Branson, MO – March 10, 2009 – JoDee Herschend had a vision nearly ten years ago to reach un-churched Single Moms with unconditional love, acceptance and friendship. Since that time the organization known as The Caring People has reached out to Single Moms throughout Southwest Missouri and abroad in El Salvador with a goal to be nationwide in the next 5 years.

The Caring People will be hosting a “caring woman” training Saturday, April 4, 2009 at the Murder Rock Clubhouse in Hollister, Missouri from 8:30 to 3:30 pm. All materials are free including lunch. The training equips Christian women with both the skills needed to mentor Single Moms, and also gives them an overview of the work of the organization. The caring women are the anchors of the organization and they quite literally “walk the love of Jesus” into the hearts of the Single Moms.

Cindy Shorey, Chief Operating Officer shared, “we know from research JoDee commissioned years ago that Single Moms desire acceptance, forgiveness, community, control, hope and reassurance, these indeed are her motivators. We train the caring women to focus on specific skills to provide a safe place for moms emotionally.” Shorey shares “for some Single Moms just a night out with other Single Moms helps ease the burden of parenting alone.”

Southwest Missouri hosts care groups throughout the region in various locations. The organization also hosts quarterly events that bring the Single Moms and their children together along with the volunteers and leadership of The Caring People. One single mom says “it feels like a giant family reunion, our own special community, our kids have a blast together!”

For more information, visit www.thecaringpeople.org or call 417-334-0131.

FREE Sneek Preview of Johnny Roger’s “Buddy and Beyond” this Friday 13 at 7:30PM. www.buddyandbeyond.com

New Happy Hour Specials!! Monday thru Friday from 4-7pm $3 Drafts (we have 20 handles) $4 glasses of Wine, $5 Martinis and 2-4-1 Selected Appetizers!

Louie’s St. Pat’s Day!!! March 13th- March 17th come in and take full advantage of $4 Irish Car Bombs, $4 Guinness & $4 Jameson and $9 Reuben Sandwich with Fries! Don’t forget that Monday’s you can also get .35 cent chicken wings and $5 buckets of Miller Light! What a Steal!!!!

“fishy fridays” Every Friday, All Day Long come in and try one of our Lent Specials, Pasta Louie, Fish-N-Chips or Blackened Atlantic Salmon all under $14.00!!

“Brews & Bites–Old World Refreshment Meets New World Flavor”~ All Day, Every Day til April 12th for $12.99 enjoy our world famous Baja Fish Tacos or Mamma’s BBQ Meatloaf and receive a free Stella Artois!!
Tasty food, Awesome Beer!

“Rock the Tot”~ Tater ToT eating Contest!!! Thursday, April 23rd…8-10pm! ToT Champion will receive a $250 gift card, free party for you and 19 of your friends with 2 Complimentary Drinks and ToTs, ToT trophy and FREE ToTs for a year!
~$1.50 ToTs ALL DAY LONG FOR EVERYONE!

“Motives & Martini’s”~ 1st and 3rd Saturday Afternoon of every month, join Louie and the Motive girls for free facials, free customized makeovers, 15% off lunch and $5 martinis all day!

Look forward to partying with you soon!

Cheers!

For Immediate Release

Contact: John Wright (316) 648-4843 or [email protected]

Branson, March 10, 2009 – Glowgolf, an operator of indoor, glow-in-the-dark, mini golf courses based in Wichita, Kan., has opened a fourth Missouri location at Branson Landing.

Glow-in-the-dark mini golf is a family entertainment concept similar to black light or “cosmic” bowling. Special florescent golf balls, putters, course obstacles and wall decor all glow under black lights. The florescent-glow of the course creates a “one-of-a-kind” mini golf experience.

Located next to Bass Pro Shops, the new Branson Landing Glowgolf features an 18-hole mini golf course and an area for birthday parties. Guests can play up to 54 holes with their admission. An adult admission is eight dollars and a child admission is six dollars. Group and family discounts are also available. Glowgolf is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

John Wright, chief operating officer for Glowgolf, said, “We’ve always been about family entertainment and it’s a huge opportunity for us to have a presence in of the country’s family entertainment capitals.”

