Join us at Big Cedar Lodge for the Labor Day Picnic on Sunday, September 4th, 2011 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm on the Swimmin’ Hole Lawn.

This open event to the public and Big Cedar Lodge guests includes complimentary picnic games and activities such as Dizzy Bat Relays, Frisbee Toss, Corn on the Cobb eating contests and more.

Tickets can be bought for other games, and food is available for purchase. Stay until dusk and Big Cedar Lodge will light up the night sky with a spectacular complimentary fireworks display overlooking Table Rock Lake that is sure to be enjoyed by all.

For information call 417-335-2777 and ask for “Guest Services”.

The Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, MO will be closing on August 21st, 2011 at 5:00pm; and will reopen August 23rd at 9:00am. We will be closed the 22nd in order to move Mr. James Cameron’s Titanic model, which he has so kindly lent to us.

The Gift of Hope is the parent organization of the Backpack Club which provides supplemental food to over 300 school children each week of the school year. It recently received 103 cases of granola bars for the Back Pack Club, from a private donor, through the  Christian Action Ministries (CAM) Food Pantry. Pictured left to right are Pat Davis, Director of Christian Action Ministries and Janet Akers, Christian Action Ministries Board Member.

For more information on the Gift of Hope or the Back Pack Club please contact Meghan Connell at 417-546-8062 or go to its website.

Big Cedar has an exciting new workout to add to your summer fitness plan- paddleboarding!

Learn the basics of this fun activity that’s NEW to Table Rock Lake and has been gaining popularity with celebrities on the West Coast. Start in our cove where the basics of balancing and maneuvering the YoloYak board will be mastered, then follow your guide to out into the open waters. Have fun while getting fit in this 1 hour group lesson!

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:00 am; meet at the Marina; $20pp; class size limited to 5; must be 18 years and up to participate. Open to guests and general public.

For more information call 1-800-225-6343.

Branson, MO —The Best Western Music Capital Inn has received their second consecutive Best Western Chairman’s Award. The Chairman’s Award recognizes Best Western International hotels scoring in the top five percent of all 2,400 North American properties in cleanliness, maintenance, design, and customer service. Hotels must also meet Best Western’s requirements for design and high customer service scores to qualify for the award.

“Receiving these awards is an incredible honor—a testament to our focus on superior service and hotel properties,” stated Gail Myer, Vice President of Operations for Myer Hotels. “Our entire team works to exceed guest expectations and are very deserving of these distinctions,” remarked Sue Gordy, General Manager of the Best Western Music Capital Inn.

Located on Branson’s Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, across from the Shoji Tabuchi Theater, and within walking distance to several other theaters and restaurants, the Best Western Music Capital Inn is a popular destination in Branson.

About Myer Hotels
In the lodging business for 44 years, the Myer family has actively contributed to Branson’s hospitality market for 28 years and received numerous national awards. Myer Hotels includes the Best Western Center Pointe Inn, Best Western Music Capital Inn, Comfort Inn at Thousand Hills, Comfort Inn & Suites Branson Meadows, Comfort Inn West, and Holiday Inn Express Green Mountain. The properties emphasize excellent locations, countless amenities and exceptional customer service while focusing on great value in the upper mid-scale area. For more information about these hotels please visit www.myerhotels.com.

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“Surf Table Rock Lake”

What is Stand Up Paddle Boarding? It is similar to, and sometimes called “walking on water”. Born in Hawaii, this ancient sport is the fastest growing water sport in the world, and it’s new to Table Rock! Be one of the first to try it!
Why Stand Up Paddle Boarding? In addition to being FUN, EASY, and RELAXING, Stand Up Paddling is an amazing zero impact, core workout that torches calories and burns fat. From ages 7-70 everyone can paddleboard! Guaranteed to glide through the water your first time out!
Let Jodelle teach you to “Surf Table Rock” in one fun lesson!
Your one-on-one personalized lesson will include:
All equipment and personal flotation device
Attentive and Informative On Land Instruction
Water safety
Comfortable Flat Water Instruction with the trainer right by your side paddling with You
Fun on the water
60 minutes of lesson time
A picture of yourself on the water on the board to show all your friends your new sport emailed to you!
All this for only $60! Save more on Package deals too! 3 lesson packages starting at $150. Makes a great fitness gift too! Each lesson beyond the first becomes more geared towards a more efficient paddle and incorporates other exercises to help you achieve your fitness goals!
Call today for your first lesson! 417-230-0554 or for more info visit: www.getfitwithjodelle.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2011

New Feature Film To Be Shot In Branson

Allen Family Films, a Missouri based production company, recently announced intentions to shoot a new feature film in the Branson area. This new family-friendly film, in the vein of recent releases from Sherwood Pictures and Fox Faith, will go into production late 2011 with a tentative release date in the fall of 2012.

The film tells the story of the Peterson family and the unexpected vacation that changed their life. When the family van breaks down on their way to California, the family is stranded in an off-the-map town with only one option, to continue their vacation in an old motor-home with it’s eccentric and mysterious owner.

Caleb Allen, the film’s director, is thrilled to bring the production to his hometown. “What better place to film a story about a family than an area that is so devoted to creating a family-friendly environment? We feel that Branson is the perfect location for us.” Allen, also a veteran musician, has lived in a motor coach for the past fifteen years, traveling internationally and performing Gospel music concerts. He and his family also perform a Christmas show in Branson during the holiday season. “I’m fairly certain I am qualified to tell a road trip story after living on a perpetual road trip most of my life. The film will definitely be drawing from my personal experiences.”

