to celebrate the true

meaning of Christmas. Whether or not you choose to use this particu lar book, it’s a wonderful habit to develop as a family!

“The Songs Tell the Story” at Amazon and popular retailers or through www.denisonforum.org or www.foundationswithjanet. org, where you’ll also find Janet’s encouraging blog posts and Bible studies. An accompanying playlist is available through online music platforms.

Library retail stores hold special Black Friday and Saturday sale

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

The Taneyhills Library Thrift Store and Book Store are hold ing their second annual Black Friday and Saturday sale on November 25 and 26.

Located in the lower level of the Taneyhills Library, the Thrift Store and Book Store exist to help fund the Taney hills Library. The Library, lo

cated in downtown Branson, is one of the few in Missouri that is not tax supported. In fact, libraries in all but three counties in Missouri are cur rently tax funded. Funds raised through the Thrift Store and Book Store help to provide the many services that the commu nity has come to expect in the Taneyhills Library.

“In our Thrift Store, we’ll be having an overstocked sale,” explained the Library’s retail manager. “On Thanksgiving, everyone is stuffed. We are no exception. Our Thrift Store is full of great items. So, we’ll be offering 20% off of everything storewide, on Black Friday and Saturday. That means huge savings on clothing, Christmas

decor, toys, housewares, home decor and so much more. We’re also offering Christmas cook ies to our shoppers while sup plies last. In our Book Store, we’re doing a big sale on all of our blue dot books. We have a large selection of blue dot books that normally sell for only 50 cents, but for Black Friday and Saturday, those

books are half price, so you’ll get some great reads at only 25 cents each this weekend!”

The Taneyhills Library Thrift Store and Book Store are located inside the Taney hills Library, 200 South 4th Street in Branson. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fri day, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Ice skating returns to Hwy. 76 in Branson with Holidays on Ice

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

What began just a few short years ago has become a fun-filled holiday tradition in Branson.

Branson’s ice skating rink is due to open this weekend, weather per mitting. In its third season in Bran son, the skating rink is a favorite holiday activity of both the young and the young at heart. Skaters of all ages and skill levels take to the ice on the beautiful oval rink. With dimensions of 72 feet by 100 feet, the rink is the same size as the ice

skating rink at New York City’s Rockefeller Center.

The Track Family Fun Park and Five Star Parks and Attractions have again partnered with the Hol idays on Ice to bring ice skating back to Branson for the holiday season.

Located at 3335 West 76 Coun try Boulevard, adjacent to the spectacular Branson Ferris wheel, and offering a view of the incom parable community Christmas tree, the ice skating rink offers a memorable holiday experience for the entire family. Holiday music and lights add even more festive fun.

Skating is set to begin this weekend. Hours are 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, weather permitting. For more information, visit www.theholidaysonice.com. (www.theholidaysonice.com)

News briefs from around the Branson/Tri-Lakes area

Christmas ‘Adopt-A-Senior’ underway

The Branson Parks & Recre ation Department is encouraging community members to partic ipate in its annual Adopt-A-Se nior program to spread joy to lo cal senior citizens who may not otherwise receive much during the Christmas season. This pro gram is in coordination with the Senior Age Area Agency on Aging and is designed to pro vide gifts, encouragements and well-wishes to Branson area se nior citizens.

If you are interested in adopt ing a senior this holiday season, wish lists are available for pick up at the Branson Community Center and Branson RecPlex. You can also request a wish list by emailing Community Cen ter Coordinator Traci Burrow at

tburrow@bransonmo.gov.

Wish lists and gifts should be returned to the Branson RecPlex or Branson Community Center no later than Monday, December 12, 2022.

For more information regard ing upcoming events at the Bran son Community Center, call 417337-8510 or visit the Branson Community Center section on the Branson Parks & Recreation website at BransonParksandRec reation.com.

December Branson Jammin’ for Jesus to benefit Suitcases for New Beginnings

This season’s final Branson Jammin’ for Jesus concert will be held Sunday, December 4, 2022 at the Branson Famous Baldknobbers Theater, 645 State Hwy 165. The music will be gin at 2 p.m. with theater hosts

Brandon and Megan Mabe and concert hosts Brian Pendergrass and Sheila Meeker. The concert series will return next season on Sunday, April 2, 2023.

Rich and Anna Watson are the featured Branson entertain ers. You won’t want to miss this dynamic husband and wife ministry. Rich sings with The Sons Music Celebration 10 a.m. morning show at The Majestic Theater. Anna can be found lead ing worship services and playing the part of Mrs. Claus in Randy Plummer’s Snowdeer Christmas Story. Snowdeer will be present ed December 3 and 10 at the Ma jestic Theater.

Also featured are Gary Dooms; and vocalists, Mary Fay Jack son, Dale Rochell and Ava Ka sich; and music groups, Light of Grace, The Singing Bones, and

The Garrett Sisters. This concert will be a festive mix of Christ mas and gospel music.

Free admission to Branson Jammin’ for Jesus with a dona tion to benefit Suitcases for New Beginnings. This wonderful or ganization collects diaper bags for babies in foster care filled with essentials such as diapers, wipes and ointments. For the older children in foster care, they collect duffle bags and fill them with blankets, books and stuffed animals. With Christmas right around the corner, what better way to give back to the com munity than to make Christmas extra special for area children in foster care? The day of the con cert there will be a donation ta ble set up to receive duffle bags, diapers, ointments, blankets, books, stuffed animals, etc. If

you are unable to attend this con cert, please consider stopping by the theater to drop off requested items at the theater box office. Those items will be placed on the donation table the day of the concert.

A love offering will be taken.

For more information, email: bransonj4j@gmail.com or visit www.bransonjamminforjesus.com

Drury University launch es match fundraiser for scholarships

Drury University will soon of fer scholarships to cover the cost of dual credit courses for high school students across the region. The Dual Credit Panther Scholar ship was made possible by Drury alum Rob Wheeler ’79 with the goal of supporting students who struggle to pay for college.

“I attended Drury only because of the generous support of alum ni in our community. I give back to make sure the promise of that tradition continues,” said Wheel er. “Dual credit classes allow stu dents to have their first taste of college, experience a wide range of courses not available at their high school and reduce total col lege costs by building credits that apply to future degrees.”

The Dual Credit Panther Scholarship will directly impact low-income high school students who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and do not qualify for state funds. Wheeler provid ed the initial funds to launch the scholarship and over the next two years will provide up to $100,000 in available matching funds in an effort to increase dual credit scholarships across the region.

Currently, there are more than 100 Missouri high schools that offer Drury dual credit classes. The first recipients of the Dual Credit Panther Scholarship will be named this year and schol arships will be awarded for the spring 2023 semester.

After Thanksgiving Sale

at Silver Dollar City

There’s no better place to find

the perfect gift this Christmas than at Silver Dollar City’s after Thanksgiving Sale, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25 and 26. Shops are open 9 a.m. to noon.

As the home of American craftsmanship, our talented arti sans proudly create one-of-a-kind handmade treasures, from pottery and blown glass to leatherworks, candy making and so much more. With over 60 unique shops, you’re sure to find something for everyone on your Christmas list, and during the after Thanksgiving sale, you’ll find special deals and offers for two days only.

Make plans to visit for great savings and check out all of the deals at silverdollarcity.com/sale.

Toys on sale now at Elevate Thrift Store

Start your Christmas shopping early with great deals on toys at Elevate Thrift Store. Shop the toy sale through November 26.

All kids’ toys are buy one, get one 50% off. Grab them before they’re gone. All proceeds gen erated from Elevate Thrift Store help support all Elevate Branson programs and services. The El evate Thrift Store, 310 Gretna Road, is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

USACE to host Indsutry Days Dec.6 and 7 in Little Rock

The U.S. Army Corps of En gineers, Little Rock District, is hosting a regional Industry Days forum from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 7 in the Pinnacle Ball room at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown located at 322 Rock Street in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Companies can register on line at www.cognitoforms.com/ SWL3/IndustryDays2022 until Nov. 30. This event will provide industry representatives the op

portunity to network with gov ernment personnel and large and small business contractors.

In conjunction with Industry Days, the Society of American Military Engineers is hosting an ice breaker on Dec. 6. Reg istration for this event is avail able at www.same.org/Get-Con nected/Find-a-Post/Arkansas/ Meeting-Events/Icebreaker-and Booths.

USACE representatives from Little Rock, Tulsa, Mobile and St. Louis Districts and Hunts ville Center, as well as represen tatives from the Small Business Administration and Arkansas Procurement Assistance Center will give brief overviews of their contracting requirements.

