“Meals on Wheels Benefit” - All You Can Eat Pankcake Breakfast

When: 7 - 11 a.m. Saturday October 31
Where: Branson Community (Senior) Center, 201 Compton Drive, Branson
Phone:  335-4801
What: ALL you can eat pancake breakfast with lots of trimmings, costumes, games, fun
Cost: $6.00 adults and $4.00 children 8 and under

Our seniors deserve our support for the under funded Meals on Wheels Program that feeds and helps so many in our community.

Sponsored by The Branson Senior Center
Co-sponsored by The Royal Order of Moose

Mini golf, drawings, and prizes all to benefit CAM’s Pantry.

.75 cents towards game of golf per canned item donated. 9 cans = 1 free round of golf. September 19th from 10 AM - 3 PM. Drawing at 3 PM (Do not have to be present to win). GPS generously donated by Best Buy. All proceeds to go to Christian Action Ministries.  Lynina Inn, PEPSI, Whiteriver Electric, IMAX, Best Buy, & Mount Pleasant Winery are all PROUD Sponsors of this event.

Actual press release (click for full size):

Following an international poll, and the tallying of those results, smiles are even more evident today at Silver Dollar City, the 1880s theme park in Branson, newly named the “Friendliest Park” in the entire theme park industry.

The Golden Ticket Awards were held last night at LEGOLAND in Carlsbad, California, hosted by Amusement Today newspaper. Considered a prestigious annual show by industry insiders and theme park aficionados, Amusement Today oversees the process which seeks to define “Best of the Best” in the amusement industry.

While this is the 12th annual year for Amusement Today’s coveted Golden Ticket Awards, this is the first year Silver Dollar City has taken top honors in a key category. Other awards won by the park this year: #2 in Best Christmas Event; #2 in Best Food; #3 in Best Shows and tied #5 in Best Landscaping.

Surveys were sent to a database of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans around the world - in balanced geographical regions - asking them to rate the “bests” in 25 categories such as “amusement parks,” “roller coasters,” “shows,” “friendliest staff” and “water rides.”  Silver Dollar City notes that recent events hosted for the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE), such as the 2009 national convention, and the European Coaster Club (ECC) in 2008, showcased all the park has to offer to industry advocates who had never visited before.

“Congratulations to all of the Golden Ticket Award winners and the finalists on their well-deserved honors,” says Gary Slade, publisher and editor-in-chief of Amusement Today. “The competition is friendly, but the voting is becoming tighter every year. It’s fun to see parks and attractions the world over vying for a Golden Ticket Award, which truly recognizes superior quality in all facets of the amusement industry,” Slade said.

Silver Dollar City General Manager Brad Thomas was present to accept the awards. ”For five decades, Silver Dollar City has been about our people as they are the individuals who create the heart and soul of this park. The friendliness of our staff is a hallmark in defining this company,” said Thomas. “This award will be shared with every citizen of each decade celebrated at Silver Dollar City.”

Silver Dollar City next presents the National Harvest Festival, opening tomorrow, September 12, running through October 31, Wednesdays-Sundays. For more information, 800-831-4FUN or www.silverdollarcity.com.

The wait is over for the return of the Gene Williams Country Television Show as fans came from as far away as South Dakota to be in the studio audience for the live taping of the first show featuring his co-host, Katie Lynn.

It’s great to be back and I appreciate the support and prayers of my friends and family while I was on hiatus as my doctor recommended. We’ve made a few changes for the show and the biggest is the new taping location. For about eight years we have taped on location in Branson, but due to the economy we moved to the NBC affiliate KY3 studios in Springfield. We will still feature the shows and stars from Branson and country music,” said Williams. “For the new show that will be telecast Sept. 5 and 6, we are featuring Katie Lynn, who has been my co-host since we started the show in Branson.”

Katie Lynn, Williams’ co-host, has received the Branson Entertainment Awards Best Support Vocalist twice for her work in the “Mickey Gilley Show.” She has worked with Gilley for more than eight years and also worked with Jim Owen for seven years. She is finishing her fifth CD release titled Me and Jesus Laughing. In addition to her singing career, she is a real estate agent.
Williams will appear in person on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. at the old Music Mountain Theater, now the Horseshoe Bend Theater, with the “Music in the Mountain Show” and also Sunday, Sept. 20, at 1:30 p.m. at the George D. Hay Music Hall of Fame Induction in Mammoth Spring, Ark. The induction will also include Loretta Lynn and Grand Ole Opry star Mike Snider and a performance by Katie Lynn.

Nadeem Husain, M.D. has joined the cardiology staff at Skaggs Regional Medical Center.  He was initially referred to Skaggs Regional Medical Center by Dr. Vijit, a former cardiologist at Skaggs.  Husain says, “Dr. Vijit spoke highly of the staff and facility here at Skaggs.  When I came to Skaggs it was apparent why he enjoyed his time here: the practice, people, and environment of Skaggs.  I am very pleased to be here and a part of the team.”

Dr. Husain attended medical school at the University of Punjab, Pakistan.  He came to the United States in 1994 and began his residency in internal medicine at the University of South Alabama.  He later served as a primary care physician at the Mobile County Health Department.  In 2001, he joined the faculty of University of South Alabama, where he was assistant professor of medicine.  While there he was involved in clinical teaching and mentoring of medical students.  Dr. Husain finished his fellowship in cardiology from the University of Alabama in 2008.  At that time he completed one year of additional training in interventional cardiology at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

Dr. Husain has been involved in clinical research in interventional cardiology and has publications in national journals including, Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine.  Husain is a well-read speaker on various topics nationally, including, “Hurricane Heart”, a presentation at the Cardiovascular Revascularization Therapies 2008 meeting in Washington, D.C., discussing myocardial stunning precipitated by Hurricane Katrina.

