Pierce Arrow Theater will have area appreciation shows for NW Arkansas and SW Missouri December 14th – December 19th at 7:30 pm.

Bring your photo id, and a non-perishable food item to be donated to the CAM Food Pantry and your ticket price will only be $8.65.

Call 417-336-8742 for reservations.

The public is invited to ground-breaking for a new bridge over Lake Taneycomo at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday (Dec. 17) at the south end of the Branson Landing parking lot near the Branson Lakeside RV Park.

Work is already under way on the $12.2 million bridge and a round-about designed to ease congestion for Branson’s workforce, residents and visitors. The first step will be moving in equipment and clearing trees and brush. Demolition of part of the bluff is expected to start in January, said MoDOT Senior Construction Inspector Brett Foster.

Once the new bridge is completed in about a year, work will begin repairing the old bridge, also a year-long project. The new bridge and round-about is being funded by $7.4 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.

The last day of school in 2009 will be Friday, December 18.  Classes will resume January 4.

The regular Friday dismissal schedule will be in effect December 18.

The Taney County Health Department will offer free H1 N1 vaccinations on Saturday, December 12 at the Junior High School.  Vaccinations will be given from 8 a.m. until 12 noon.

Anyone meeting the following criteria will be vaccinated:
Children age six months to 18 years of age
Parents or caregivers of children under age six months
Pregnant women with a written doctor’s order
Children under age nine who have already received the first dose of the vaccine (please bring records verifying the first dose)

Parents or guardians must be present with children under the age of 18.

Source: email Branson Schools

2009 Marketing Campaign generates economic impact of $60 million

Dec 5, 2009 – The Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of commerce held its Annual Meeting, Banquet and Silent Auction on Dec. 4th at the Chateau on the Lake. Results of the 2009 marketing campaign were announced during the annual meeting and were warmly received by the membership of the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber.

The marketing campaign created an economic impact of $60.6 million in visitor spending and generated incremental travel of 77,969 trips. The successful advertising campaign encouraged one in five people who viewed the ads to make a trip to the Table Rock Lake area. Nearly one third of viewers in the advertised markets had seen the ads. Based on the total cost of the campaign and the economic impact generated, the 2009 marketing campaign generated a return on investment (ROI) of $180 for each dollar spent.

Wyli Barnes, President and CEO of the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, said, “We are thrilled with these results. Table Rock Lake is a great destination and we are excited to share our message with a receptive audience. We look forward to the future as we continue to reach out to past and future visitors.”

For the first time in 2009, the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber, in cooperation with the State of Missouri and other marketing partners, invested $400,000 in television advertising in five major markets. The campaign was designed to promote awareness of the Table Rock Lake area and to invite potential customers to visit. At the conclusion of the marketing campaign, Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce invested in an ad effectiveness research program to measure the effectiveness of the marketing campaign and to insure that marketing dollars were being used effectively.

Demographic profiles of visitors to the Table Rock Lake area were also generated by the research. The average traveling party spent $777 during their trip. The average visitor to the Table Rock Lake area is 46 years old, has an income of more than $60,000 per year and is married. More than 70% of survey respondents use the internet to plan their trips. Visits to the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce’s website as well as telephone inquiries for travel information have increased by 30% in 2009.

The research program to generate these findings was professionally done in August 2009 using an online survey of 1,378 people in the five advertised markets.

Jeff Justus, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, said, “This is an exciting time for the Table Rock Lake area. We are very pleased with the success of the year’s marketing campaign.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Branson Veterans Task Force to Host Pearl Harbor Day Ceremony

The Branson Veterans Task Force will be holding a ceremony to commemorate “The Day That Will Live in Infamy” and to honor those who were lost at Pearl Harbor. The event will take place in front of the water and fire show area on the Branson Landing on Monday, December 7, 2009 from 12:00 to 12:30 and will end with a wreath laying in Lake Taneycomo. This is a free event, and the public is welcome to attend.

In the attacks on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in 1941 that brought about America’s entry into World War II, 3,500 people were killed, hundreds of aircraft were destroyed, and every battleship in the U.S. Pacific Fleet was either sunk or severely damaged. The following day, President Roosevelt made a speech before Congress and the American people stating that “December 7, 1941 was a day that will live in infamy.” Shortly thereafter, the United States was engaged in a two-front war in the Pacific and European theaters.

The Branson Veterans Task Force is dedicated to honoring our Nation’s brave service personnel and veterans throughout the year. The BVTF does that, in part, by hosting events like Veterans Homecoming held during Veterans Week in November, Independence Day celebration, patriotic parades, Memorial Day ceremonies and more. The Task Force is dedicated to recognizing veterans, fostering patriotism, and educating the community. For more information about the Branson Veterans Task force visit www.bransonveterans.com or call 417-337-8387.

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The management contract for the Branson License and Motor Vehicle Office was awarded to Barbara Ghan of Republic, dba BT Express, who has been the interim operator of the office since 2008 and has also received the contract for the Branson West License Office. There were two bids for the Branson Office which will remain at its current location in Cedar Ridge Plaza at 1447-C State Highway 248.

Click here for more details.

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Wednesday, November 25th
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Food collected will benefit local pantries.

Donation bins will be set up at:

Harter House in Hollister and Kimberling City
Country Mart in Branson, Branson West, Hollister and Forsyth
Wal-Mart Supercenter – Branson West location
Apple Market – Branson
Jubilee Foods – Branson
Summerfresh – Kimberling City

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