Attendees will receive infor mation about the upcoming fiscal

year 2023 projects that are esti mated at around $340 million.

In fiscal year 2022, the Lit tle Rock District executed over 1,000 contracting actions total ing around $417.9 million.

The Little Rock District has a vast and diverse mission that en compasses both military and civ il projects. Within the district’s geographic boundaries, they are responsible for operating 12 multipurpose lakes, 13 locks and dams, 308 miles of navigation on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, 138 parks and seven hydroelectric plants.

For more information about contracting opportunities with the Little Rock District visit www.swl.usace.army.mil/Busi ness-With-Us/Contracting/.

Randy Plummer’s ‘Snowdeer Christmas Story’ to be performed at Majestic Theater

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

A popular Branson entertainer is once again offering area residents and visitors a chance to watch a special production.

Randy Plummer’s Snowdeer Christmas Story production can be seen on two weekends in De cember.

“I wrote the story of Snowdeer in 2011, and by Christmas we put a cast together and recorded an audio version of the story that was released on CD,” Plummer explained. “Snowdeer Christmas story became a production in 2012 at The Night Light—The Beacon of Branson Christian Nightclub, inside the Victorian Village Shop pes on Shepherd of the Hills Ex pressway, with four shows in No

vember and December that year.”

The last time Snowdeer was performed live in Branson was in 2019, when Plummer and the cast took the performance to The World’s Largest Toy Museum in the Harold Bell Wright Theater.

“In place of a live production, in 2020 Snowdeer Christmas Story was filmed at my living room in Branson, with me reading the sto ry,” said Plummer. “That reading was used as a Christmas program for Roy Young’s ALG Network at ALG.ROCKS. In 2021, I did an other production, videoed from my living room again, doing a Snowdeer Christmas Story tenth anniversary special. In that pro gram, I displayed Snowdeer items and products commemorating the

first ten years of Snowdeer. That production was also shown on Roy Young’s ALG Gospel Net work ALG.ROCKS.”

This year’s production of Snowdeer features Ken Rensink as Grandpa Deer, Cruz Timm as Snowdeer, John Wesley Davis as Jim-Buck, Lisa Marie Davis as Deerlores, and Roger Rogers performing as J.B. the DJ Elf. Ad ditionally, Gabriel Rankin plays the part of Plum Puddin,’ Melo dy Rankin plays Pinecone, Daelli Grace performs the role of Strike the Bell. Andrew Jansma takes on the role of Harvey, Anna Wat son portrays Mrs. Santa, and Rich Watson is Santa.

Snowdeer Christmas Story is produced by Randy Plummer and Bev Eugenio, with Russ Eugenio as sound director. Director’s assis tant is Terrie Collins.

Snowdeer Christmas Story pro duction is set for Saturday, De cember 3, and Saturday, Decem

ber 17, at 3 p.m. at the Majestic Theater. Tickets will be on sale the day of the show at the theater box office. Adults 16 and up are only $15; children 3-15 are $7; and two and under are free. Group rates ap ply for groups of ten or more.

Plummer will soon release a new Snowdeer book and color ing book, entitled “Snowdeer and Carrot the Rabbit—Christmas or Easter.” The books will be avail able on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Randy has also record ed and released a new Christmas album, with a self-penned tune called “Branson Christmas Song,” highlighting our town’s Christ mas shows and lights, as well as a poem entitled “An Ozark Christ mas Prayer.”

“Another project that has just been released that I have worked on for the BDS Productions is the ‘From Branson to Kenya,’ a twodisk DVD set, featuring Branson singers singing traditional Gospel

songs, followed by our brothers and sisters in Kenya singing the same song in Swahili, Plummer explained.

DVD cost is $23 each (check or money order only, please.) Orders can be mailed to Randy Plum mer, P.O. Box 1144, Branson, MO 65616. The DVD features Branson entertainers Mike McAdoo, James Marvell, Bud and Lynda Lynn, Kenny Goodman, Debra Paxton, Anna Watson, Doug Gabriel, Bar bara Fairchild, James Haining, Jerry Presley, Keith Allynn, Randy Plummer, and friends from Kenya, Africa. The DVD is produced by BDS Productions, and the purchase of the DVD aids in economic de velopment in Kenya.

“I would like to invite everyone to the 11th season of the Snowdeer Christmas story production,” said Plummer. “It was a lot of fun to put together, and I would love for you to come see the show at the Majes tic Theater December 3 and 17.”

Thank

you for reading the

Branson/Tri-Lakes education briefs: Our area schools are awesome!

BHS hosts 15th annual math games

The Branson School District and community were filled with learning opportunities honoring our Veterans throughout Veterans Week. Whether our students were leading the parade, organizing as semblies, writing thank you notes, serving in the Veterans Village, or proudly displaying the red, white and blue, they demonstrated we are forever grateful to those who have served our country.

Branson High School hosted the 15th Annual Math Games earlier this month. Ninety-two Branson students competed in a three-round event consisting of a 45-minute multiple choice test relating to the student’s current math course, a Sudoku contest, and a four-person elimination tournament. Branson High School Math Team sponsors and teachers, Megan Horton and Barb Cogdill, led the tournament.

Branson Schools thank Veterans

When Branson High School’s Air Force JROTC began in 2002, the Branson Veterans Day parade was one of the first events the pro gram participated in. Since 2018, the Branson Honor Guard with the American, Missouri and Ser vice flags, have been asked to lead the parade. The Pride of Branson Bands along with JROTC cadets also walked the parade route, thanking veterans for their service.

Buchanan Intermediate’s Vet erans Day Walk of Honor had all classes participating this year with

24 Veterans in attendance. “Af ter three very long years, we got to welcome Veterans back to our building,” says Walk of Honor organizer and sixth grade teach er, Melody Alms. Fourth and fifth grade classes lined the halls hold ing signs, waving flags and saying ‘thank you’ as the Veterans parad ed through the building. Once the Veterans were in the sixth grade hallway, the students were silent to show respect and honor as Vet erans completed their walk. Alms says, “This was truly one of the best days of the school year.”

This year’s Branson Junior High Veterans Day assembly highlighted the eighth grade band performing a patriotic rendition. The assembly also featured an in terview with Mr. Spenser Cross, seventh American History teacher and Explorer Core Team leader, about a once-in-a-lifetime patri otic experience. “We always end our Veterans Day assembly with

our time-honored teaching em phasis of practicing the expression of thanksgiving to Veterans and active duty or reserves military personnel for their service to our country,” says Branson Junior High Principal, Dr. Bryan Bronn.

GO CAPS students spent time serving meals to honored guests at the Branson Veterans Village. As students met and got to know the Veterans, they shared stories of their service along with photos.

At Cedar Ridge Elementary, the JROTC did an exceptional job presenting colors and honoring the flag during their assembly. “We are learning to be a patriot in all the right ways,” says Cedar Ridge Elementary Principal, Dr. Mi chelle Collins. The setting of the White Table presentation hosted by third grade student ambassa dors was a special moment for all in attendance that morning.

A Veterans Wall at Buchanan Elementary displayed photos and

stories of student’s family mem bers who have proudly served our country. Veterans were welcomed to the building to visit the Wall and attend an assembly honoring them. Principal at Buchanan Elementary, Dr. April Hawkins, says, “We are thankful we could honor Veterans and their families while teaching our students how to honor, respect, give gratitude and salute our mili tary, our flag, our country and our freedom.”

What an honor for our students to honor those who have served. Thank you, Veterans.

Branson Junior High School presents ‘Seussical’

Make plans to attend ‘Seussical’ presented by the Branson Junior High Theatre Department.

‘Seussical’ is a musical comedy based on the many children’s sto ries of Dr. Seuss.

Performances run November 28 and 29 at 7 p.m. in Branson High

A few of the Math Games participants (Special to Branson Globe)

School’s auditorium.

Tickets are sold at the door for $5 per person.

CRI Coding Club ranks seventh nationwide

The Coding Club at Cedar Ridge Intermediate is now ranked seventh in the nation. In addition, Devyn Rombout (sixth grade) is ranked 10th place out of 742 cod

ers. “These amazing students are absolutely blowing the competi tion out of the water,” says Cedar Ridge Intermediate Principal, Dr. Stacie Thompson.

The Youth Coding League is a competitive, fully-packaged ex tracurricular program for middle school students, using Google’s Computer Science (CS) First cur riculum. Coders (students) work

their way individually through CS First’s instructional videos that teach basic computer science con cepts and create projects to apply that knowledge. The CRI Coding Team meets Mondays after school and is led by fourth grade teacher, Amy Vejraska.

