(Branson, MO) – The walls of Skaggs Family Health Clinic are crawling with frogs, lizards, and insects. Not literally; the amphibians and bugs are the creative work of 19 second, third, and fourth graders at Branson Elementary.

The framed paintings hang in the waiting room of Skaggs Family Health Clinic, and are among the best of over 400 paintings submitted. Branson Elementary East Art Teacher, Regina Seaman, says, “Every year the students compete in an art contest. First place winners in each class get to have his or her painting hung in the Table Rock Lake Art Gallery. The paintings decorating the walls at Skaggs are the second place winners from each class.”

The theme of frogs, lizards, and insects compliments the lessons each grade is learning in class. The fourth graders are learning about frogs, the third graders are studying lizards and their habitat, and the second graders are talking about insects in their classes.

Skaggs Family Health Clinic Manager, Lori Leochner, says, “This is a family clinic, so it was only appropriate to have children’s artwork hanging in the waiting area. It also teaches the students a lesson on sharing and helps build their self-esteem.

Skaggs Family Health Clinic is located on the 5th floor of Skaggs Outpatient Center, 545 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson, MO.

The Downtown Branson Main Street Association’s (DBMA) director for the past year has resigned.

Dawn Erickson will become a consultant and volunteer for the organization, according to DBMA President Jeff Justus. Erickson will continue to produce reports for DBMA’s government-related economic development projects, supervise the national marketing program, and assist with upcoming special events such as Plumb Nellie Days and the annual fiddle contest.

“We are sorry to see Dawn leave the organization, but she has assured us that she will remain involved,” said DBMA Chairman Jeff Justus. “She said she plans to return to free-lance communications and economic development projects.”

Responsibilities handled by Erickson will be covered by DBMA’s board members and staff. The director’s position will be left open at this time, Justus said.

“Over the past year, we have done our best to adapt to a changing economy,” Justus said. “Non-profit organizations are going to take a beating in this recession, and we have made significant changes in how we spend a shrinking supply of investment dollars.”

For more than 20 years, DBMA has provided revitalization opportunities for the downtown business community through government grants and programs. It conducts an effective annual national marketing campaign to attract visitors to Historic Downtown Branson. It hosts several tourism-related special events each year, and creates strategic partnerships among government entities, business organizations and private enterprise to achieve the goals of the community. DBMA also provides administrative service for the Community Improvement District which operates a free public trolley service in the historic district.

“By operating DBMA as tightly as we can during these tough times, we will survive for the long haul as an organization,” said Shawn Pingleton, a member of the Board of Directors.

Additional information about DBMA is available by contacting Jeff Justus, 417-334-3107.

The “Cajun” Wade Benson Landry is the next guest on the Gene Williams Country Music TV Show that is taped live in Branson, Mo., telecast nationwide to more than 200 markets and can also be seen in Canada.
“Wade is not only my guest but he also is joining my band, the Country Junction Band,” said Gene Williams, the star and creator of the Telly Award-winning show that was taped live at the 50’s at the Hop Theatre at the Shoppes at Branson Meadows.

“Wade is the ultimate entertainer and one of the best. He has performed with some of Country music’s giants, such as Jimmy C. Newman, Loretta Lynn, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, George Jones and Tammy Wynette and Mel Tillis and appeared regularly on television shows such as PBS Live from the Grand Ole Opry, the 1980 CMA Awards Show, the Anheuser-Busch Special Reach for the Stars with Bob Hope, NBC’s Tonight Show, Nashville Now and the Academy of Country Music Awards Show. In Branson he is the headliner for the only Cajun Swing show.”

The TV show with Landry will be telecast April 11 and 12. For more information go to the website genewilliamscountry.com. Williams will be taking a short break from the hectic schedule he has had for eight years in Branson due to health problems. A hiatus from taping his live show to help fix the problem has been recommended. The Gene Williams Country Music TV Show will continue to be aired in Springfield, Branson, Little Rock, Jonesboro, Ark., Nashville, St. Louis, Decatur, Ill., Ada and Ardmore, Okla., Sherman/Denison, Texas, plus on RTN which is over 100 stations including 11 of the top 30 markets in the nation.

