Category Archives: Local News

…a game that’s sure to be entertaining pitting administrators from Branson and Nixa against the Kansas Wheelhawks,… Continue reading →

Branson Tourism Center (BTC) reaches two million ticket milestone for Branson show and attraction tickets. Continue reading →

Branson Stars and Flags will present awards to 10 of the 22 winning entries in the Branson Stars & Flags Book Awards at the … Continue reading →

Thousands of hopefuls showed up for a chance to participate in the preliminary screening process and a chance to appear on the “Wheel of Fortune” Continue reading →

Branson’s Marlyce Stockinger has been selected as one of the eight finalists for the “Military Writers Society of America’s (MWSA) People’s Choice Awards.” Continue reading →

Nadeem Husain, M.D. has joined the cardiology staff at Skaggs Regional Medical Center. Continue reading →

It’s a good idea to do business with your neighbors in challenging economic conditions, and that’s the theme of the Branson Area Business Expo 2009 on Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Chateau on the Lake Resor Continue reading →

Lambert says, “Skaggs is a highly respected employer in this area and everyone working here should be very proud of that fact. Continue reading →

intoxicated, 5 safety belt and 1 child restraint violation.

“Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is never worth the risk of a tragedy. “We’re working to keep our roads safer” said Chief Preston Schmidt.
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…he grand opening of Morningside, the residential community that is home to televangelist Jim Bakker. Morningside is a residential project on 560 acres… Continue reading →

Currently, Branson bound tourists and visitors traveling north and south on U.S. Highway 65 see the standard highway signs… Continue reading →

The message is clear to both local residents and visitors alike driving in the Branson area, “Don’t drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.” Continue reading →

The operation of Branson’s largest shopping attraction, Branson Landing, will not be effected by what is being described as one of the largest commercial real estate failures in history. Continue reading →

The Arbor Day Celebration begins at 12:00 noon with a host of special guests, award presentations, great entertainment, FREE trees and much more. Continue reading →

Branson tourists and locals planning on using State Highway 265, a popular route to and from Branson’s Silver Dollar City and other points west of Silver Dollar City should plan for delays during the week of April 13. Continue reading →

Dawn Erickson, The Downtown Branson Main Street Association’s (DBMA) director for the past year has resigned. Continue reading →

Branson newest turf, glitz, a party and volunteers. Continue reading →

Branson Hollywood Wax Museum $5 million make over, prom duplicates, “Never A Dull Moment,” and Andy Williams momma’s meat loaf.
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All those interested in participating in or getting additional information on Branson’s first “Hand in Hand Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients” event, to be held on April 24-25, are invited to attend a press conference/meeting at the Hamner Barber Theatre at 2:00 p.m. on March 3. Continue reading →

…viable connections with same day service on both the outbound and return flights for Milwaukee, Baltimore, New York City, Minneapolis, Boston, Orlando, and Atlanta,” the same cannot be said for the connections to the west. Continue reading →

The new name and identity of Skaggs Regional Medical Center places greater emphasis on the broad region we already serve, and the expanding array of premium healthcare services we provide. Continue reading →

Until now, no major Branson business has specialized in combining all that Branson has to offer, in one place, to specifically help people plan their own personal special event in Branson. That has changed. Branson Tourism Center has established a
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An article published at news.branson.com entitled, “Branson’s Hot Winter Fun back on track after major ice storm,” describes that Branson, Missouri is basically ready to continue to do what it does best, entertain its guests. What’s amazing is that it is taking place in spite of just having gone through one of the worst winter storms Branson has seen in decades. Continue reading →

The all Branson, MO crew of the “Buffalo,” which is technically a “mine protective clearance vehicle,” is made up of Sgt. Clinton Caperton, the truck commander, Spc. Michael Shields, driver, and Spc. Joseph Thompson, gunner. Continue reading →

Information on AFCO’s web site, regarding its involvement with the Branson Airport, states “In its role as developer, AFCO is responsible for overseeing the design and construction of the project” and that “AFCO has a minority ownership and sits on the board of Branson Airport LLC.”
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The front end, lobby area, of the Grand Palace suffered extensive water damage sometime prior to the arrival of the Branson Fire Department at 10:45 on Dec. 23. According to Branson Fire Department Division Chief Ted Martin, the department responded because, “Someone had called and said there was water pouring Continue reading →