College of the Ozarks Jazz Ensemble concert is De cember 8

The College of the Ozarks Jazz Ensemble will present a concert on Thursday, December 8, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Auditorium on the C of O campus. Admission is free and open to the public. “This is go ing to be a truly special concert” said Dr. Kevin Powers, director. “The C of O Jazz Ensemble will be joined by guitarist Taylor Dod son. If you like the amazing guitar performance of Joe Bonamassa, you will love Taylor Dodson. With much flair and virtuosic fretwork, Taylor’s playing is strikingly sim ilar to Mr. Bonamassa. Taylor will not disappoint! The Jazz Ensem

ble will also be joined by trumpet artist Robert Offutt performing Maynard Ferguson’s “Macarthur Park.” This is going to be a night of great jazz; hope to see every one!”

Reeds Spring Middle School Character Students named

Every month, Reeds Spring Middle School highlights and em phasizes the importance of one of the “7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens,” based on the book by Sean Covey. November’s habit was “Put First Things First.”

November’s Character Students are Natalynn Hundley, Pierce Champang, James Waldron, Haid en Bradley, Hunter Dickens, Ha zel Morefield, Christian Ramsey, Faith Schoenborn, Chloe Cle venger, Carter Algya, Brennan Bilberry, Britney Nordin, Bobby Brand, Brayden Higginbottom, Asher Jett, Alizaebethe Spragg, Star Souders, Brenley Johnson,

Cedar Ridge Intermediate Coding Club (Special to Branson Globe)

SCHOOLS ARE AWESOME

Continued from page 30

Issie

Reeds Spring Middle School Students of the Month

Rotary Club of Table Rock Lake provides dictionaries to students

Third graders in Stone County may want to look up the meaning of the word gratitude. They now can, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Table Rock Lake. Rotarians provided all third graders in Stone County with their own dictionaries.

“The dictionary distribution is an annual service project for our club,” said Rotarian Ben Fisher. “If anyone ever wonders if kids still enjoy looking through books, this event is proof that they do. The students always get so excited to receive these dictionaries.”

The Rotary Club raised the money for the dictionaries by hosting a 5K walk/run in October at the Port of Kimberling.

There are approximately 225 third graders in Stone County, at tending schools in Reeds Spring, Blue Eye, Galena, and Crane. Annual food drive underway at

Reeds Spring Schools

The annual food drive at Reeds Spring Schools is now underway and lasts through December 9. Items that are collected will go to district families in need. School counselors determine which fam ilies are eligible. Each family receives a com

bination of perishable foods like meat, milk and eggs, as well as non-perishable canned goods. Each building in the school dis trict collects different items. Here are the lists for each building:

• Primary School

Oatmeal, cereal, canned fruit, instant potatoes, macaroni and cheese, rice

• Elementary School

Peanut butter, soup/stew, beans (pork or baked), Hamburger Helper, pasta and pasta sauce

• Intermediate School

Stuffing, peanut butter crack ers, cheese crackers, soup/ stew, canned meals/meats, fruit juice

• Middle School

Cereal, canned fruit, soup/stew, instant potatoes, peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers

• High School

Pasta and pasta sauce, canned ravioli, oatmeal, cereal, pea nut butter, protein bars, canned vegetables, stew, rice, baked beans, stuffing, canned fruit,

canned meals and meats, Ham burger Helper, instant potatoes, macaroni and cheese

• Gibson Technical Center Any

Items

Wolves to advance to Final Four

The Reeds Spring Wolves are one of just four teams still playing Class 3 football. RSHS defeated Boonville 21-7 in the state quar terfinals. Senior Caden Wiest had three rushing touchdowns and the defense nearly had a shutout be fore giving up a late touchdown to the Pirates. Reeds Spring will host Sullivan on Saturday, November 26 at 1 p.m.

Sooter, Jackson Beaman, and Austin Glasgow.

Top row (left to right): Brielle Kraus, August Behn; Bottom row (left to right): Autumn Tharp, Brayden Kus netz (Special to Branson Globe)

Rotarian Marshall Works hands out dictionaries to third graders at Reeds Spring Elementary School. (Special to Branson Globe)

Caden Wiest had three touchdowns to lead Reeds Spring to the Class 3 football state semifinals. (Special to Branson Globe)

Lighting display collects funds, necessities for worthy cause

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

Branson residents Kathi and Roger Bennett have found a way to bring holiday joy to many, while helping a great cause.

The spectacular Bennett light dis play is set to begin on Friday. With more than 10,000 lights in their yard, the Bennett’s home has become a holi day favorite of visitors and locals alike.

“Our light show will leave you with a smile on your face, and joy in your heart,” said Kathi. “All of our lights are programmed and synchronized to

music. Be sure to tune your car radio to 96.3 so you can hear the music.”

The Bennett family also uses the lighting display as a way to help a local nonprofit organization.

“If giving is in your heart, we do accept donations and items for the Branson Humane Society,” Kathi explained. “All monetary donations will be used to purchase items for the Humane Society. There is a collec tion box at the end of the driveway. Your donations are appreciated, but not required to enjoy the lights.”

Kathi continued, “They are al ways in need of dog and cat food, puppy food (wet and dry), kitten food (wet and dry, pellet cat litter, bleach, pill pockets, beds, etc. Spe cial needs at the moment are kitten milk and 100% canned pumpkin.”

Located at 321 Sherry Lane, the Bennett light display can be seen from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The lights will be on display from November 25 through December 31, 2022.

Submitted to Branson Globe

The Travel Channel describes

Silver Dollar City as “the most illuminated park on earth” during the holiday season. Don’t miss the grand finale to the year,

now through Dec. 30, with over 6.5 million lights including the 8-story animated Christmas tree, Broadway-style productions like “A Dickens’ Christmas Carol” and NEW “Coming Home For

Christmas,” Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade, holiday shopping, dining and so much more.

For information, silverdollarci ty.com or phone 417-336-7100.

The Bennett home (via Facebook)

Silver Dollar City: ‘The most illuminated park on earth’

First ‘Jurassic Quest’ held at Hilton Convention Center

“Jurassic Quest” invaded the Branson Hilton Convention Center Nov. 11 - 13. This travelling show - making its first-ever stop in Branson - visits more than 450 cities each year. (All photos by George Kurland)

Black Friday means many places to shop in Branson

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

Thanksgiving weekend is the unofficial beginning of the holi day shopping season, and Bran son is the place to go for Black Friday shopping.

Unlike many past years, some stores are remaining closed on Thanksgiving Day, in order to allow employees to spend the holiday with their families. But, doors open up early on Black Friday for dedicated shoppers to get that jumpstart on their holi

day buying.

The Grand Villages is a unique shopping experience at any time but is transformed into a winter wonderland at Christmas. Filled with unique stores and boutique shops, the Grand Village is the perfect place to find that unique gift for those on your shopping list. The home of Kringles, the largest Christmas store in the Midwest, the Grand Village is open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. for Black Friday shopping.

Tanger Outlets opens early on Black Friday, allowing shoppers extra time to bargain hunt. With a large selection of shops fea turing clothing for men, women and children, shoes, accessories and specialty shops, every gift you need can be found in this one-stop shopping destination. Located just off of 76 Country Boulevard, in the heart of Bran son, Tanger Outlets is open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Black Fri day.

Black Friday means a Blow out at the Branson Landing. This annual celebration includes fabulous sales at many of the Branson Landing’s stores, give aways and much more. There are special raffles going on from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you bring a new toy for the Branson Land ing Toy Drive, you’ll receive a free raffle ticket for each toy you bring. Branson Landing is open on Black Friday between10:00 a.m. and 6 p.m.

‘Black Friday’: How the biggest shopping holiday of the year got its name

BusinessInsider.com

Black Friday is the one day shoppers can find the best deals on just about any product, online and in stores.

But have you ever wondered where the holiday shopping extrav aganza got its name?

Many people believe we call the day after Thanksgiving “Black

Friday” because stores would go from operating at a loss or being “in the red,” to earning a profit or being “in the black.” While that’s technically true, the origins of the term are a bit darker.

The term “Black Friday” was first coined in 1869 when two in vestors, Jay Gould, and Jim Fisk, caused a market crash by driving

up the price of gold. As a result, the stock market dropped 20%, foreign trade stopped, and farm ers witnessed a huge drop in corn and wheat value.

Much later, in Philadelphia during the late 1950s and early 1960s, the term was resurrected and used to refer to the day between Thanksgiv ing and the Army-Navy game. The

event would summon large crowds of tourists and shoppers, requiring extra hours put in by law enforce ment to moderate the traffic.