The new Glowgolf at Branson Landing joins other Missouri locations in Joplin, Chesterfield and St. Peters. Glowgolf also operates glow-in-the-dark mini golf courses in Washington State, California, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois and Tennessee. A complete list of locations is available at www.opryglowgolf.com.

Branson’s highly-acclaimed Island Fire extravaganza returns to the Dutton Theater for a third straight year, opening Saturday night March 14. Totally restyled for 2009, Island Fire features new dancers, vocalists and fire knife performances.

Working her magic on this year’s ensemble cast is Ramona Schwenke, an internationally famous director of Polynesian shows. She has toured and produced shows throughout the United States including the legendary Drums of Tahiti who performed at Sea World in Florida for 10 years.. She has also judged Tahitian, Hawaiian, Maori and Samoan Dance Competitions and Miss Samoa – Utah. Ramona is joined by Alvin Schwenke, famed trainer of world champion fire knife dancers, who will be choreographing the breathtaking fire knife routines of World Champion, Malaki!

Island Fire, conceived by Jonathan Dutton’s beautiful Samoan wife Bella, turns the stage of the Dutton Theater into a Polynesian paradise with giant palm trees, beautiful flowers along with misty fog and fiery flames.

According to marketing manager, Judith Dutton, “Last year’s show seems tame compared to the exhilarating and mesmerizing excitement of Island Fire 2009! Both Sheila and Bella traveled extensively and spent hundreds of hours auditioning performers from around the world to build this superb cast of performers. Plus, Ramona and Alvin Schwenke have taken Island Fire to a new level – a truly world class event for the audiences.”

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Branson, MO – The Mrs. Missouri America pageant is coming to Branson on March 28. The show will be held at 7:00pm in the Mansion Theater, one of Branson’s most loved venues. 2009 marks the first year that the pageant has been hosted in Branson, and this year’s event is slated to be the most exciting show ever.

Part of the nationally-televised Mrs. America organization, the Mrs. Missouri competition features some of the state’s most beautiful and most accomplished married women. Contestants are scored in the categories of interview, fitness, swimsuit, and evening gown by a panel of celebrity and pageant judges. The winner will be crowned Mrs. Missouri 2009 and will advance to the Mrs. America competition this fall.

The new Mrs. Missouri receives a prize package valued at over $9,000. She also has the opportunity to advance her platform throughout the state of Missouri through speaking engagements and volunteer activities. The Mrs. Missouri organization is a vocal supporter of The National Anthem Project, whose mission is “ re-teach Americans ‘The Star Spangled Banner.'”

Produced and directed by Teresa Foli of Ballet Arts dance studio in Chillicothe, the show also includes high energy ballet, tap, and jazz performances, as well as Branson’s own award-winning Premiere Dance Academy clogging team. The night also features some of Missouri’s most adorable “little” darlings. Throughout the evening Judges will crown six new Missouri Princesses, ranging in age from 3 to 18.

This is a show you will not want to miss. Not only will you be entertained, but you will also be a part of the state’s premier event supporting women and young ladies. Bring your friends and family to Branson for an extended weekend and take in the Mrs. Missouri pageant. While in Branson, you can shop at world-class Branson landing, visit gorgeous Table Rock Lake, or attend one of the many other live show performances.

The Mansion Theatre is a 3,000 seat state-of-the-art entertainment venue with the best that sound and lighting technical advancements have to offer. The stage is backed with a full multimedia 60 ft. by 20 ft. projection screen. The lobby contains two gift shops, a full service concession stand, and The Red White and Brew coffee shop serving Starbucks Coffee.

Country Music Association (CMA) Music City Rising Star award-winner Jarett McAlister is the next guest on the Lucas Oil sponsored Gene Williams Country TV Music Show that is taped live in Branson, Mo.

