Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. – Psalm 2: 10-11
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February 2, 2024 • Volume 5, Issue #5
INSIDE:
Sharon Miner of Hollister walks to serve community
• Around Town...... 9B • Churches.......... 10B • Classifieds......... 11B • Food.................. 8B • Fun & Games.... 12B • Pets for Adoption �� 3A • Obituaries........ 11A • School News........ 8A • Features/Voices �� 1B • Weather........... 10A
BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer Each year at the Jerseys, Jeans & Jackets Bash, the Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce presents the “Heart of Hollister” Legacy Award to someone whose service to the community is exemplary. At the January 19 event, that award was presented to Sharon Miner of Hollister. Miner is likely a familiar face to anyone who regularly drives along Business Hwy. 65 past the roundabout and through downtown Hollister. Every day that the weather permits, she takes a walk, picking up trash along the way. Gary and Sharon Miner
PLUS:
Sharon Miner on one of her daily walks (Photo courtesy of Sharon Miner)
moved to the Ozarks from Iowa, where Sharon said she regularly walked along the square mile of roads outlining their farmland. “People threw out their cans along the stretch before they got closer to the highway,” she said. She gathered up the cans, which could be turned in for five cents each in Iowa, and donated the money to her church’s missions projects or other good causes. After they relocated to the Ozarks, Sharon kept up the walks near their Fall Creek home. After moving to Taneycomo Terrace, she began doing the mile walk to the highway, another half mile SEE WALK TO SERVE, PAGE 6A
Branson seeks public input as it reviews financial KC Chiefs do it again! – SEE incentives, economic policies PAGE 2A. BY GARY J. GROMAN, Independent Journalist On January 29, 2024, the Branson Board of Aldermen held the first of three scheduled special meetings in the Council Chambers of City Hall. The purpose of this ...the night was a strange crossroads of past, meeting was to summarize present and something more. Branson’s economic development history, discuss development priorities, review key considerations for economic Been Thinkin’ About...The Kai- development policies, and begin gathering information serhof – SEE PAGE 1B. that may modify current policies or generate new policies to help ensure Branson’s continued economic success. The meeting clearly conveyed that this is just the beginning of collecting input for the recommendations that will be made to the board of aldermen at a special meeting currently scheduled for Thursday, February 29, 2024. The mayor, acting city administrator, and various aldermen stressed their desire for input from the residents and Branson businesses throughout the process. Alderwoman Ruth Tri-Lakes Denham said that the most Building & important part of the process Home Show is the input from citizens and
Everything for your home, under one roof.
Feb. 9 - 11 Chateau on the Lake
WEEKEND WEATHER: Warmer, with a chance of rain Friday and Saturday.
Branson’s businesses. “We want to hear from each and everyone of you. Please, go to our website and reach out to us,” she said. Contact information for the aldermen is at www.bransonmo.gov/245/ Mayor-Board-of-Alderm, and for city staff, it is at www. bransonmo.gov/134/Departments. In addition, the public may also submit written comments by emailing publiccomment@bransonmo.gov. Alex Girard, Chief of Staff, City of Branson and acting City Administrator, said that the purpose of the meeting was to promote innovation, development and growth for Branson’s future. “In these discussions, we have a special opportunity to embark on a process of comprehensively evaluating the city’s long-term vision and priorities as a key objective to spur investment in existing and new business development,” he added. Joe Lauber, Branson’s City Attorney and Economic Development Counselor, made the initial presentation. He said that economic development is an area he is very passionate SEE PUBLIC INPUT, PAGE 6A
The route goes through the Kinney Bridge, which riders may recall from the original ride. (Photos by Cynthia J. Thomas)
Get ready for a ride: New Fire in the Hole to open in March BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer When Silver Dollar City reopens in March for its 2024 season, many guests will likely head for the new Fire District area to ride the second-generation Fire in the Hole. Fans responded to the December end of the original ride’s 50-year run with mixed emotions—nostalgia for their years of enjoyment and excitement for the new ride, which will incorporate
elements of the original with new state-of-the-art technology. Area media were recently invited to see progress made since the park closed its 2023 season, and the excitement among park communications and public relations staff was evident. At 1,512 feet of track inside a 5-story building, Duane Marden of Roller Coaster Database has described the new coaster as “the largest indoor coaster in
the Heartland.” A key addition in the second-generation ride is on-board audio in each car, enabling riders to hear more of the story on which the ride is based, in which the Baldknobber vigilante gang actually did set fire to an Ozarks mining town. Fiber-optic will make for more realistic fire and explosion scenes, and boxes of “prop” dynamite sitting in the scenes will add to the SEE FIRE IN THE HOLE, PAGE 6A
28th annual Home Show coming this month BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer The annual Branson Tri-Lakes Building and Home Show is coming soon. Commonly known as the Branson Home Show, the popular event is set from February 9-11. Enjoy browsing through the dozens of booths featuring ev-
Over 1 million toys in 8 museums!
erything you need for building, remodeling or improving your home. Vendors are onsite to help
This year’s Home Show features 80 vendors and 100 booths. Some of the many vendors include
See our Home Show Special Section in this issue! with heating and cooling needs, flooring, gutters, siding, roofing, windows and so much more.
Boone County Door, Branson Hot Tubs and Pools, Branson Roof Co., Helitech, Precision Ga-
rage Doors, Pro Windows and Doors, S&H Farm Supply, Lowes, Lightspeed Electrical and so much more. The 28th Annual TriLakes Building and Home Show is open Friday, February 9, from 2 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, February 10, from 9 to 6; and Sunday, February 11 from 11 to 3.
Admission is just $8 for the entire weekend. The Tri-Lakes Building and Home Show will be held at Chateau on the Lake, located at 415 North State Highway 265 in Branson. For more information and a complete list of vendors for this year’s Home Show, visit their website, bransonhomeshow.com.
Model Trains Star Wars Barbies Hot Wheels And More!
417-332-1499 • worldslargesttoymuseum.com
