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April 11, 2025 • Volume 6, Issue #14
INSIDE:
Branson’s new police station: Ahead of schedule, on budget
• Around Town.... 12A • Churches.......... 11A • Classifieds......... 10B • Education........... 8A • Food.................. 8B • Fun & Games.... 12B • Pets for Adoption �� 3A • Obituaries........ 10A • Weather........... 10A
BY GARY J. GROMAN, Independent Journalist Construction of Branson’s new $15,792,002 police station at the junction of North Wildwood Drive and Gretna Road began in July 2024. It was to take approximately 540 days to complete. Police Chief Eric Schmitt said the project is on budget, and he expects to move in by December 31, 2025. “It could be earlier than that, depending on whether we run into any snags between here and then,” he added. In terms of the current construction status, Chief Schmitt said, “What we refer to as the ‘West Wing,’ is 60 to 70% complete. We already have paint on the walls and are hanging the suspended ceilings. After that, they’ll be able to come in and start doing some of the finishing work, like the cabinets, carpeting and things along those lines.
PLUS:
Ready...aim...COMPETE – SEE PAGE 3A New window wall in lobby entry (Photo courtesy City of Branson)
The rest of the building is about at the 50% mark. We already have our appliances on order, so most everything that we need is standing by and ready for installation when we get to that phase.” Its unique construction involves repurposing the old White House Theater. Chief Schmitt said that doing this building rather than a new building has saved money. We could build a state-of-the-art facility that includes everything that a law enforcement agency that is continuing to grow will need for the foreseeable future. The three-level renovation encompasses 42,365 square feet of the building’s total 66,500 square feet. Its main level will house 13,003 square feet dedicated to police functions and temporary holding cells, a 2,090 square foot Sallyport, 3,063 square feet for SEE POLICE STATION, PAGE 6A
Plumb Nellie Days in new location for this year’s festival, April 11 - 12
Branson resident enjoys unique hobby – SEE PAGE 6B.
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BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer A Branson tradition continues this spring — in a new location. The 58th Annual Plumb Nellie Days Festival, set for Friday and Saturday, will feature music, arts and crafts and food. The festival is a favorite spring event for visitors and locals alike. This year finds Plumb Nellie Days in a different downtown location, however. “Historic downtown Branson is getting another major improvement to our infrastructure in 2025 and we are excited for new water and sewer lines going in downtown, as well as the beautiful new sidewalks and welcoming arch that are planned for this project,” said Jessica Luthardt, of the Downtown Branson Betterment Association. “ Due to construction, our 58th Annual Plumb Nellie Days will move to inside the event space at Best Western Plus Landing View Inn and Suites on Main Street.”
Moving to a new venue means fewer booths at this year’s festival, but no less fun than in years past. “The festival will be scaled down, as the space only allows for 50 vendors, but we will have great new vendors, old vendors, entertainment and games that everyone enjoys from the festival,” said Luthardt. “We will have some food tents, but no food trucks for Plumb Nellie Days. We have so many choices to eat in downtown, from fast food to restaurants that festival goers will have their selection of many places to eat. Dice & Dine: Branson Board Game Cafe on the corner of Main Street and Veterans Boulevard will also be hosting a Board Game Swap Meet with vendors, and they will be offering their sandwiches and beverages just steps away from our Best Western festival site.” This year’s festival will
Shirah “Mimi” Aumann shows the back of a 100-plus-year-old piano, painted with Tree of Life. (Photo by George Kurland)
SEE PLUMB NELLIE, PAGE 4A
SEE HOLOCAUST, PAGE 4A
Holocaust Awareness Week continues in Branson through Saturday, April 12 BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer The annual Holocaust Education and Awareness Week opened Sunday, April 6, at the IMAX Theater complex in Branson. This year’s theme is “Survivors: Rescuers and Liberators,” and a film festival centered on that theme continues through Saturday, April 12.
(See earlier Branson Globe article or visit https://www. aecoedu.org for remaining times; note that Saturday’s film showing is a special children’s event.) Sunday’s opening film was “Woman in Gold,” along with the opening of a Regional Art Exhibit. Featuring art by members of three area art guilds, the
“Women of Gold” exhibit includes performance art, framed two-dimensional art, sculpture, stained glass, fiber arts and much more. With plenty of gold leaf and other special theme touches, this exhibit is a don’t miss! In addition to the regional exhibit, the exhibit, “SHOAH: How Was It Humanly
The Beck Museums of Branson Welcome You to...
SPRING!