It wouldn’t be until the late 1980s that the term became syn onymous with shopping. Retail ers reinvented the “Black Friday” name to reflect the backstory of how accountants used different

color ink — red for negative earn ings, and black for positive earn ings — to denote a company’s profitability. Black Friday became the day when stores finally turned a profit. Since then, Black Friday has evolved into a season-long event that’s spawned more shop ping holidays, like Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.

Shoppers can find great holiday shop ping at Branson Landing. (Branson Chamber/CVB)

Wilson announces retirement; Hollister Schools plan for leadership succession

Submitted to Branson Globe

Hollister R-V School District Superintendent, Dr. Brian Wilson, has announced his plans to finish his current contract and retire at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Understanding the impor tance of proactively identifying and developing a new leader to succeed Dr. Wilson, the Hollister Board of Education voted unan imously to name the current As

sistant Superintendent of District Operations, Dr. Sean Woods, as the next superintendent upon the retirement of Dr. Wilson.

“The Hollister R-V School Dis trict has been blessed to be led by Dr. Wilson over the past nine years,” says Hollister Board of Education President, Mr. Andy Penrod. “His ability to identify areas of growth opportunities and his vision casting for long-range planning has allowed

the district to become financially stable and to no longer be a stepping stone in an educator’s career, but to be a place where educators want to stay throughout their career.”

Dr. Wilson has served as the Su perintendent of the Hollister R-V School District for the past nine years. With 27 years of experience in education (22 in administra tion), Wilson believes that we each have an opportunity to improve the world and the people around us. And the people are the reason that he and his family chose sev eral years ago to make Hollister their home. “The heart of Hollister lies within our people and I work with some of the greatest and most talented people around. We have high expectations and understand that children are at the pinnacle of all of our decisions,” Wilson says.

Great leaders put a tremendous amount of emphasis on the suc

cess of their successors and for this reason, Dr. Wilson did not want to wait to announce his plans for retirement at the end of the 20242025 school year. He is excited that the board of education chose to name Dr. Sean Woods as the next Superintendent of Hollister Schools. “I have had the honor and the privilege of working with Dr. Woods and watching him grow as a leader,” Wilson shares. “I am confident that Dr. Woods is without a doubt the best person to lead this district into the future and am look ing forward to continuing to work alongside one another.”

Dr. Sean Woods began his career in education in Hollister 17 years ago as a teacher, a coach, and an activity sponsor. Dr. Woods was quickly identified to be a leader and became an assistant principal at the high school and then the principal before moving into the central office

as assistant superintendent. It is rare for an educator to spend their entire career in one district, but Dr. Woods and his wife Callie found Hollister to be an extraordinary place to work, live and raise their family. “Hollister is the hidden gem of the Ozarks,” Woods says. “It is truly an extraordi nary place. I believe that where you find extraordinary places you find extraordinary people. The extraordi nary people are what make Hollister an extraordinary place.”

Humbled is how Dr. Woods feels about the board’s decision to allow him to succeed Dr. Wilson. “Getting to play a part in helping influence our students from young children as they learn and grow into productive members of our com munity and world is a great calling, and I am humbled that the board of education is entrusting me to lead this district upon Dr. Wilson’s re tirement,” Dr. Woods shares.

Dr. Brian Wilson (Special to Branson Globe) Dr. Sean Woods (Special to Branson Globe)

King’s Chapel in Branson announces Christmas shows

Submitted to Branson Globe

King’s Chapel Branson is proud to present their Christmas musi cal, “Birthday of a King,” for the 2022 season. Show dates are the weekends of December 2–4 and December 9–11, with performanc es at 7 p.m. Fridays, 3 p.m. Satur days, and 7 p.m. Sundays.

“Birthday of A King” is the alle gorical story of a village preparing for an annual birthday bash. The problem is, they have no idea for whom they are celebrating, until on the eve of the party, new village schoolteacher Miss Byrd inter rupts a town meeting with a his tory lesson. The story unfolds of the King, a rebellious court Jester, a broken Ballerina, and a young Prince who gives his life to save her, culminating in the Prince’s

return to life, empowered to bring freedom to the musical charac ters—and to the audience.

First performed in December 2000, “Birthday of A King” has inspired audiences across the U.S. and worldwide, in venues ranging from a palace theater in Russia to a high-tech Japanese theater. The creative costuming and orig inal music is sure to entertain the whole family, while presenting the true Christmas message of Jesus, the King of Kings!

At only $15 per adult and free for children, don’t miss this af fordable and entertaining Christ mas adventure. For tickets, visit www.kcbranson.com and scroll down to the show information, or call 417-460-5200 for more infor mation.

Santa’s Pancakes and PJs Cruises set sail

Submitted to Branson Globe

Looking for an extra special Christmas memory to share with the little ones in your crew? All aboard the Showboat Branson Belle for Santa’s Pancakes and PJs Cruises. It’s a breakfast ex perience to remember with Santa and his jolly helpers entertaining

on stage, while hosting a magical voyage full of fun-filled activities that you’ll be talking about until bedtime.

Book early for limited time spe cialty cruises at 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. For more information, go to silverdollarcity.com or phone 417336-7171.

Birthday of a King at King’s Chapel Branson (Special to Branson Globe)

2022 CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY GRADUATION HELD – Congratulations to the new graduates of the 2022 Branson Citizens Police Academy. Our 2022 Acade my class recently completed the program and celebrated with their graduation event. The Citizen’s Police Academy is a 12-week program each fall that shows citizens how the Branson Police Department operates day to day. It offers a be hind-the-scenes look into police procedures and investigation techniques with a wide-range of topics including patrol, narcotics investigations, crime scene processing, traffic enforcement, accident investigation, crime analysis, K9 Unit, and SWAT. BPD is in the process of planning the Fall 2023 Citizens Police Acad emy. Stay tuned for how to join the next academy. (Special to Branson Globe)

BAGEL, ANYONE? – Panera Bread is now open at 1700 W. 76 Country Boule vard in Branson, near the intersection with Fall Creek Road. The new location, which can seat more than 100, offers dine-in, delivery, drive-thru and rapid pick-up services. By the way, we like the Cinnamon Crunch bagels the best. (Photo - but not necessarily the bagel choice - by George Kurland)

Branson’s 74thAnnual Adoration

Parade is Sunday, December 4

Submitted to Branson Globe

Each year the Branson com munity gathers for the Adoration Celebration and Parade to cel ebrate the true meaning of the Christmas season with the fam ily. For one special night, locals and visitors alike can come to gether and honor the Christmas story. Make this heartwarming celebration a part of your holiday season this year and create some old-fashioned Christmas memo ries with those you love.

The 74th annual Adoration Pa rade and Lighting Ceremony will take place on December 4, 2022. The time-honored event will be gin at 5:30 p.m. with the lighting of the Adoration Nativity Scene atop Mount Branson. About the parade

Seventy-four Christmases ago, two Ozarks men spent their lunch designing a lasting tribute to the Jesus Christ. Those simple plans sketched on a napkin by businessman Joe Todd and art ist Steve Miller would soon turn into one of the area’s most last ing holiday scenes: a large Na tivity display adorning the bluffs of Mount Branson and Lake Tan eycomo.

The 28-foot-tall nativity scene, refurbished to its original glory in 2012, can be seen from miles away and has become a symbol of Christmas in the Ozarks. Each year at dusk on the first Sunday in December the iconic nativity scene is lit, followed by the an nual Adoration Parade that truly kicks off the Ozark Mountain Christmas season in Branson.

The 74th annual Adoration Parade and Lighting Ceremony will take place Dec. 4, 2022. The parade will feature performances by local high school marching bands, floats created by a multi tude of area churches and organi zations, as well as an appearance by Santa Claus. Beginning at the Branson Convention Center’s south parking lot, the parade will wind its way through Historic Downtown Branson and can be best viewed along Commercial Street.

(Adoration Parade photos courtesy BransonChamber.com)

Drive stuffed, not intoxicated: MoDOT urges extra caution for Thanksgiving travelers

Buckle up and don’t drive distracted; get where you’re going safely

Submitted to Branson Globe

As Missourians hit the road to spend Thanksgiving with loved ones, the Missouri Department of Transportation is urging driv ers to be cautious, patient and use good judgment behind the wheel. Impaired driving, distracted driving, excessive speeds, and increased traffic are just a few of the concerns that can accompany

holiday travel.