The filmmakers are currently in the process of raising development funding through Kickstarter.com. The film’s co-Producer, CK Hicks, said, “We hope the Branson community will rally behind us and support the project. The Kickstarter campaign is the best way for people to get involved.” Due to the all-or-nothing nature of Kickstarter’s funding process, the filmmakers have offered some valuable and exclusive incentives for their project backers. Even a donation as small as one dollar will be rewarded with exclusive artwork and original script pages. Other incentives include autographed copies of the completed film, premiere tickets, and an opportunity to spend a day on the set.

Allen says, “We firmly believe, ‘Little is much when God is in it’. It only takes a spark to light a roaring fire. It only takes a few to change the world.”

If you would like to support the project, you can do so by visiting www.afamilyfilm.com. You can also follow Allen Family Films on facebook and on twitter by following @afamfilm for project updates and information.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS:

Caleb Allen, Director, Allen Family Films, 269-870-5279; [email protected]

The CAM food pantries in Branson and Forsyth are two of the 300 local food pantries served by our regional food bank, Ozarks Food Harvest. Through this food bank, CAM is able to purchase quantities of food at reduced pricing due to the national corporate donors to the food bank. Additionally the food bank also distributes the monthly federal commodities to the member pantries.

In recent weeks Ozark Food Harvest has sent over 100 semi-truckloads of food to the recovery effort in Joplin, and continue to send 15 truckloads per week. This has obviously put additional stress on the food bank’s ability to service the 300 local food pantries, including CAM. In the interim, these food pantries also continue to experience spikes in demand due to the economy and due to people relocating from the Joplin area. Additionally, according to Ozarks Food Harvest, corporate donations are down as major contributors have earmarked good for Joplin as well.

Taney County residents, businesses, and organizations fully support the efforts to assist our neighbors in Joplin during this time of dire need. However, over 1,000 families per month in Taney County are also turning to CAM for help in keeping food on the table for their families.

According to CAM Director Pat Davis, “Our commodities order for this month has been reduced to three items, and even those are less than normal. With this continuing level of demand and reduced assistance from the food bank, CAM has to spend substantially more money to purchase food to serve the needs of our county residents. This is putting considerably extra stress on our budget and we really need the community to rally around in support of CAM. After all, CAM has always been about neighbors helping neighbors.”

CAM Board Chairman Jack Burke identified several ways that the community can help CAM at this point in time:

• Support CAM’s upcoming 3rd Annual Gospel Sing-Off fundraiser at Sight & Sound Theatre on September 4th by becoming a sponsor for the event and by purchasing tickets to attend the Sing-Off.
• Commit to a regular monthly donation to CAM.
• Make a singular donation to CAM.
• Conduct a food drive for CAM.
• Make a personal food donation.
• Support CAM with your prayers.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly 15 percent of American households, or more than 17 million people, didn’t have enough food to eat at some point in 2009. That’s the highest figure since the USDA began gathering data in the 1990s.
Looking at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food insecurity list Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, rank among the top 11. Food insecurity is defined as lacking consistent access to adequate amounts of nutritious food.

People seeking help at CAM are provided a 3-day supply of nutritional food items for each member of their family. Selections are based on the federal nutritional food pyramid and special needs of individuals. In addition to the two food pantries, CAM operates a mobile outreach program to eastern Taney County communities, and due to a grant also operates bi-monthly food drops in Forsyth.

For more information, contact the CAM offices at 417-334-1157 or visit www.christianactionministries.org.

The Chamber postponed the Community Day of Caring Project till October since the weather is so hot. I cannot cancel the cinder block, gravel and dirt deliveries. They are all donations and I would hate to have it sitting in the parking lot of the humane society taking up space till October. Since I cannot store the donations and I would hate to put this needed project off I am looking for volunteers this Saturday from 7am till noon at the Shepherd of the Hills Humane Society at 2837 Shepherd of the Hills Expy across from Brashears furniture. We have 4 misters, fans, 15 cases of water and 10 gallons of Gatorade. I was planning it to be very hot but I also took that into account. I would like to get as many volunteers as possible so that we will be able to be done before the heat of the day. If you have any ideas on church groups, other groups or would like to volunteer for an hour or so I would appreciate it VERY much!! Please call or email me my cell number is 417-230-5196. Also please forward this on to anyone that could maybe help!

Thanks!

Megan Plate

1945 W. 76 Country Blvd. • Branson, MO 65616
417-335-2484/Reservations • 417-336-5829/Fax

Every week it seems to get a little crazier!!!!
For sure – We’re going to have a good time.

Recorded LIVE on Friday night at 10:30 PM
This show is broadcast on radio stations around the country.
Airing Saturday nights at 7:00 PM on KRZK – 106.3 in Branson, Mo.
And — Sunday nights at 9:00 PM. on KHOZ – 102.9 in Harrison, Ar.,

You can also listen via the internet.
Show airs at 7:00 PM (cst.) – Every Saturday Night

Instructions for Internet Connection
1. Type the following into your web browser: www.BransonCountryUSA.NET.
2. After page loads, click the “On Air” button.
3. Enjoy the show!