For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10
Your source for local news and entertainment
INSIDE:
August 1, 2025 • Volume 6, Issue #30
Local water skier wins at state tournament
• Around Town.... 12A • Churches.......... 11A
BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer Table Rock Lake is home to one of Missouri’s top water skiers! On July 12, John Appleby of Indian Point captured first place in the Men’s 8 Division at the Missouri Waterski Federation Tournament, held at Lake Paragon in Colombia, Missouri. Appleby and his wife, Debra, who also skis, have been around Table Rock most of their lives, having grown up in families who visited and eventually purchased property in the area. John began slalom ski competition in 1989, and currently competes in the Men’s 8 division for ages 70-74. The divisional win made Appleby eligible for regional competition, hosted at Mystic Lake near Wichita, Kansas; he did not enter due to family schedule, but will continue to be active in the Federation. In addition to skiing local slalom courses on Table Rock, Appleby teaches skiing to family and friends. He recently installed a ski bench for students to sign at his dock space on Indian Point, where the Applebys keep their Nautique, widely considered to be one of the best boat options for skiers. “It’s really designed to give a great pull,” stated Appleby. See more photos and learn more about competition skiing by visiting the Missouri Waterski Federation page on Facebook.
• Classifieds......... 10B • Food.................. 8B • Fun & Games.... 12B • Pets for Adoption �� 3A • Obituaries........ 10A • Weather........... 10A
PLUS:
Forsyth joins Christmas Coalition – SEE PAGE 3A.
CHAMPION SKIERS – Above, John Appleby (Photo courtesy Debra Appleby per Table Rock Lake Group Facebook) Right, all of the July 12 winners (Photo courtesy Missouri Waterski Federation Facebook)
Celebration of life planned for legend Ron Blackwood Check out Branson King Resort and Suites – SEE PAGE 5B.
These two anglers on upper Lake Taneycomo are paying a Trout Fishing Permit fee of $24 this year, whether they are residents or not. If the proposed MDC rates for nonresidents go into effect, they will be paying $80 after January 1, 2026. (Photo by Gary J. Groman)
Missouri considering huge increase for nonresident trout fishing permit BY GARY J. GROMAN, Independent Journalist The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is considering changes to its fishing permit prices for 2026. They are: • Resident Fishing Permits would go from $13 to $14. • Nonresident Annual Fishing Permits would increase from $53.50 to $57. • Nonresident Daily Fish-
ing Permits would stay at $9. • Resident Trout Permits for resident anglers aged 16 or older would remain at $12. • Youth Trout Permits (age 15 or younger) would also stay at $6. • A new “Nonresident Trout Permit” (NRTP) for nonresident anglers aged 16 or older at $40. While most increases are small, one proposal has
caused a lot of concern: the new $40 permit for nonresident trout anglers could affect one of Branson’s main outdoor “attractions,” the spectacular, even “world class,” trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo. It’s a new permit, the “Nonresident Trout Permit,” which will raise the current $12.00 Trout Permit cost for both residents and nonresidents to $40.00 for nonresidents, a 233.33 % SEE FISHING, PAGE 8A
BY LINDA PAGE, Special to the Branson Globe Mr. Ron Blackwood, age 84, of Lorena, TX, passed away on June 26, 2025. He was born on September 5, 1940, in Shenandoah, IA, the son of R. W. and Elaine Blackwood and raised in Memphis, TN. Ron is survived by his wife Shelley Layne Blackwood, brother and sister-in-law R. W. and Donna Blackwood, eight children and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Faith and Wisdom Church located at 3950 Green Mountain Dr., Branson, MO. Ron was a legend in gospel and country music and was a second generation of the famous Blackwood Brothers Quartet. His father, the late R. W. Blackwood, was a founding member of
Blackwood (Photo submitted) the quartet. Ron was known not only for his singing ability, but for his talent in management, promotion and concert-booking. His accomplishments and accolades are too numerous to list, but he was a colorful, energetic, encouraging and generous man who left his mark on the world. Ron’s formal education included Castle Heights Military Academy, followed by service in the Army’s 101st Airborne ParatroopSEE BLACKWOOD, PAGE 10A
The Beck Museums of Branson Welcome You to...