Branson Gray Line, the locally owned and operated transportation experts, will exclusively operate all taxi, shuttle, limousine, luxury coach, charter bus and ground transportation services at the Branson Airport. Continue reading →

Copeland said, “GIS is a system of hardware and software used for storage, retrieval, mapping, and analysis of geographic data.” He went on to note that in general terms, although most end users, see the data reflected graphically as maps, graphs, diagrams, etc., it is important to realize that everything being seen graphically is Continue reading →

At 9:57 a.m. a new era in Branson’s history began as an AirTran Airways Boeing 717 touched down on the runway and became the first aircraft to officially land at the Branson Airport. Continue reading →

While discussing the most recent marketing report from the Branson Lakes/Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), it was pointed out that Branson’s sales tax revenues were down sharply for the month of October. Continue reading →

Although there will be no buy-ins, custom card guards will be sold for varying amounts and, because those purchasing the card guards were considered “preferred customers,” they would be given preferred seating at all tournaments. The prizes to be awarded at each tournament would be determined… Continue reading →

Drivers going to and from the Hollister Highway 65 Interchange and the South Town Mall area from the east of Highway 65 will soon have a more efficient way to get there. The North Birch Street extension is currently being paved and, weather permitting is just a few weeks away from being opened to the public. Continue reading →

Rockaway Beach didn’t get casino gambling but it just might be getting No Limit Texas Hold’em poker. …Twin Lakes Card Club is expanding its operation from Arkansas into Missouri and would be offering “No Limit Texas Hold’em Skill Tournaments in Rockaway Beach staarting Dec. 4.

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Depending on location, up to six inches of rain and winds gusting over 64 miles per hour hit as the major remnants of the Hurricane Ike passed through the Branson Hollister area between the hours of Continue reading →

A primary issue relates to the allocation of expenses between the city owned Convention Center and two private hotels, the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.
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The city of Branson is moving ahead with the planning and actions necessary to implement its new liquor control ordinances (LCOs). At the Nov. 20 work session meeting of the city of Branson’s Board of Aldermen, city Finance Director Lori Helle, gave the board a status report on the process thus far. Continue reading →

Relatively speaking, if the attendance of parents at the most recent parent teacher conferences for grades K through 8 in the Branson School District, was a batting average, the Branson Schools and the parents of the students in grades K through the Junior High would be in the Hall of Fame with an average of “940.” Continue reading →

…the bureau will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 20 and 21, for transition to another operator and will reopen, in the same location, on Monday Nov. 24. Continue reading →

Once placed on the ballot it is up to the patrons of the school district as to whether or not the Hollister School District becomes part of the OTC District. Regardless of the outcome, the Hollister School District has no further active roll in the process Continue reading →

Subsection 3.3 of the lease states “This Lease shall terminate in the event that OMB fails to exercise its option to renew during the then current Initial Term or Term.
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The content of the temporary signs gave fair warning and did not bode well for those attending the FLW Stren Championship. They read, “Reserved For Ozark Mountain Bank-No Parking for FLW Stren Championship Violators will be towed.” Continue reading →

“Branson’s loss is Hollister’s gain that’s for sure,” said Larry VanGilder, the city of Branson’s Public Works Director. The “loss” he was referring to was Debbie Redford, the city’s long time Environmental Specialist, who will be leaving her position to accept the position of “Public Relations Coordinator and Grant Writer” in the Hollister School District effective Jan. 5, 2009. Continue reading →

In a town where there were all sorts of Veteran’s ceremonies and remembrances this week, one of the most special took place at the November Citizenship Character Assembly of the Branson Junior High School on Nov. 10 Continue reading →

Recently it was noted that not all businesses collecting and paying the retail tourism tax to the city of Branson and the Branson Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District (TCED) are listed on the website billing itself as the “Official Website of Branson, Missouri, www.explorebranson.com (website). Continue reading →

Branson Airport, LLC, the owners of Branson Airport, have asked Taney County for over $400,000 to assist in marketing Branson along the routes its carrier or carriers will be flying.
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…whether the street commonly called Forsythe “Street” would be changed to Forsythe “Boulevard.” It was no issue until street signs designating the realigned street as “Forsythe Boulevard” showed up when the road was reopened.