Dr. Husain loves to travel and spend time with his wife and two young daughters, ages 6 and 9.  He joins Drs. Arunakul, Bhargava, and Nissenbaum at Branson Heart Center, 1150 State Hwy 248, Branson, Missouri, (417) 336-4112.

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 Resort, Spa & Convention Center.

More than 40 member businesses will showcase their services from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Ozarks Technical Community College’s Center for Workforce Development will offer a workshop on effective business practices. The Expo is presented by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. It’s free and open to the public, said Director of Member Services Ladona Johnson.

“Trade In The Tri-Lakes” is the theme, said Jonas Arjes, chairman of the Branson Chamber’s Small Business Development Advisory Council. One of many benefits of  business-to-business commerce is added tax revenue for local public services, he said.
“If you need something for your business, almost everything can now be done locally,” Arjes said. “We’ve always been a community that rallies in hard times, and the more we can do together only makes the community stronger.”

Tabitha Hendricks of PC Net in Springfield said they enjoyed last year’s Expo.“We consider the Springfield/Branson area to be very neighborly,” Hendricks said. “Keeping those local dollars local has been our focus.”

Branson Airport—a full-service commercial airport which opened in May—also is back. Last year, “everyone stopped by,” said Marketing Manager Deidre McCormick. “It gave us the opportunity to get the word out about the current status of the airport, and get people excited about the low-cost service,” McCormick said. This year, “it’s still about community awareness and to give people who haven’t taken advantage of the service yet to see what’s available.”

The OTC workshop will focus on “lean” practices in physical and human resources, said Business Development Manager Linda Doepker. “Saving your human resource time improves your customer experience,” Doepker said.

This year’s partners and sponsors include the Springfield Business Journal, OTC, Cyberstreet, Best Buy, Skaggs Regional Medical Center, Harrison Daily Times, Digital Lunchbox, Rock ‘N Roll is Here to Stay, NuVox, Limited Editions for Her, William Woods University, Creative Printing, PC Net, Fidelity Logic and Family Pharmacy.

For more information, call Ladona Johnson at 334-4084, ex. 314, or visit www.bransonchamber.com.

Christian Action Ministries will temporarily close their office and food pantry on Tuesday, Aug. 18, through Friday, Aug. 21, while renovations are made to the food pantry, said director Joan Westfall.

The pantry will be open for people needing to pick up food on Monday, Aug. 17. It will reopen on Monday, Aug. 24. If people have special needs while it is closed, they may call the office at 334-1157.

Thursday, Aug. 20, is the annual Community Caring Day. Members of the Branson Tri-Lakes Kiwanis Club will remove the food and shelves from the pantry, said club president Roger Frieze. Once the area is cleared, volunteers from Home Depot will remove the old carpeting and install a sealed concrete floor, providing a more sanitary and convenient surface, Westfall said.

Christian Action Ministries is located in the old church building of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church at 202 B. Vaughn Dr. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon on Friday.

Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks has openings for its Summer Programs in Branson and Forsyth!  Don’t let your kids sit around the house this summer - give them the chance to “Be GREAT!”  For more information, call Laci in Branson (417.336.2420 x 228) or Garry in Forsyth (417.546.6299), or visit our website at www.bgcozarks.org

Three area organizations will host the Clothe-A-Child 5K/1mile walk/run on Saturday, July 25, on the Lakeshore Trail. Meet at the Dewey Short Visitors Center just south of Table Rock Dam on Missouri 165. Registration at 7 a.m.; race at 8 a.m. Adults, $18 in advance; $25, day-of-race. Ages 14 and under, $10. Register at www.christianactionministries.org.

Funds will provide new outfits for kids attending the upcoming Taney County School Readiness Fair. Hosting this event is Christian Action Ministries, OACAC and the Salvation Army.

There will be T-shirts, finisher ribbons and awards for participants. There also will be a bin for clothing donations. For more information, call Becky Lowrance at 417-294-4775 or email becky@sweetmagnoliatours.com.

BRANSON, Mo. – Hundreds of Taney County youth will benefit from the $1,000 donation presented on Tuesday to the not-for-profit Christian Action Ministries through the CenturyTel Clarke M. Williams Charitable Foundation. The funds will support the Clothe-A-Child Program.

This is the 23rd year that CAM has sponsored the Clothe-A-Child program. It is part of the Taney County School Readiness Fair, a cooperative effort of CAM, Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation and the Salvation Army. Hundreds of children in need will receive a new outfit for school, improving self-esteem and enabling greater academic success.

“The Charitable Foundation was established by CenturyTel based on the belief that companies have an obligation to improve the quality of life where they do business,” said Pamela Anderson, Marketing Communication Manager for South Missouri.

Following the example set by Williams, the company’s founder, the foundation contributes to projects that improve the well-being of people in need. The projects range from substance abuse prevention to disaster relief and technological development. This year, the foundation will award approximately $124,000.

The CenturyTel Experience Center is a drop-off point Christian Action Ministries’ “Under Cover Program,” providing new socks and underwear for Taney County school-aged children. For more information on the program, call Christian Action Ministries at 334-1157 or visit www.ChristianActionMinistries.org.