THE Reunion Friendly Network (RFN), a national organization dedicated to educating veteran military reunion planners will be in Branson at the invitation of The Branson Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the host hotel, Lodge of the Ozarks from April 20-23, 2009. The event will feature the area as a “Reunion Friendly” destination with many attractions of interest to military reunions. Local hotels, restaurants, attractions and shops, will have the opportunity to showcase this prime location for events of this type.

RFN services more than 8,000 qualified military reunion planners, representing all branches of military service, from WWII to the present day, who run reunions annually. An average military reunion involves direct payments to the hotel of approximately $40,000, with an economic impact of approximately $500,000 on the community. As a niche market, these military reunions add well over $6 billion dollars to tourism within the United States.

The Branson ConFAM event will be the 195th in the 18 year history of The Reunion Friendly Network, educating more than 4,000 veterans in the basics of planning a reunion, while giving them the opportunity to visit military reunion friendly destinations for their reunions. Leaders within the hospitality industry have praised RFN’s unique style of bringing together military reunion planners and hotels. Between ten and fifteen ConFAMS are held annually, usually at the request of a convention and visitors bureau, a hotel management company, or a chain of hotels seeking to target the desirable military reunion market. Joining the host city’s exhibitors will be those from other states throughout the country, as well as volunteer Military Reunion Planners from all over the United States who plan military reunions ranging from 40 attendees to 900 attendees.

Following two days of the planning seminars and exhibitor marketplace, Branson co-sponsors will continue to showcase to the military reunion planners two days of Familiarization as a “Military Reunion Friendly” destination.

The Reunion Friendly Network President Paul Spiewak, Charlene Adamson, Executive Vice President, and Gale Helser, Director of Communications, have determined that Branson is an ideal destination for military reunions and are delighted to accept this city’s invitation. Military Reunion planners from every area of the country, as well as exhibitors from the local region and other states will converge for this event. As one military reunion planner recently promoted RFN and their “Reunion Friendly” destinations, “…cities which subscribe to RFN’s services go out of their way to entice the military reunions to their area.” Branson is no exception!

Thundering Stampede Highlights Unique Dinner Attraction

Throughout the year, Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction presents special events and dedicated shows. From the NAIA tip-off banquet to the Missing Man Table & Honors Ceremony, Dixie Stampede hosts dedicated theme outings for special groups of all kinds. Below are just a few of these special events. Not all are open to the public. Press passes are available to some events on a pre-arranged basis only.

April 4th &10th
High School Proms at Dixie Stampede
Dixie Stampede hosts Willow Springs and Plato High School Proms in the Carriage Room after guests enjoy the main arena dinner & show. Private events, not open to public.

April 18th
DC Festivals “Ozark Showcase of Music” Awards Presentation
Band & Choral Festival awards presentation. Private award ceremony, not open to public.

April 18th
Missing Man Table & Honors Ceremony
Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show presents a special memorial ceremony honoring veterans who have given their lives and comforting those who know or are currently a veteran in the military. Private event, not open to public.

April 23rd
DARE Youth Show
Special DARE mid-day Show for participating youths from area programs. Limited tickets available to public.

April 25th
Youth Show
Special Youth Show for schools, home schoolers, 4H, DARE, Parks & Rec departments, scouts, Royal Rangers, Missionettes, and all other youth organizations. Limited tickets are available to the public.

April 25th
DC Festivals “Ozark Showcase of Music” Awards Presentation
Band & Choral Festival awards presentation. Private award ceremony, not open to public.

April 28th
Extreme Conferences
Dixie Stampede welcomes this dynamic church youth rally to the dinner show. Tickets are available to the public.

April 30th
Youth Show
Special Youth Show for schools, home schoolers, 4H, DARE, Parks & Rec departments, scouts, Royal Rangers, Missionettes, and all other youth organizations. Limited tickets available to public.

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BEST BUY will finally open in Branson Missouri on Thursday April 16th at 6:00 PM. Located off Hightway 65 at the Bee Creek/Branson Hills Parkway exit.

Store Hours will be M-Th 9-9, Fri & Sat 9-10 and Sun 9-8.

Best Buy is excited to serve all the electronic needs of the Tri-Lakes area residents as well as servicing local businesses through our Best Buy For Business department.

Best Buy is the worlds largest electronics retailer with over 1000 stores nationwide.