As a result of the public concern raised City Engineer David Miller went back and researched the name when Forsythe was originally accepted into the city. His research revealed the proper name was “Forsythe Street” not “Boulevard.” Continue reading →

And the Survey said, “If there was low cost air service available to Branson from a given area, more people would chose to come to Branson from that area than would otherwise come.” Jeff Bourk, Executive Director, Branson Airport, LLC, said, “That’s basically the pitch, it’s that simple.”
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What the ads don’t say is that if passed it will create a virtual casino gambling monopoly for the 13 Missouri communities where casino gambling is currently authorized by drastically increasing the odds against Branson, and other communities which do not currently having casino gambling, from ever getting it.
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The 2009 Budget and the completion of the Fall Creek Road extension will be major topics of discussion at the Oct. 28 meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen. Both have been major items of discussion and consideration as the budget process has developed. Continue reading →

The Pay for Performance Agreement Branson has with the Branson Airport LLC (BA) at Branson Creek requires the city of Branson to pay up to $2 million dollars a year for the next 30 years to BA for a potential total $60 million. Continue reading →

Thanks to the efforts of a lot of people, Branson and Hollister area children have a number of opportunities for a safe Halloween alternative to the traditional door to door trick or treating. From trick or treats to a haunted forest and hayrides, area children can have a “Boo of fun” and get lots of treats, all safely and for free.
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If the budget process is any indication, the “system breakdown” relating to Branson’s financial caution light, as explained by City Administrator Dean Kruithof at a meeting on Sep. 7, appears to be well along the way to repair. Continue reading →

Even as the band completed their last marching maneuver and exited the field as the last notes they played faded away over the darkening Ozark hills, those watching knew they had just seen something special. The rest was up to the judges.

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…Capital Improvement Committee received information about the city’s bond rating, bonding capacity, debt obligations, and other information that could impact on the city’s ability to finance needed capital improvement projects now and in the future. The city’s bond consultants told the committee the city’s bond rating was “good for a city of this size.”
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“…met with the contractor this morning and went over a revised phasing of the work on Roark Valley Road and we have come up with a way to modify the schedule and work process that will allow us to leave Roark Valley Road open to traffic until December 1.”

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…met with the contractor this morning and went over a revised phasing of the work on Roark Valley Road and we have come up with a way to modify the schedule and work process that will allow us to leave Roark Valley Road open to traffic until December 1.” Continue reading →

…expressed the Chamber’s “Sincere gratitude for the City of Hollister’s participation in the 2008 Grape and Fall Festival” and its appreciation of “the significant amount of labor, material, and other support that the City contributed to the effort.” Continue reading →

The city of Branson is once again putting a call out for volunteers to help repair Stockstill Park that was damaged by high winds and flash flooding from hurricane Ike earlier this month. Continue reading →

“Consumer economic fundamentals are worrisome and do not bode well for the leisure travel industry in the months ahead,” Dan Lennon, Vice President Marketing & Public Relations, Branson Tri Lakes Chamber of Commerce & CVB, told the Branson Board of Aldermen… Continue reading →

The written staff report introducing the resolution states, “City and State Statutes allow for the continuation of the budget into the following year for good and sufficient reasons. On September 16th the Board of Aldermen and the Branson Finance Committee acknowledged that good and sufficient reasons exist to allow a continuation because of the City Governments financial status.”
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The Branson Public Works Department has extended the special storm cleanup an extra two days due to the volume of limbs and brush residents have set out for the free pickup. That means residents in the city’s Ward 3 will have their storm debris collected on Monday and Tuesday, September 29 and 30.
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…the board will also consider matters relating to delaying the final approval of the city’s 2009 fiscal year budget until the end of October and will again address the matter of a new liquor control ordinance.
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In a year filled with record rainfall and the highest lakes levels ever what wasn’t needed by Branson was the rain remnants of Hurricanes “Gustov” and “Ike.” By the time Ike had tracked its way through the Ozarks and Branson area lakes were well above their season normal levels Continue reading →