“The 17-year-old is an up-and-coming true country singer. His original songs are already award-winners at Texas Woodstock Songwriters Contest and he was selected Outstanding Original Performance at the CMA Music City Rising Star event in Nashville. His talent is pleasing audiences across Texas at numerous Oprys and from Nashville to New Orleans,” said Williams whose television show is taped weekly at the 50’s at the Hop Theatre in Branson. Williams is the star, producer and creator of the Telly Award-winning Gene Williams Country Television Show that is seen across the nation.

The TV show with McAlister will be telecast March 14 and 15. In addition to nationwide I more than 200 markets, the Gene Williams Country Television Show can also be seen in Canada.

The next live taping of the Gene Williams Country TV Show is Sunday, March 29, at 2 p.m. at the 50’s at the Hop Theatre located in The Shoppes at Branson Meadows. Admission is free and doors open at 1 p.m. For more information go to genewilliamscountry.com.

Williams began his country music television show in Arkansas almost 50 years ago and for the past eight years has taped the show in Branson live before a studio audience. Guests have included Ed McMahon, Mickey Gilley, the Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Clark, Johnny Lee, Barbara Fairchild, Sons of the Pioneers, the Osmonds, Johnny Cash’s band The Tennessee Three, the Blackwood Brothers, Helen Cornelius, Leona Williams, Charlie Louvin, Mary Lou Turner, Cal Smith, Stonewall Jackson, Norma Jean, “Diamond” Dave Somerville, Little Jimmy Dickens, Porter Wagoner, Jim Owen, Buck Trent and Wanda Jackson.

Williams’ co-host Katie Lynn 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. In addition to her singing career, she is a real estate agent. She and the guest stars perform weekly on the television show with the Country Junction Band.

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Francie Stauffer, co-pastor of the Branson-based Grand Old Gospel Hour, died Feb. 28 at her home in Walnut Shade following an inspirational battle with cancer.

A special memorial service will be held at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater Saturday, March 14, at 10 a.m. On Sunday, March 15, also at 10 a.m., the first service of the Grand Old Gospel Hour in its new location, the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater, will celebrate the life and memory of Francie Stauffer with special performances by friends of the Grand Old Gospel Hour.

With her high school sweetheart and husband of 37 years Sam Stauffer, Francie Stauffer co-pastored the Grand Old Gospel Hour, a church with a local membership that is beginning its 14th year providing a Christian worship and praise experience to Branson tourists. She was involved in the decision to move Sunday praise and worship to the new location at the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater and the service on March 15 will be the first in the new location.

“Come join us for this meaningful homecoming celebration honoring the life and memory of Francie. Everyone is welcome. We are excited to welcome home friends and family for a special reunion of our past 13 years in Branson. Thousands of people have attended the Grand Old Gospel Hour over the years and Francie touched each of them in a special way,” said Sam Stauffer.

Francie Stauffer was a leader in her church, shepherding others and supporting several international ministries.

“Especially meaningful to her were supporting ministries in India and Israel,” said her daughter Rachel Narancich. “We support three main ministries in India that have collectively seen literally millions of people come into the kingdom of God. Francie called these her ‘precious’ people. These ministries train indigenous pastors and support hundreds of churches across India. These ministries house orphans and widows which are outcasts in India’s society. These children are taken off the streets, given a home, an education and brought up in the love and nurture of Christian values,” said Sam Stauffer.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts for special missionary projects in India and Israel that were especially meaningful to her. Donations designated to Francie’s Missionary Memorial Fund can be sent to the Grand Old Gospel Hour, P.O. Box 88, Branson, MO 65615 or called in to 417-337-8888.
A highest priority in her life was to raise her children to love the Lord. Another priority in her life was to see the church in America come alive and enter into the freedom the light of Christ offers.

In addition to shepherding others and missionary projects, a legacy she leaves behind is a series of Christian columns written for her ministry and most recently published in the Branson ETC paper. Refocusing on life’s priorities, patriotic and Christian freedom, the importance of smiling, the power of love, and telling others of their significance were among her messages.