The Crisis Center Board of Directors

Invites you to join us for the “1st Annual Bluegrass and Jazz Benefit”

Featuring:

The Petersen Family
&
Branson High School Jazz Band

April 25, 2009
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Branson High School Auditorium
Refreshments Will Be Served

Tickets: $7.50 Advance, $10.00 Door

***Silent Auction Table***

All Proceeds Will Benefit Programs of The Crisis Center Phone: 417.561.5105

The Branson Tri-Lakes Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter pancake breakfast on Saturday, April 11 from 7:30 to 10:00 am. The breakfast will be held at Applebee’s at 1836 W. Hwy 76 in Branson. All children 4 and younger eat for free, and adult tickets are only $5. Everyone should come hungry, because the pancakes are all you can eat! All proceeds from the breakfast will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network as part of the Kiwanis Club’s Children Priority One project to assist young kids under five. Walk-in guests are welcome, or tickets are available from any Kiwanian. Call 417-335-9231 for tickets and more details. The Easter Bunny will be on hand to visit with the children and pictures by Swift Shots are available for only $4.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Keeping with this mission, club members are busy throughout the year carrying out much-needed service projects here in the Tri-Lakes area. The pancake breakfast, benefitting the Children’s Miracle Network, directly supports the children and families of our community. Previous breakfasts rose over $1,500 for charitable contributions. Thanks to the generous support of Applebee’s, Bob Evans and Golden Corral, who are donating the supplies for the pancake breakfast, the Branson Tri-Lakes Kiwanis Club is helping to bring some Easter fun to our community’s kids and their families.

The Branson Tri-Lakes Kiwanis Club meets every Tuesday at noon at Lonestar Steak House. If you are interested in more information about the Branson Tri-Lakes Kiwanis or if you would like to join the club as it serves the children of the world, contact Roger Frieze at (417) 334-4355, ext. 4118.

The Duttons, Branson’s top-rated entertainment family, has always had a big heart for charity – particularly if it benefits children. On April 4th, the Duttons will be performing, along with MGM film legend Debbie Reynolds and others, at the OneHeart Gala at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater in Mesa, Arizona.

This celebrity-laden charity event is a fundraising effort for Emma and Taylor Bailey and their foundation “Two Sisters – One Heart”, which helps families in similar circumstances. Emma and Taylor are two beautiful little girls who were born as conjoined twins. They share one heart and are in continual need of medical attention.

Aside from the evening’s food and entertainment, celebrities from theater, film, entertainment and sports have donated personalized, autographed umbrellas to be auctioned off to raise funds. The evening will include both a silent auction and a live online auction of the autographed umbrellas, from the likes of Debbie Reynolds,the rock band Chicago, Kevin Bacon, Branson’s own Jim Stafford, The Duttons and many others.

Although the Duttons have been performing in Mesa during the winter season, they actually open their 2009 season in Branson on April 2nd. According to marketing manager, Judith Dutton, “We’ll be in Branson for our shows on April 2nd and 3rd, then return to Mesa for the OneHeart Gala on the 4th, and be back in Branson the next week for our regular shows at The Dutton Theater. It’ll be a little hectic, but it’s worth it to help these two darling girls and other families dealing with similar issues.”

For more information on the OneHeart Charity, visit www.oneheartumbrellacampaign.org.

For show times, reservations and additional information about the Dutton show please contact the Dutton Family Theater at (417) 332-2772 or (888) 388-8661. Show schedules and ticket reservations are also available on line at www.TheDuttons.com.

Join Moon River Grill as they kick off an exciting Spring Season on Friday March 27th at 3pm!
The Grill will be open 3-9 pm Monday through Saturday until Opening Night at Andy’s Moon River Theatre on April 21st when they will resume their full hours of operation 11am to 10pm daily and late night menu and entertainment on weekends!

You can enjoy fine dining at casual prices at Andy Williams Moon River Grill. Andy’s personal pop art collection gives the restaurant a warm, but sophisticated feel. The Grill has nightly dinner music to provide a relaxing and elegant ambiance for dining!
The Grill has Quality “home made” food and excellent service presented in a beautiful setting! Moon River Grill features some of Andy’s Mother’s recipe’s and their famous made from scratch desserts!

Andy Williams Moon River Grill…..where you may find yourself dining with the Stars of Branson!!!!