The night before Thanksgiv ing, sometimes referred to as Blackout Wednesday, has be come a popular night for out ings at bars, which can result in heavy drinking. According to the National Highway Traffic Safe ty Administration, from 2016 to 2020, more than 800 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period, making it one of the deadliest holidays on the na

tion’s roadways.

In Missouri, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 12 peo ple were killed and 61 were seri ously injured in crashes between the Wednesday before and the Sunday after last Thanksgiving. This year, MoDOT is hoping a combination of public aware ness, enforcement, and an in creased promotion of sober rides will be successful in reducing or even eliminating traffic fatalities during the holiday.

To support these efforts, Mo DOT has partnered with the Governors Highway Safety As sociation (GHSA), Lyft, and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Respon sibility.org) to provide discount

ed rides during evening hours of the holiday season. A special discount code for Lyft rides will be promoted during the holiday on social media and in select locations using a variety of plat forms, including in bar screens, jukebox ads, and, in some cases, outside digital ads. The discount codes are made available through a grant provided by GHSA, Lyft, and Responsibility.org and are intended to encourage patrons to take advantage of this safe trans portation alternative.

With the number of statewide traffic fatalities approaching 900 for the year, MoDOT is urging motorists to be vigilant, always buckle up, obey posted speed limits and never drive impaired

or distracted.

“Tragedies like these are al most always preventable, and there are easy, simple actions we can all take to end them,” said Jon Nelson, assistant to the state highway safety and traffic engineer. “Buckle up, put down your phone, slow down, and nev er drive impaired. It only takes one bad decision, sometimes in a split second, to destroy a life. Do your part, and let’s enjoy this Thanksgiving with zero traffic fatalities.”

Drivers can stay informed of road conditions and delays on MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org, also available as a free mobile app for Apple and Android devices.

Americans are looking forward to shopping in person on Black Friday

By Good News Network

Shopping in actual stores is en vogue again as 43% of Americans admit they miss the chaos of pick ing up in-person Black Friday deals.

A poll of 2,003 U.S. adults found 95% plan to participate in Black Fri day and/or Cyber Monday events this year, with a third planning to shop both online and in stores.

Not having to wait in lines makes online sales for both days appealing, but the survey showed that a 63% majority consider in-person Black Friday shopping to be a tradition.

More Gen Z respondents than millennials cited immediate ful fillment as their primary driver to shop these events in person (81% vs. 49%).

Overall, 42% said in-store Black Friday shopping holds more im portance for them than it did before the pandemic, including nearly half (49%) of male respondents.

But the poll revealed there are some parts of e-commerce that people wish they could bring into a brick-and-mortar store—such as being able to see what aisle an item is in (51%) and using promo

codes or digital coupons (47%).

There are still barriers to in-store shopping though, like lack of con venience due to weather conditions and long lines (34%), seeing better deals online (34%), and health and safety concerns (33%).

“The pandemic has certainly made many people nostalgic for the in-person Black Friday ex perience, but it’s also heightened their expectations,” said Janelle Estes, Chief Insights Officer at UserTesting, which commis sioned the random double-opt-in survey conducted by market re search company OnePoll.

Despite ongoing inflation, nearly a third (31%) expect to spend more money on Black Fri day and Cyber Monday than in previous years.

“With 42% saying they plan to shop in the metaverse this year, brands must continuously work to become more ‘phygi tal’, bridging the gap between the physical and digital customer ex perience,” Janelle added. “That includes maintaining consistent quality both in-store and online.”

Branson Globe toy and food drive set for Taney and Stone Counties

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

It’s time once again for the Branson Globe’s third annual toy and food drive.

Help us help our neighbors by donating a new toy and some nonperishable food items to help our neighbors in need have a brighter holiday season.

Each year, Branson Globe readers and advertisers gener ously give to help our neigh bors that need a hand-up to have a brighter holiday season.

Items may be dropped off at The Flagstore, located at 114 South Commercial Street in downtown Branson, Motel 6 at 1023 West Main Street in Bran son, and the Branson Globe Of fice, 2460 S. Business 65, Suite 106 in Hollister.

Additional drop-off sites in both Taney and Stone Counties

will be added next week.

Food donated in Taney Coun ty will go to Christian Action Ministries, as well as being used to fill the Blessings Boxes in Branson and Hollister. Toys donated in Taney County will go to the Salvation Army Toy Distribution.

Food donated in Stone Coun ty will be given to the 24X7 Pantry, and toy donations will

be given to the SSCFPD Toy Distribution to help those in need in Stone County.

Toys and food will be collect ed from November 25 through December 23.

Out of the mouths of babes and other Thanksgiving quotes...

By TIFFANY GRAVETT, Staff Writer

• One fall evening, Jacob (5) no ticed that all of the leaves had fallen off the trees and said, “Dad! The trees are naked!”

• When my daughter was little she had a cold and sneezed then said, “Mommy, my ‘bless you’ hurts!” Isabelle (4).

• We were talking about people living a long time and my son,

Alex (13), said, “Well, we’ve got ‘longavitis’ in our family!” He meant to say longevity.

• When my oldest son, Tristan, was 5 he was doing somer saults all around the house. I

told him he was so silly and he looked at me, smiled and said, “Yeah, God made me that way.”

• “No more turkey, but I’d like some more of the bread it ate.”

~Dennis the Menace (Hank Ketcham)

• “The thing I’m most thankful for right now is elastic waist bands.” ~Author unknown

• “I suppose I will die never knowing what pumpkin pie tastes like when you have room for it.” ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com

• “Families are like fudge — mostly sweet with a few nuts.”

~Author unknown

• “I come from a family where gravy is considered a bever age.” ~Erma Bombeck

• “I can’t cook a Thanksgiv ing dinner. All I can make is cold cereal and maybe toast.”

-Charlie Brown

• “Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zuc chini bread, and pumpkin pie.”

~Jim Davis

• “Thanksgiving Day, man—not a good day to be my pants.”

~Kevin James

• “My cooking was so bad my kids thought Thanksgiving was to commemorate Pearl Harbor.” ~Phyllis Diller

• “You know that just before that first Thanksgiving dinner there was one wise, old Na tive American woman saying, ‘Don’t feed them. If you feed them, they’ll never leave.’”

~Dylan Brody

Be sure to practice winter weather driving safety

MO.Gov

Winters in Missouri bring the potential for dangerous snow and ice storms, which can lead to haz ardous driving conditions, the loss of heat and electricity and other risks to life and safety. Extended periods of sub-freezing tempera tures can also pose hazards. The best way to prepare is to plan ahead and follow local weather forecasts and news reports.

Winter driving safety

When it’s snowing or a major snow storm is in the forecast, there’s nothing more important for your safety and the safety or others than the decisions you make about driving. Avoiding a non-essential trip during a snow storm might not only prevent a traffic crash, it can allow road crews to clear roads more quick ly and keep you from becoming stranded. Before hitting the road, decide whether the trip is really necessary. If you must drive when it’s snowing, here are some safe ty tips from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

• Follow the local weather fore cast and traffic reports. Plan travel during times when snow or icing are not in the forecast. Avoid unnecessary travel.

• Check MoDOT’s Traveler Info Map for road conditions.

• Allow extra travel time and expect delays.

• Reduce speed and increase following distance. Drive based on conditions, NOT the posted speed limit.

• Focus 100 percent on driving because you have less control of your vehicle and less visi bility. Use your headlights to increase your visibility to oth er drivers.

• Understand that bridges and overpasses often ice over sooner than other parts of the road.

• Place an ice scraper, battery booster cables, blankets, extra coats, gloves, water, non-per ishable food, flashlight, and a bag of sand or cat litter in your trunk.

• Keep you gas tank at least half full.

• Travel with a fully charged cell phone. Park your vehi cle before calling if you need help. *55 on a cellular phone connects you to the closest

Missouri State Highway Pa trol headquarters.

• Clear your vehicle’s windows completely before driving to ensure visibility.

• Never overreact or slam on the brakes. If you begin to slide, steer in the direction of the slide to regain control of the vehicle.

• Understand 4-wheel-drive ve hicles may provide extra trac tion to get a vehicle moving in snow, but they are not better at braking or handling turns.

• If you must travel in a snow storm, let others know about your route, destination and es timated time of arrival.

• If you become stranded in deep snow and are idling the engine to keep warm, be sure to keep the area around the tailpipe clear to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning inside the vehicle. Also, open a win dow slightly to let in fresh air.

