Letter from the Editor

from the EDITOR

Simply the Best

AS WE ENTER THE SUMMER SEASON AT LAKE OF THE OZARKS, there’s no better time to focus on the local businesses that make our area so great. And there are a lot of them!

It’s our annual Best of the Lake issue and it seems that our locals and business owners deserve extra accolades this year. There really was no time to slow down during COVID. If anything, we got busier than ever and businesses found themselves growing to keep up with demand.

Anybody who owns their own business knows how difficult it can be, especially in a tourism-driven market. I have a lot of respect for the business owners I know in the area. Most are hands-on, spend long hours taking care of customers while giving back to the community, and are rising above the challenges of employee and product shortages. They deserve some recognition.

Our Best of the Lake winners list is a great place to start. It’s a resource for finding just about anything you are looking for whether you are visiting, live here full-time or just spend weekends at the Lake. I’d like to congratulate each of our winners this year. You’ve been voted The Best by our readers and have earned a well-deserved pat on the back.

While our focus is on who our readers chose to be among The Best, we couldn’t help but include a few of my favorite stories in this issue.

I’m particularly fond of Ozarks Amphitheater and all of the great shows they have been brining to the Lake area. For anyone who hasn’t been to a performance at the outdoor music venue, it is a must. There are plenty of internationally-known artists coming, so check out the schedule.

I always love it when we can do stories with a purpose. We’ve featured a local artist who you can see each week at the Camdenton Farmers Market on the Square. She not only sells her own work but also items made by Haitian artists. All money goes right back to these artists as a source of income and helps fund mission projects. I grabbed a few handmade pieces that made great gifts for the people in my life and hope you consider doing the same to support a good cause.

Finally, we can all probably agree that one of our favorite things to do this time of year is to get out on the water. Whether it’s boating or kayaking, you’ll find stories that are informative and helpful as we all enjoy the sunny and warm months ahead.

Stay safe and have a great summer at the Lake!

charis.lakesun@gmail.com