Lou Schaefer, who served as Branson’s mayor during the biggest growth period in the city’s history, died early this morning at the age of 80 following an illness. Schaefer was mayor of Branson from 1995 to 2007, and he was the first mayor in Branson’s history to be elected for six consecutive terms. Continue reading →

From a financial perspective, although Branson’s revenues are stable, its finances will be challenging for the next couple of years as the city repairs what Branson City Administrator Dean Kruithof calls a breakdown of Branson’s financial system. Continue reading →

Whether or not the Fall Creek Road Extension will survive the current budget stress the city of Branson is working through remains in limbo. At its Sep. 8 meeting the Branson Board of Aldermen postponed a bill accepting the bid of Emery Sapp & Sons d/b/a/ ESS Contractor… Continue reading →

…entitled “Fund Payback” contained, among other things, a $750,000 per year payment from the city’s General Fund to repay a loan taken out for the Branson Landing project using Branson City Hall and the city’s newest fire station as collateral for the loan. Continue reading →

the board authorized a change in the day of the week the meetings are held from Monday night to Tuesday night. The change is effective Oct. 1 and will start with the board’s first meeting in October scheduled for Tuesday Oct. 14. Continue reading →

Motorists driving Roark Valley Road need to be aware of a detour set up at the intersection of the newly designed Forsythe Boulevard. A temporary road parallel to Roark Valley is Continue reading →

… announce an unusual joint budget meeting on Saturday, Sep. 6 at 10:00 a.m. The meeting is unusual in terms of being held on a Saturday, its location, the Branson Rec Plex and that it will be a joint meeting of the city’s three standing committees, Personnel, Finance, and Capital Improvements.
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The search for a new finance director for the city of Branson has apparently ended. Lori Helle, the current director of finance and administration for the city of Chesterfield, Missouri has been hired as its new finance director and is expected to start on effective Sep. 22. Continue reading →

Although it’s a long way from being a done deal, Branson’s new bridge across Lake Taneycomo took another necessary step forward Sep. 2 with the signing of the “MoDOT Partnership Development Cost Sharing Program Application” Continue reading →

Raw untreated sewage has been running into Lake Taneycomo upstream from the city of Branson’s drinking water intake for months. The source of the sewage is an area of homes and businesses located Continue reading →

The city of Hollister lost a friend and valued employee and its park system lost its director, champion, and a primary force behind it planning and expansion. At approximately 12:06 a.m. August 18, Chad Fuqua, Director of Hollister’s Park Department, was killed in a tragic traffic incident on Business Highway 65 near the Spirit Shop in Hollister.
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…and stating his belief that his investigation “went the extra mile” to find out what happened Cleek said, “I don’t believe there’s nepotism there.”
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The Branson Board of Aldermen discovered that not all golf courses in Branson are exempt from Branson’s tree removal regulations, just the Pointe Royale Course. The question came up at the boards August 5 work Continue reading →

…a “hot list,” an all inclusive list that would list the major projects, issues, and other things the city is working on. It was to provide a convenient tool to be used for both knowing what those items are and to follow-up and monitor the progress of those items. Continue reading →

One major of the effect of the new amendment will be to drastically limit the consumption of intoxicating liquor in parking lots and other public areas adjacent to parade routes unless permission is given by the lawful owner or occupant of the property. Continue reading →

Nine months after it tore up the road commonly called “Forsythe Street,” TanStone Group, LLC appears to have purchased it, from the city of Branson for one dollar even though there was another bid offering $100 thousand for the same property. Continue reading →

“Happy Hour” for those wanting to see the sweeping changes proposed by Branson’s new liquor control Ordinances (LCOs) should be during the Consent Agenda portion of the July 28 meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen. Continue reading →

Until recently, it was commonly felt that the final phase would be bid and continue on to completion giving the city of Branson another major north south traffic relief route. Continue reading →