Being prepared is key when driving conditions are hazardous, and you aren’t able to stay home. Stay abreast of local weather and traffic reports, and elimi nate non-essential trips. (Mo.Gov)

Taney County Health Department announces continued WIC contract

Submitted to Branson Globe

The Taney County Health De partment announces a contract continuance to provide WIC ser vices for federal fiscal year 2023 has been signed with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. WIC provides services to approximately 1,400 participants each month in Taney County.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a special supplemental nutrition program providing ser vices to pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to their fifth birthday based on nu tritional risk and income eligibili ty. The primary services provided are healthy, supplemental food; risk assessment; nutrition educa tion and counseling; breastfeed

ing promotion and support; and health screening and referrals. To be eligible for WIC, applicants must have an income of less than or equal to 185% of the poverty level and be at nutritional risk. Migrant families are also eligible. WIC supplemental food pack ages are specially chosen to pro vide foods high in protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C. Eligible women and children re ceive fortified milk and cheese, eggs, whole grain bread products, hot or cold cereals, 100% fruit juices, and fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. The WIC program recommends breastfeeding; and provides breastfeeding support, baby foods, and infant cereal. For women who cannot or choose not

to breastfeed, infants may receive supplemental, iron fortified for mula. WIC participants obtain their foods by using their eWIC cards for specific items at partici pating local grocery stores.

Studies confirm that pregnant women who enroll in WIC during the early months of pregnan cy have fewer low birth weight babies, experience fewer infant deaths, see the doctor earlier in pregnancy and eat healthier.

WIC is administered in Taney County by the Taney County Health Department. Persons in terested in applying for or who would like more information about the program should contact the Taney County Health Depart ment WIC Program at 417-3344544 ext. 592 (Branson location) or 417-546-4725 ext. 321 (For syth location).

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Depart

ment of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alterna tive means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audio tape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that admin isters the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 7202600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

To file a program discrimina tion complaint, a complainant

should complete a Form AD3027, USDA Program Discrim ination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https:// www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ documents/USDA-OASCR%20 P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling 866632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the As sistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: mail: U.S. Department of Ag riculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Wash ington, D.C. 20250-9410; or fax: 833-256-1665 or 202-690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda. gov This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Missouri WIC income guide lines can be found here: https:// www.benefits.gov/benefit/2071.

For more information, contact the Taney County Health Depart ment at 417-334-4544, visit our website at www.taneycohealth. org, or like our Facebook, Insta gram and Pinterest pages.

Red Cross: Keep an eye on what you fry this holiday season

Submitted to Branson Globe

Thanksgiving is one of the coun try’s top days for cooking fires, and the American Red Cross of Missouri and Arkansas encourages family chefs to follow simple steps to prepare the holiday feast safely.

“Home fires are a real threat over the holidays and represent most of the Red Cross disaster responses locally and national ly,” said Stacy Burks, executive director of the Southern Missouri Chapter. “Help keep your family safe by always keeping an eye on what you fry, testing your smoke alarms monthly and practicing your two-minute escape plan with everyone in your household.”

Cooking safety tips

Follow these safety tips and vis it redcross.org/fire for more infor mation, including an escape plan to practice with your family. You can also download the free Red Cross Emergency and First Aid

apps by searching “American Red Cross” in app stores.

• Never leave cooking food un attended. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.

• Move items that can burn away from the stove. This in cludes dishtowels, bags, boxes, paper and curtains. Also keep children and pets at least three feet away.

• Avoid wearing loose cloth ing or dangling sleeves while cooking.

• When frying food, turn the burner off if you see smoke or if the grease starts to boil. Carefully remove the pan from the burner.

If you need help

If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physical ly unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Contact your local Red Cross for help.

Home fire campaign saves lives

Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign with community partners has saved at least 1,414 lives including 33 in the Missouri and Arkansas Region which includes adjoining counties on the Kansas side of the Great er Kansas City and Northwest Missouri chapter and adjoining counties on the Illinois side of the Greater St. Louis chapter.

• Keep a pan lid or a cookie sheet nearby. Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. This will put out the fire. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.

The Home Fire Campaign in volves educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing more than 2.4 million free smoke alarms in high-risk neighborhoods across the country. Visit redcross.org/ homefires for more information.

Deep frying a turkey can produce succulent results, but if done improperly, it can ruin your holiday. (Shutterstock) Thank

ists for competitions like the Na tional Merit Scholarship Program.

3. Fee waivers based on ex

pressed interest

“Expressed interest” means stu dents show they’re seriously think ing about applying to a specific college or university—either by visiting a campus, attending a col lege fair, or taking part in certain campus programs. When a student

• CASSANDRE´

Continued from page 5

tours a school or meets with an ad missions representative at a college fair, they may be personally given a waiver or invited to apply without an application fee. This is a great way to build a genuine connection with the school and save some cash in the process. Win-win.

4.

Miscellaneous waivers

None of the other fee waiv er scenarios apply to your high schooler? Don’t worry, there are other things colleges may look at when determining whether or not

som Special,” during the first half of the show was one of the most unique and entertaining perfor mances of this number I have ever heard. And, over my 25-plus years of reviewing Branson shows, I have listened to many of them.

Cassandre’ is joined on stage by

to offer application fee waivers.

Here are a few of them:

• Service-based groups: Per forming a certain number of service hours or being an alum nus of a service-based group (like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps) may qualify a student. Typically, these fee waivers are available to older students seeking admission.

• University employees: Uni versity employees (and their dependents) may qualify for a

her longtime friend and superb vocal ist, Jeremy Rabe. They perform sev eral duets together. Their duet of the Elvis Presley hit “Can’t Help Falling In Love” and “Mary Did You Know” brought tears to an old man’s eyes. One almost always expects a comedic visit from “Aunt Erma”

waiver at their school.

• Active service members, vet erans or children of veterans: Some colleges offer fee waivers to active service members, vet erans and children of veterans.

• Online applicants: More and more schools these days are of fering reduced application fees (or waiving fees completely) for online applications.

• Special circumstances: If your family recently expe rienced a major hardship—

during one of Cassandre’s shows, and they will not be disappoint ed. Aunt Erma, bearing a not-sostrange resemblance to Cassan dre’, drops by during both halves of the show to visit with and en tertain her “Peoples” in her own humorous and down-to-earth way.

• STEVE SPURGEON

Continued from page 3

he was again greeted warmly and even got to meet Tony Orlando, who was honored by the City of Branson at the same meeting. He hopes to meet and partner with other area nonprofits in his pas sion of raising awareness and re sourcing the mental health issue.

“The reception I received in

like a job loss, medical emergency, recent death of a family member, or drop in finances—some schools of fer waivers if you report and document your circumstanc es. Check with your kids’ potential schools to see what options they offer.

At the end of the day, don’t let pricey application fees keep your high schooler from applying to as many colleges as they want. You’ve got this!

This is a limited engagement show – only one 2022 performance re mains. Her final show of the engage ment is December 7, 2022, at 10 a.m. in the Hughes Brothers Theatre. For tickets or more information, visit www.thevoiceof anangel. com or call 417-334-0076.

the community was humbling to say the least,” Spurgeon said. “I’ve never been to a place so warm and friendly. Branson is the perfect representation of tru ly living the values of God, fami ly, and country. I look forward to returning often to visit and hope fully being part of this communi ty that I’ve completely fallen in love with!”

Johnson Strings •Karen Graif-vi olin, •Abigail Johnson-violin, •Luke Johnson-viola, and Silas Johnson-cello. Their rendition of the fiddle classic, “Orange Blos

Annual Shoreline Cleanup event makes positive impacts on

Submitted to Branson Globe

The 22nd annual H2Ozarks (formerly Ozarks Water Watch) Shoreline Cleanup was conducted in October on Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo, and Bull Shoals Lake. First organized in the year 2000, this event was only on Table Rock Lake with less than 20 vol unteers participating. Over the past 22 years, the effort has expanded over the three lakes with more than 15,000 volunteers, spending over 58,000 hours cleaning and picking up over 338 tons of trash from 1,900 miles of shoreline!

This year, over the course of two weekends, 52 teams consist ing of 515 volunteers spent over 1,530 hours cleaning our water ways. They collected 388 bags of trash (9,332 pounds), 49 tires, five appliances, and disposed of numerous large pieces of docks, Styrofoam and plastics.

The teams consisted of residents, middle and high school groups from Reeds Spring and Forsyth, busi nesses, and companies throughout the region, and even first-time visi tors to the area. The largest self-or ganized teams were organized by James Kanyo (48 volunteers) and Sherry & Ken Scott (47 volunteers).

The largest business teams were Diventures - Springfield (42 volun teers) and the City of Kimberling City (20 volunteers).

