Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. – Psalm 100:1-2
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May 10, 2024 • Volume 5, Issue #19
INSIDE:
Tribute to Valor Foundation: • Around Town.... 10B Approximately 70 Tri-Lakes • Churches............ 8C area students going to • Classifieds........... 9C Space Center • Food.................. 6C Johnson
• Fun & Games.... 10C • Pets for Adoption �� 3A • Obituaries........ 11A • School News........ 6B • Features ............. 1C • Voices................. 1B • Weather........... 11A
PLUS:
Breakfast at Tiffany’s: Mother, why? – SEE PAGE 1B.
Bransonmo.gov The Branson Community is joining together to welcome the Tribute to Valor Foundation as 72 Branson area students prepare to embark on the journey of a lifetime. The destination of the upcoming trip, May 19-21, is Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The immersive curriculum includes Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM), plus the unique opportunity to interact with Medal of Honor recipient, CSM (ret) Gary Littrell. Called STEM-Liner IV, the mission is a collaborative endeavor made possible through the support of Military Appreciation Partnerships (MAP), Branson Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District, stakeholders to include the United States Air Force Air Mobility
Command, NASA, Johnson Space Center Houston and other corporate and individual sponsors. The trip for Branson area students, plus several students from Little Rock, is Tribute to Valor’s (TTV) fourth one of its kind since the organization’s inception in 2018. TTV is made up of volunteers focused on influencing, impacting and inspiring students by encouraging them to ask themselves “Who Am I?” and to answer using the six core values of character represented by the Medal of Honor: Courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity and commitment. With the guidance of TTV leadership, educators of several Branson area schools were charged with selecting more than 70 students to
(Photo courtesy bransonmo.gov) board two C-130 airplanes bound for Houston. Students will engage with astronauts, Medal of Honor recipients, scientists, educators and military experts. • Branson High School - 49 students / 6 chaperones • College of the Ozarks - 12 students / 2 chaperones • School of the Ozarks - 4 students / 1 chaperone
• Hollister High School - 3 students / 1 chaperone • Trinity Christian Academy, Hollister - 4 students / 1 chaperone • Students from schools in and around Little Rock - 4 students / 2 chaperones Dr. Mike Dawson, Executive Director of Instructional Services with the Branson R-4 School District, was
one the educators responsible for identifying the Branson students. “Selected by a committee of high school teachers, counselors and administrators, these students demonstrated an interest in STEM education and a commitment to pursuing a future career within that field,” said Dr. Dawson. SEE STEM-LINER, PAGE 11A
Kimberling City’s Chief Todd Lemoine named Police Chief of the Year
Bluegrass & BBQ at SDC – SEE PAGE 1C.
Croskrey (Photo submitted)
Laminate, Cancer survivor celebrates with dream job: living my best Ozark Mountain life’ Vinyl & ‘I’m when three words rocked her ing statistics to prove them Submitted to Branson Globe ic m a r world: “You have cancer.” wrong but it was all bad news. e “Silver Dollar City is a C “I was only 30 years old “So, I went to the bookstore place where everything is All On going to be okay.” and it hit me like a freight and bought every book about Deborah Croskrey told train,” she says. “Stage 4 breast cancer, studying graphs Sale! herself that countless times breast cancer that had spread and studying how to survive. I Stop In Today
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as a little girl growing up with parents who struggled with their health. The park was a place—her place— where worries drifted away. She’d need that affirmation more than ever as an adult
to one lung and distant lymph nodes. What a shock. It brought me to my knees.” Doctors told her she’d have three years—at best—to live. She refused to believe it and went online for any comfort-
wanted to equip myself for the battle of my life.” Part of that armor included surgery two weeks after the diagnosis and chemotherapy two weeks after SEE DREAM JOB, PAGE 10A
BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer On April 30, 2024, Kimberling City Police Chief Todd Lemoine was named the 2023 Outstanding Missouri Police Chief of the Year at the Missouri Police Chiefs Association Conference. Chief Lemoine was nominated for the honor by Kimberling City Mayor Bob Fritz, City Administrator Dawne Gardner, and other City staff and officials. In their nomination letter, they shared that Chief Lemoine “hit the ground running” when he was hired in November 2021, after the city was left without a police force following the resignation of the entire department earlier that year. Within four months of Chief Lemoine’s leadership, new officers were hired and ready to patrol, with high standards and motivational tools in place to help them do an excellent job. The nomination letter also referenced Chief Lemoine’s work in building
Lemoine (Photo submitted) visibility and community rapport through such avenues as an improved social media presence, monthly Coffee Talks, and active participation at community events. “Building back public trust has been a challenge for the police department since 2021,” the City officials acknowledged in the nomination letter. “We are proud to say that Chief Lemoine and his officers have accomplished this and more. Because of his community policing, commitment to training his officers SEE LEMOINE, PAGE 11A
The Beck Museums of Branson Welcome You to...
SPRING!