In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. – John 1:1 - 2
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January 3, 2025 • Volume 6, Issue #1
INSIDE: • Around Town.... 12A • Churches.......... 11A • Classifieds........... 8B • Education........... 8A • Fun & Games.... 10B • Pets for Adoption �� 3A • Obituaries........ 10A • Features............. 1B • Weather........... 10A
PLUS:
There is only one Dick’s 5 & 10 – SEE PAGE 3A
clinch! ON THEIR WAY TO SUPER BOWL LIX? – The Kansas City Chiefs clinched the top spot in the AFC playoffs when they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day, and earned a bye until the divisional round. Playoffs begin with wildcard games starting Jan. 11. Playoff games can be viewed on most network channels (check your listings). Super Bowl LIX is Feb. 9 and will air on FOX. (Photo of Patrick Mahomes by Matt Freed, Associated Press)
Massengale family to leave James Earl Carter rode his humble Wranglers Honky Tonk Georgia roots to the White House Do you have a generous eye? – SEE PAGE 1B.
BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer A beloved musical family has been forced to close a popular Branson music venue. For the Massengale family—Wayne and wife Melody Hart, along with their songs Garrett and Dillon Massengale—New Year’s Eve was their final night at Wranglers Honky Tonk. In a Facebook post, made by Garrett Massengale, the family explained, “Due to not being able to reach an agreement with the owner of the building, we are so sad to announce that we are leaving Wranglers Honky Tonk. To all of those who have stood behind Wranglers Honky Tonk and the Massengale family, we sincerely appreciate your support more than you know. What we have created is something so special, that I firmly believe will continue again one day. Seeing ya’ll enjoy Wranglers and
continuing to keep coming back is what made us keep going. We have made so many friends that have become like family in the one and a half years we’ve been open.” Garrett’ s post expressed thanks to the kitchen staff, waitresses, host and hostess, and bartender, as well as the band and crew. “We especially would like to thank our general manager, Tonya Newman, and her husband Bobby Newman for sticking by us through it all,” Garrett continued in his Facebook post. “They have worked numerous hours to help keep this place going as well. We thank God for allowing us to meet so many wonderful people.” Garrett added, “In the meantime, we’re all needing some time to gather our thoughts, and we will keep you informed on our next move.”
SUBMITTED BY JIM ZBICK, Faith, Family and Country Heritage Museum “Elite Leadership,” a new exhibit featuring the nation’s two oldest military academies: West Point (Army) and Annapolis (Navy) - was added to the Faith, Family and Country Heritage Museum in Branson West last month. Central to the display is an Army uniform worn by a cadet in the West Point graduating class of 1952. Representing the Navy is an inscribed photograph from James Earl Carter, our 39th President, who died Sunday, December 29, at the age of 100. Also part of the display is a 1946 Navy yearbook that was recently gifted to the museum. Two notables in American history are pictured in the yearbook: Walter Schirra, the fifth American and ninth human to ride a rocket into space
and the only astronaut to fly on Mercury, Gemini and Apollo spacecraft in the U.S. space program; and James Earl Carter. Carter was born into a home in rural Plains, GA, that had no electricity or running water, but the humble surroundings did not hinder his ambitions. He worked hard at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus for a year before studying mathematics at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1942, and then gaining admittance to the Naval Academy in 1943. In 1946, Carter graduated early in the top 10 percent of his class through an accelerated war program. He was preparing to become the engineering officer for one of the first atomic powered submarines when his father died in July 1953. He resigned from the Navy and re-
3609 W. 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 • 417-332-1499
James Earl Carter’s 1946 yearbook photograph from the Naval Academy (Photo submitted by Jim Zbick) turned to Plains to manage his family’s peanut farming interests. In 1976 he became the only Annapolis graduate to attain the office of the presidency. To increase human and social services, President Carter created the Department of Education, bol-
Kids 5 & under FREE! • Passes good all day • Open Mon. - Sat., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. • worldslargesttoymuseum.com
SEE CARTER, PAGE 4A