The cleanup event each year is

funded through the sponsorship of businesses in southwest Missouri who place a priority on keeping our waterways clean. Without their help, this event would not be pos sible. Sponsors this year included: Table Rock Lake Marina As sociation (Main Event Sponsor), Port of Kimberling Resort LLC, The Harbor, White River Valley Electric Cooperative, Arvest Bank, Branson Landing, Branson West Marine and Powersport, Central Bank of Branson, City of Branson, Cox Health, Diventures Spring field, Dolly’s Stampede, Gener ations Bank, Lake30, Missouri American Water, Silver Dollar City/Branson Belle, Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce, Toth and Associates, True Value Hard ware - Kimberling City, O’Reil ly Auto Parts, First Community Bank of the Ozarks, Great South ern Bank, City of Kimberling City, Built Right Construction, Republic Services, Domino’s Pizza and Mr.

G.’s Pizza, Fall Creek.

“We can’t thank our volunteers and business sponsors enough for their continued support of this im portant event.” Stated Jerry Har man, program director, “It seems each year more volunteers sign up and more businesses are eager to be sponsors because they know what clean water means to our region.”

H2Ozarks looks forward to another great Shoreline Cleanup event in 2023! Mark your calen dars for next year. The Shoreline Cleanup Event will be held on the weekend of September 15–17.

“The annual Shoreline Cleanup event on Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo, and Bull Shoals Lake is one of the largest in the state each year. Our communities in southwest Missouri and around this re gion should be very proud of the dedication of the volun teers and businesses that ded icate their time, money and

resources to clean our water ways. This dedication protects wildlife, ensures clean water, and provides economic vital ity through the recreational resources that people enjoy in our clean lakes, rivers and streams.” Harman said.

H2Ozarks is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization dedicated to maintaining and improving the water quality of the Upper White River Basin watershed for over 20 years. The watershed includes four major impoundments, three major

rivers and numerous smaller lakes and streams crisscrossing over 14,000 square miles in 19 counties in southwest Missouri and north west Arkansas. With your help, we will work together to make Beaver Lake, Table Rock Lake, Lake Tan eycomo and Bull Shoals Lake the four cleanest man-made lakes in North America!

For more information about this event or H2Ozarks, visit www. h2ozarks.org, email contact@ h2ozarks.org, or call Jerry Harman at (417) 739-5001.

Public invited to discuss priority unfunded transportation needs

Submitted to Branson Globe Missouri’s transportation sys tem is a tremendous asset includ ing 33,825 miles of roads and 10,387 bridges. The system ranks among the largest for any state in the nation. The Missouri Depart ment of Transportation working

with its statewide regional plan ning partners has identified $1 billion in annual unfunded needs. From the broader unfunded needs, MoDOT has developed a High Priority Unfunded Needs list to guide the development of proj ects into funded projects as state

and federal transportation funds increase.

Public meetings will be held across the state from Nov. 28 through Dec. 7. The full list of the meeting dates, time and locations are here: https://www.modot.org/ unfundedneeds.

MoDOT staff have worked with metropolitan planning organiza tions and regional planning com missions throughout the state to develop a list of high priority un funded road and bridge needs. The draft project-specific lists include $4.7 billion in road and bridge project needs in three tiers. Tier one includes $528 million and in cludes project needs we could ac complish in the time of the current five-year STIP as federal and state funding levels increase. These projects have more refined esti mates. Tier two is worth $2 billion and includes project needs beyond the current STIP timeframe with broader estimates. Tier three in cludes $2.2 billion of project needs also beyond the current STIP time frame with broader estimates. In addition, DOT staff worked with the planning partners to identify $1 billion in multimodal needs.

“Even with additional reve

nue, transportation needs greatly outweigh funding available, and we are working through the chal lenges of increasing project costs due to higher inflation,” said Mo DOT Director Patrick McKen na. “Across every region of the state, feedback from Missourians has consistently prioritized main taining the existing system as the highest priority. Other priorities include projects that improve safe ty, spur economic growth, and pro vide more transportation choices. We appreciate Missourians’ input in this new draft as we work to prioritize projects that provide the greatest value to taxpayers.”

The draft document and com ment forms will be available on line through December 21. For more information, call MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636) or visit www.modot.org. To receive the latest statewide news and text alerts, sign up for e-updates.

Responders urge motorists to Slow Down, Move Over: ‘It’s the Law’

Submitted to Branson Globe

On a daily basis, emergency responders put their lives on the line along Missouri’s highways responding to crash scenes. These workers include police, fire, EMS, tow truck operators and highway workers. They respond to traffic in cidents, assisting drivers and help ing to keep traffic flowing. By state law, drivers are required to move over or slow down, but unfortu nately, a significant number do not. According to the Federal High way Administration (FHWA), traffic incidents are the leading cause of death for EMS respond ers and law enforcement officers. To remind motorists what’s on the line, the FHWA recently dedicat ed a week as National Crash Re sponder Safety Week.

From 2017 to 2021, there have been nearly 9,200 traffic crashes on Missouri roadways that in volved an emergency vehicle. Of these crashes, 31 were fatal and 140 resulted in serious injury to the emergency responder.

As part of the Missouri Depart ment of Transportation’s work to maintain a safe and reliable trans portation system, MoDOT emer gency response personnel respond to more than 6,000 traffic incidents each month on average.

“Responders working crashes are always in a dangerous work envi ronment,” said Chris Engelbrecht, MoDOT’s assistant to the chief safe ty and operations officer. “As motor ists, we can make their job safer by simply taking a foot off the acceler ator, turning on a blinker, checking a mirror and switching lanes.”

When motorists approach Mo DOT or any other responders or emergency vehicles on the side of the highway with flashing lights, they should move over. This is more than a “courtesy” to road side workers, it’s the law. A report

from the National Safety Commis sion revealed 71% of Americans do not know about their state’s Move Over law. Missouri’s Move Over law requires drivers to either change lanes or slow down when approaching stationary MoDOT,

law enforcement or other emer gency vehicles with flashing lights on. To help protect those who pro tect us, all 50 states enforce some form of the Move Over law.

“When you see emergency ve hicles and highway crews with

warning lights either on the road or shoulder, slow down, and when you’re able to do so, move over,” said Engelbrecht. “The lives you’re protecting are the ones who protect, rescue and assist you and work on the roads you use every day.”

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA

FOREVER (PG-13) – FRI - THU: 12:10 PM, 4 PM, 7:30 PM

SERENGETI _ FRI - THU: 11 AM

OZARKS: LEGACY & LEGEND –FRI - THU: 10 AM

TICKET TO PARADISE (PG-13)

FRI - THU: 1:00, 4:30, 7:10; THUSAT: 9:30 PM

STRANGE WORLD (PG) – FRI - THU: 12:30 PM, 6:50 PM; THUSAT: 9 PM

STRANGE WORLD 3D (PG) – FRITHU: 3:30 PM

DEVOTION (PG-13) – FRI - THU: 12:20 PM, 3:30 PM, 6:30 PM; THU - SAT: 9:20 PM

I HEARD THE BELLS – THU: 1:30, 4:30, 7:30

DEVOTION (PG-13) – FRI & SAT: 1, 4, 6:50, 9:30; SUN - WED: 1, 4, 6:50

THE FABELMANS (PG-13) – FRIWED: 12:30, 3:50, 7:20

STRANGE WORLD (PG) – FRI - WED: 1, 7:10

STRANGE WORLD 3D (PG) – FRI & SAT: 4, 9:30; SUN - WED: 4 PM

THE MENU (R) – FRI & SAT: 2, 4:30, 7, 9:20; SUN - WED: 2, 4:30, 7

SHE SAID (R) – FRI & SAT: 1:40, 4:20, 7:05, 9:40; SUN - WED: 1:40, 4:20, 7:05

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOR EVER (PG-13) – FRI - WED: 12:30, 3:50, 7:20

BLACK ADAM (PG-13) – FRI & SAT: 1:40, 4:20, 7:05, 9:40; SUN - WED: 1:40, 4:20, 7:05

TICKET TO PARADISE (PG-13) – FRI & SAT: 1:20, 4:10, 7:30, 9:50; SUNWED: 1:20, 4:10, 7:30

LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE (PG) – FRI & SAT: 1:20, 4, 6:50, 9; SUN - WED: 1:20, 4, 6:50

TOP GUN: MAVERICK (PG-13) – FRI & SAT: 1, 3:50, 6:50, 9:50; SUN - WED: 1, 3:50, 6:50

Today in history

• 1783 Britain evacuates New York city, its last military posi tion in the United States

• 1792 Benjamin Banneker first publishes his Farmer’s Almanac

• 1839 Cyclone slams south east ern India with high winds and a 40 foot storm surge, destroying city of Coringa. Storm waves sweep inland, destroying 20,000 ships and killing an estimated 300,000 people.