The daughter of Roy and Virginia Morgan, Francie Stauffer was born Jan. 17, 1952, in Joplin.
Survivors include her husband; father; one daughter, Rachel Narancich and her husband, Max, of Walnut Shade; two sons, Adam Stauffer and his wife, Adriane, of Walnut Shade, and Josh Stauffer and his wife, Mandy, of Branson; two sisters, Carol Potter of Missouri and Cindy Owens of North Carolina; one brother, John Morgan of Missouri; and two grandchildren, Abigail and Asher Narancich.

Discover the “Diamonds” in the Ozarks – What Can We Become?

“The Most Impacting Town Hall Meeting Our Area Has Ever Experienced!”

All residents of Stone and Taney County are invited to come and let their voice be heard at this very important and defining Ozark Mountain Community Town Hall meeting.

“What will be our Legacy in Ozark Mountain Country?” If you have ever asked yourself this question, then now is the time for you to come and speak into our area’s core values and future together as we move forward in these uncertain times.

Jory Rolf, who helped to initiate this citizen-led Legacy Initiative believes, “With so much that is changing in our world around us, it is vital that we know who we are and what we want to be when we grow up. Then, we need to be intentional about every decision we make. This Ozark Mountain Legacy Initiative will help us define our preferred future and course for our Ozark Mountain Country for generations to come.”

Citizens from all across Stone and Taney Country are invited to gather at the Tri-Lakes Center, located on Hwy 248, March 6th, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. for a Community-wide Town Hall Meeting, as we “Discover the Diamonds Together”. Attendees will hear the vision for the Ozark Mountain Legacy Initiative and will be invited to actively join in the “Legacy” process by answering survey questions and participating in small group discussions. Community Leaders from across the Ozarks will be present to speak and to “hear” what the citizens of Ozark Mountain Country have to say.

Local area citizens initially invited community leaders from several Ozark Mountain cities to help develop and lead this cooperative effort in our region. These leaders include: John Bates (Silver Dollar City Foundation), Howard Boyd (Branson Hills Pastor), Larry Cline (Rockaway Beach Mayor), Steve Erixon (Skaggs Hospital CEO), Doug Hayter (Branson City School Superintendent), Sue Head (College of the Ozarks – First Place), Jack Herschend (Herschend Family Entertainment), Dean Kruithof (Branson City Administrator), Mike Mason (Reeds Spring Superintendent), Gail Myer (Myer Hotels), David Oliphant (Forsyth Mayor), Chuck Pennel (Taney County Commissioner), Raeanne Presley (Branson Mayor), Jory Rolf (AIM International/Make Believers), Ross Summers (Branson Chamber President) and Rick Ziegenfuss (Hollister City Administrator).

Rolf said, “Whether you’re a frontline employee or employer, a grandparent or a student, or simply a concerned citizen…your voice can be heard! We live in one of the greatest places on earth and we have to be great stewards of the greater gift that has been given to us here in Ozark Mountain Country. Come let your voice be heard!”

For more information go online to: www.ozarkmountainlegacy.org. Please RSVP for the March 6th Legacy Town Hall Meeting by contacting Jory Rolf at: 334-8001 or e-mail us at: [email protected].

Bill Babler will be speaking at the MDC Springfield Nature’s Center, March 5, Thursday evening at 7 p.m. OzarkAnglers will sponsor the event.

Babler will share his fishing techniques for spring bass fishing on Table Rock Lake as well as the history of bass fishing on Table Rock Lake. Those of you that have followed Bill’s post here on OzarkAnglers knows he’s one of the best bass fisherman on the lake and has a unique ability to share that knowledge.

Shane Bush and Mike Allen will also address the group on the subject of MDC’s habitat project on Table Rock Lake. Bush is a MDC fisheries biologist for Table Rock and Lake Taneycomo and Allen is MDC’s new habitat project biologist. They will provide information on projects, two very large projects recently completed and will pass along how to obtain GPS coordinates for these structures they have put in the lake. These structures are loads of rock, stumps and trees dumped into the lake for fish habitat.