Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.– John 12:26
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INSIDE: • Around Town.... 12A • Churches.......... 11A • Classifieds......... 10B • Education........... 8A • Food.................. 8B • Fun & Games.... 12B • Pets for Adoption �� 3A • Obituaries........ 10A • Weather........... 10A
PLUS:
Special students participate in Job Olympics – SEE PAGE 3A
April 4, 2025 • Volume 6, Issue #13
ELECTION DAY IS APRIL 8! CHECK OUT COUNTY BALLOTS AT BRANSONGLOBE.COM/BALLOTS
Branson FFA celebrates special ‘National FFA Weeks’ Submitted to Branson Globe Each year, FFA chapters across the nation celebrate National FFA Week, a time to highlight the impact FFA has on its members and communities. FFA Week looked a little different this year, as winter weather led to a snowed-out week. But that didn’t stop the Pirates! They made adjustments and turned FFA Week into FFA Weeks. Here’s a look at just some of the exciting events that took place. Branson FFA members kicked off the extended celebration by hosting a Teacher Luncheon for high school teachers and administrators. FFA members traveled to College of the Ozarks for a Career Development Event (CDE) practice session, with the Meats, Dairy Cattle and Nursery Teams sharpening their skills. Fifteen FFA members volunteered at Ozarks Food Harvest, sorting and packSEE FFA WEEKS, PAGE 2A
FFA plant sale (Photo submitted)
Reflecting on past winter: House of Hope serves 120 Bob Ford explores the tragedy of gaslighting – SEE PAGE 1B.
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BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer House of Hope operates as a Warming Center, offering a safe place for Branson residents to sleep on the coldest of nights. As the weather warms up, House of Hope is closing the Warming Center for the season and reflecting on how the center helped those in need over the past winter. “The House of Hope Warming Center opened its doors for 46 nights this winter,” explained House of Hope’s Alex Sprinkle. “Most evenings, the Warming Center averaged around 20 guests utilizing services. When we received large amounts of precipitation and snow, we saw a dramatic increase in guests. A few nights we had 35 to 40 guests utilizing the facility. Throughout the winter we saw 120 different individuals in the center. Some guests stayed most nights throughout the winter, while others stayed a few nights
before finding other housing options.” In addition to offering guests a warm place to spend the night, the Warming Center provides dinner and breakfast, a shower facility and laundry facilities for those who stay at the Center. However, the primary focus at House of Hope is community and connection. “It’s often the Warming Center that allows us to meet guests for the first time,” explained Sprinkle. “It provides a safe place to meet people where they’re at and encourage them to take the next step in a positive direction.” Now that the Warming Center is closed for the season, House of Hope is looking forward to operating a Cooling Center during the summer months. “Summer comes with dangerously high temperatures,” Sprinkle noted. “The Cooling Center SEE HOUSE OF HOPE, PAGE 6A
Valerie Plaza Diaz practices sounding out words she created using phonetic dominoes with her teacher Fabiola Lichty. (Photo submitted)
Branson launches bilingual literacy program with help from Silver Dollar City Foundation SUBMITTED BY MINDY HONEY, Silver Dollar City Foundation Cultural diversity might not be the first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks of Branson, so it may come as a surprise to some to learn that 31 languages are spoken among Branson students.
This school year, Branson School District kicked off “Bridging Worlds: A Bilingual Literacy Adventure.” The project aims to overcome language barriers while celebrating the diverse cultural background of students. The project received a $15,000 grant from Silver
Dollar City Foundation and includes monthly bilingual programs at Library Center of the Ozarks, introduces dual-language books at school, provides classrooms with language-specific materials and culminates with a multicultural event on April 4. SEE BILINGUAL, PAGE 6A
The Beck Museums of Branson Welcome You to...
SPRING!