Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. – Psalm 31:24
Your source for local news and entertainment
May 31, 2024 • Volume 5, Issue #22
INSIDE:
• Around Town...... 8B • Churches............ 9C • Classifieds......... 10C • Food.................. 6C • Fun & Games.... 12C • Pets for Adoption �� 3A • Obituaries........ 11A • School News........ 6B • Features ............. 1C • Voices................. 1B • Weather........... 11A
PLUS:
Side of mountain, end of day – SEE PAGE 1B.
Branson remembers fallen heroes BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
M Moe Bandy is honored – SEE PAGE 1C.
emorial Day is a day of remembrance—a special day set aside to observe the sacrifices and service of all the military personnel who have gone on before us. The Branson Veterans of America Chapter 913 welcomed veterans, families of veterans and members of the community to a touching ceremony in honor of those men and women who gave the greatest sacrifice to our country. A large group gathered at the Ozarks Memorial Park Cemetery as BVA 913’s Mike Kremper welcomed those in attendance and introduced distinguished guests State Representative Brian Seitz and his wife Valerie, Branson Mayor Larry Milton and wife Lianne, and Navy Rear Admiral (Retired) Hank Molinengo and his wife Fran. SEE HEROES, PAGE 11A (Photo by K.D. Michaels)
Branson Tiny Homes project Speaker of the House gets additional city support Plocher visits Branson Laminate, Vinyl & Ceramic All On Sale! Stop In Today
225 Cross Creek Blvd., Branson
(417) 332-7849
bransonfloors.com
BY GARY J. GROMAN, Independent Journalist Elevate Branson’s Tiny Homes project, the Elevate Branson Community Village Project (EBCV), is a step closer to becoming a reality as the result of a 6 to 0 vote of the Branson Board of Aldermen at its May 28, 2024, meeting approving Ordinance 6447. It authorizes the mayor to sign a budget amendment for the public infrastructure improvement for the EBCV “and all documents related thereto.” This includes a request for an increased
grant from the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). The reason for this request is the cost increases that have occurred between the date the project started and now. The written staff report for the agenda item said, “The City of Branson supported the intent to seek funding through the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery Program by Resolution in October 2020 for the Public Infrastructure Improvements for the Elevate Branson Community Village
project in Branson. “In 2021, the City of Branson applied for a CDBG grant on behalf of Elevate Branson to construct the Elevate Community Village project. In May 2021, the City of Branson accepted grant funding from the Missouri Department of Economic Development Block Grant (CDBG-DR) program for the Elevate Branson Community Village project in the amount of $1,940,000. “Design of the public infrastructure has been comSEE TINY HOMES, PAGE 4A
BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer The Missouri Speaker of the House of Representatives spoke to a gathering of Branson leaders last week. Dean Plocher, Missouri’s Speaker of the House, addressed Branson officials, area business owners and community leaders during his presentation. Plocher, who hails from Des Peres, Missouri, spoke on a variety of topics. “Plocher touted the fiscally conservative budget that passed, the defunding of Planned Parenthood, the omnibus veterans bill (par-
ticularly dealing with veteran suicide) and increasing teacher salaries,” explained State Representative Brian Seitz. “He also spoke about the breakdown of the Senate in the final days as stopping good legislation, including the Initiative Petition Reform Act.” The two State Representatives from our area, Representative Brian Seitz (156th District) and Representative Brad Hudson (138th District), also spoke of their recent individual successes, which included Seitz’s SEE PLOCHER, PAGE 3A
The Beck Museums of Branson Welcome You to...
SPRING!