• 1867 US Congress commission looks into “impeachment” of President Andrew Johnson

• 1905 Telimco makes the 1st ever advertisement for a radio set, by advertising a $7.50 set in the “Scientific American” which claimed to receive signals for up to one mile

• 1947 The 1st systematic Holly wood blacklist is instituted, de nying employment to American entertainment professionals due to alleged Communist ties or sympathies

• 1963 JFK laid to rest at Arling ton National Cemetery

• 1979 Pat Summerall and John Madden broadcast a game to gether for the first time, a pairing that lasts 22 years and becomes one of the most well-known partnerships in TV sportscasting history

• 1986 Iran-Contra affair erupts, President Reagan reveals secret arms deal

• 1986 Oliver North’s secretary, Fawn Hall, smuggles docu ments out of his office

• 1990 Lech Wałęsa wins Po land’s first popular election

• 2014 Missouri Governor Jay Nixon orders hundreds more US National Guard troops to the town of Ferguson to prevent a second night of rioting and looting

• 2017 Longest known frozen embryo to be successfully born is delivered in TennesseeEmma Wren Gibson, frozen 24 years ago

• 2020 US President Donald Trump pardons former security advisor Michael Flynn, guilty of lying to the FBI

info@bransonglobe.com 417-334-9100

NOTICES NOTICES NOTICES

THE AMERICAN LEGION POST #220 invites all former and current US Military friends to join us Monday mornings at 9 a.m. for coffee and pastries!! Come join us at Faith Lutheran Church, 221 Malone Dr., Bran son, MO. We look forward to meeting you!! HOOAH!!

DO YOU NEED MONEY FOR INVESTMENT PROPERTIES?

I have more funds than deals! We are a direct private money lender. Invest ment and commercial properties bro kers welcome. Call for fast cash! 417239-6112, garyemas@gmail.com.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCI

ATION SUPPORT GROUP meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Branson Senior Center, 201 Compton Dr. #2055. Lunch is available at 11:30 a.m. and the support group begins at 1 p.m. For more information on the support group, you may call 417-598-3122.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY is a place to heal from your hurts, habits, and hangups. We meet every Tuesday night at 6:30 PM at Music City Centre, 1839 West 76 Country Blvd., Branson. For more information call 417–3202055 See you there!

VETERANS & MILITARY COALITION OF THE OZARKS is an all-volunteer or ganization of veterans serving veterans. Contact us if you feel that you, as a veteran or veter an family, may not be receiving the benefits you deserve. Go to VMCO1.org and click on CON TACT 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.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don’t burn trees. Please don’t burn your garbage and don’t burn yourself.

TOPS MEETINGS: Since 1993, the nonprofit organization Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meets week ly on Tuesdays at the Kimberling Area Library, 45 Kimberling Blvd. Weigh-in is from 4:30 to 5 p.m. with the meet ing until 5:45 p.m. It is a community supported group to take off pounds for health and wellness. First visit is free. Visit tops.org for meetings and general information.

IT’S SPAGHETTI SUNDAY! Join us for the Branson Masonic Lodge’s monthly spaghetti lunch on December 4, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Serving spaghetti and meat sauce with meatballs, salad, gar lic bread, dessert and drink—all you can eat for $8—at the Branson Ma sonic Lodge #587, 100 Chiefs Court, Branson. All proceeds support the Lodge and local community.

GRIEF SHARE SUPPORT GROUP. Branson United Method ist Church will again be offering the Grief Share Group on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. in the church library. This is a support group that meets week ly and is open to the community. Leaders of this group are caring people who have experienced grief and have successfully rebuilt their lives. Call Peggy at 417-334-3423.

EVERY FRIDAY ON SITE AT GUMI CAMP USA from noon until 2 p.m.: Licensed counselor/combat veteran available for group or private meetings • Free tour of the CAMP • Free meal provided by the Blue Star Mothers • Job placement assistance on and off site provided • Reflection and on-site workshops for spouses suffering from PTSD, mothers and fathers suf fering from a loss of a son or daughter due to combat and more. Please call, text, or email and let us know you’re coming. Tim Hadler, 417-559-3892 tmhadler@gmail.com For directions to the camp entrance, Google GUMI CAMP USA and tap di rections. We are here for you and your family’s needs. ACE

IF MY PEOPLE, WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, shall hum ble 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

SERVICES OFFERED

DEADLINE FOR FRIDAY’S PAPER: Wednesdays @ 10 a.m.

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Go to www.bransonglobe.com and subscribe to our site today...then watch for your paper on Thursday.

FOR SALE

FOR SALE: PRIDE VICTORY 4 WHEEL POWER SCOOT ER with a basket & cover. Also a Bruno hydraulic lift, all brand new. Asking $2,000. Call 417-739-1314.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

HOMES FOR RENT/SALE

HOUSE FOR SALE: 2 BED/2 FULL BATH HOUSE built in 1998 with an open floor plan. 1463 sq. ft. with attached garage, fireplace. $240k. Location is off of Roark Valley Rd. & Hwy 76. Call 520-904-8828.

LOCAL JUNK AND BRUSH REMOVAL – 417-324-0860. 417hauling.com. Discount for veterans/senior citizens/disabled. Residential and Commercial. Serving Greater Branson Area. CALL TODAY!

FOR SALE: RED 1966 MUS TANG COUPE with a straight-six automatic. Fair condition and will consider trade. Asking 6K OBO. Phone 417-294-3104

FOR LEASE: NICE 3 BED ROOM, 2 BATH HOME. 167 Greenbriar Lane, Hollister. Has fenced-in back yard, storge shed, large, covered patio and 2-car at tached garage, laminate flooring, custom window blinds. No smok ers. $1,500 per month. Background app. fee: $50. Call 417-337-0398

FOR LEASE: NICE 2 BEDROOM, 1 BATH HOME. 185 Morningside Lane, Hollister. Has fenced-in back yard, 2-car attached garage, laminate flooring, cus tom window blinds. No smokers. $1,100 per month. Background app. fee: $50. Call 417-337-0398

CONDOS/APARTMENTS

WANTED

WISH TO RENT a clean, modest house, 1 or 2 bedrooms, in mini mally trafficked area. Call Lou 512285-5840, NO TEXTING.

2 BED, 1 BATH APARTMENT in Hollister. $540/month, $500 deposit. No smoking, no pets. Must pass background check. $50 application fee/applied to first month if accepted. 417-3653836.

BOAT & RV STORAGE BOAT & RV STORAGE

FOR RENT: 2 BED/2 BATH CONDO, $1200/month. Pools, club house, golf, game room, the aters, restaurants. Furnished or not. Call 541-252-3015

FOR RENT: 2 bed/2 bath apart ment in a good Branson location. All appliances included. $700/ month. 417-339-7777

HELP WANTED

EDGEWATER COMMUNITY

CHURCH is a small nondenom inational church 27 miles west of Branson, MO. We are looking for an ordained pastor. Our website is available at edgewatercommuni tychurch.org. If interested, contact the church via email at edgewater church@yahoo.com.

POINT

& REHAB is excited to announce that we are currently hiring RNs, LPNs, CNAs, NAs, CMTs, house keeping, and dietary staff. We are currently offering a great benefit plan. We acknowledge Covid-19 vaccination exemptions. For more information, call 417-334-4105 or apply in person at 11103 Historic Hwy. 165, Hollister, MO. EOE

TO ENSURE THE BEST RESPONSE TO YOUR AD... Please make sure your ad is correct in the first issue in which it appears. The Branson Globe is responsible for one day’s charge of the space occupied by the error. If your ad is not correct, call us immediately to have it corrected.

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

PHONE REPS WANTED – No cold calls. $$$. Flexible hours. Ca sino Bus Trips 417-335-4466 or 417-332-5000

THE ROSE HOUSE IS LOOK ING for a housekeeper to clean 20+ apartments. The job would include cleaning a certain number of apart ments daily, plus additional general housekeeping duties. $15-$20 an hour with negotiable work week (2040 hours). Call Lindy 417-230-9190.

BRANSON SCENIC RAILWAY: THE POLAR EXPRESS – Hiring hot chocolate and cookie servers, carolers, now through Dec. 23. Apply in person at Branson Scenic Rail way 206 E. Main St., from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

– John 3:16