…setting of the park, commemorative bricks, its quarter mile walking trail passing over an authentic miniaturized replica of the historic St. James Street Bridge, strategically placed benches, planted trees and the parks distinctive period lighting serve as an ongoing testimony… Continue reading →

One major area of concern was the new position of “Director of Liquor Control. (Director)” authorized by the new LCO. Even a cursory review of the LCO indicates that, within the LCO, the Director has a lot of authority and power. From the very first public comment there were questions on that position its cost, Continue reading →

It is also the year that Branson’s average business and citizen first realized, not only the existence of the “regulatory stage” at Newport, AR., but its direct impact on the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) ability to effectively and efficiently reduce the lakes levels of the Branson Tri-Lakes area lakes.
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The operating financial condition of the city of Branson in a nutshell is, “Let’s be very careful, especially when we have a couple of months coming up where we could see Continue reading →

The city of Branson’s newest effort to control the accosting and soliciting of people as they walk down the public sidewalks in historic downtown Branson is but one step away from becoming final as the… Continue reading →

Both options provided that the Bridge would in fact become a two bridge system consisting of the existing bridge and a new companion bridge that would be constructed on its downstream side. Under both options the existing bridge would remain open while the new companion bridge was constructed. It is estimated that the construction of the new companion bridge would start in the Fall of 2009 and would be completed by the Fall of 2010 Continue reading →

After many miscues, meetings and negotiations regarding the TanStone Development on Forsythe Road, a little “kum bay ya” paved the way for the city to “ease” into the final approval of a Development Agreement with TanStone Group LLC (Agreement), the developers of the project. Continue reading →

The changes to the Branson Municipal Code (BMC) that the board approved on first reading at its June 9 meeting substantially reduces the role of the city administrator in appointing, terminating, and supervising Branson’s city clerk and attorney.
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After a considerable amount of debate on a change to add a more restrictive definition of “Solicit” to the ordinance at its June 9 meeting, the Branson Board of Aldermen (Board) unanimously voted to postpone any further… Continue reading →

With the voluntary annexation of approximately 4700 feet of Empire District Electric (Empire) property the northern city limits of Hollister have been extended about nine tenths of a mile north along the shores of Lake Taneycomo. The voluntary annexation of the approximately 27 acres, consisting of… Continue reading →

If proposed changes to the Branson Municipal Code (BMC) are enacted, it appears that the role of the city administrator in appointing, terminating, and supervising Branson’s city clerk and attorney will be substantially reduced and the roll of the Branson Board of Aldermen… Continue reading →

A rose may be a rose, but as the developers of one of Branson’s newest proposed developments, the TanStone Development, TanStone Group LLC, are finding out, a rose also has thorns. Continue reading →

The Development Agreement will require TanStone to fund and construct both Forsythe Road and the Roark Valley Road improvements with the city reimbursing TanStone’s cost for the Roark Valley Road improvements, including financing costs, up to a maximum of the $1,908,610… Continue reading →

After a long and careful process, the Branson Board of Aldermen has unanimously decided to offer the position of City Administrator to Dean Kruitof, who is currently serving as the Deputy City Administrator in Fort Smith, AR. Continue reading →

Most of the residents along the southern end of Lake Shore Drive will soon have the city of Hollister as their immediate “back door” neighbor to the west. In fact, if the two voluntary annexations that the Hollister Board Continue reading →

When asked if there was any mention of time share or vacation clubs during the show Ehlert responded, “Absolutely none, for 14 years none.”
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During March/April ETC Institute, a professional survey, planning and technology company from Olathe, Kansas, conducted and analyzed a detailed community survey for the City of Branson. According to Chris Tatham of ETC, during his overview Continue reading →

The solicitation of tourists on the public sidewalks of downtown Branson by vacation clubs and time share sales personnel may lead to a change in the Branson Municipal code (BMC) to help control the problem. Continue reading →

Amid all the glowing reports of a billion dollar in retail sales and that the bookings at the Branson Convention Center are ahead of what was programmed there appears to be a “Caution Light” starting to blink. Continue reading →