Lost on the Lake TABLE ROCK
Lake Lifestyle Magazine
Summer on Table Rock Lake is in full swing! For most of us, every free moment is spent in, on or near the lake. Life is just better when you add water!
This month we celebrate Independence Day, and America!! You will find a list of fireworks around the lake on page 16. I don‘t think there is a better way to watch fireworks than over the water. There are shows throughout the week of the 4th of July, so there are many chances to view them.
This issue is a little different than every other issue, unfortunately there isn‘t a fishing article. Please keep Eric Prey and his family/friends in your prayers. We are hoping to have him back in our August issue, he is missed.
I hope you make amazing memories this summer, enjoying every moment you get to spend on Table Rock Lake.
Be Happy,
Myra Thornton
Proud to be an American!
CREATIVE EDITOR
Myra Thornton
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Julie Blanner
The Rogue Chef
Madeleine Herschend
Edward Jones Tom Koob Central Bank
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Julie Blanner
Darrell Hornick Tom Koob
ADVERTISING SALES
Myra Thornton Find us on Facebook
Publisher Myra Thornton
email: hello@lostonthelake.us
Phone: 417-593-1167
Plan your adventures through the caves of Missouri and Arkansas and earn your Explorer’s Club patch through Missouri Cave Association! All you’ll need is a Cave Passport, which can be picked up at any Missouri Cave Association Cave. Take the Cave Passport to each of the caves that you visit, and get it stamped. After visiting at least 3 caves, you will earn your Explorer’s badge and become an official member of the Explorer’s Club. All within a one-hour radius of Table Rock Lake, you can see more ‘Show Cave Tours’ than any other similar area in the United States.
Traveling north of the Kimberling City Lake Area are three wonderous caves: Smallin Civil War Cave, Crystal Cave, and Fantastic Caverns. Each of these caves has its own unique story and wonders to be seen. These three caves share a close proximity and could easily be seen all in one day!
EXPLORERS Club Pass
Part 2
By: Maddie Herschend Talking Rocks Cavern
Smallin Civil War Cave, located in Ozark, Missouri, Smallin offers much to discover for history lovers and nature lovers alike. Within Smallin notable features of the cave include walls of flowstone, the “Emerald Pool”, the Crayfish Pond, and fossils embed in the ceiling and walls of the cave.
Smallin Civil War Cave
Continuing your journey north, Crystal Cave is located in North Springfield. On the hour-long guided tour, Crystal Cave offers naturally preserved geological wonders. While you’re there, you can play a round of indoor putput, or pan a bag of sluice to find gemstones.
A short fifteen-minute drive from Crystal, you will find Fantastic Caverns. Fantastic Caverns offers America’s only ride-through cave tour. Board a tram and enjoy the beautiful geological formations that time has carved into the caves at Fantastic Caverns.
Take a break from the lakes, and spend a day, or two, exploring all the natural beauty the Ozarks has to offer! More information about gaining your Cave Explorer’s Club patch can be found at: www.mocaves.info
Happy Exploring!
Crystal Cave
Financial FOCUS
How strong is your emergency fund?
Provided by: Grant Beasley
You can’t predict financial emergencies — but you can prepare for them.
To do that, you can build an emergency fund to pay for unexpected expenses, some of which may be sizable. Without one, you might be forced to dip into your investments, possibly including your retirement accounts, such as your IRA or 401(k). If this happens, you might have to pay taxes and penalties, and you’d be withdrawing dollars that could otherwise be growing over time to help pay for your retirement.
In thinking about such a fund, consider these questions:
• How much should I save? The size of your emergency fund should be based on several factors, including your income, your spouse’s income and your cost of living. However, for most people in their working years, three to six months of total expenses is adequate. Once you’re retired, though, you may want to keep up to a year’s worth of expenses in your emergency fund — because you don’t want to be forced to cash out investments when their price may be down, and you may not be replenishing these accounts any longer.
• How can I build an emergen-
cy fund? Given all your normal expenses — mortgage, utilities, food, transportation and others — you might find it challenging to set aside some extra money in an emergency fund. But you do have opportunities. If you’re working, you could set up a direct deposit so that part of your paycheck goes directly into your emergency fund. You could also save a portion of any extra income you receive, such as bonuses and tax refunds.
• Where should I keep the money? An emergency fund has two key requirements: You need to be able to access the money immediately and you need to count on a certain amount being available. So, it’s a good idea to keep your emergency fund in a liquid, low-risk account that offers protection of principal. For this fund, you’re less interested in growth than you are in stability. But because interest rates have recently changed, you may be able to get a reasonable return without sacrificing liquidity or safety.
• What types of emergencies should I prepare for? Your emergency fund could be needed for any number of events: a job loss or early retirement, housing
or auto repairs, unreimbursed medical bills, unexpected travel, and so on. But this fund may also be needed to help you cope with other threats. Consider this: In 2023, the U.S. saw a record 28 weather and climate disasters, each of which resulted in at least $1 billion in damages — and often many times this amount — according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Depending on where you live, your home or business may be susceptible to tornadoes, floods, wildfires, hurricanes and extreme heat and cold waves. These events can, and do, result in property repair and relocation costs, higher in-
surance premiums and even price increases for basic goods, such as groceries and prescription medications.
One final word about an emergency fund: It takes discipline to maintain it and to avoid tapping into it for everyday expenses or impulse purchases. The name says it all — this is a fund that should only be used for emergencies. By keeping it intact until it’s truly needed, you can help yourself weather many of the storms that may come your way.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward JonesFinancialAdvisor.
EdwardJones,MemberSIPC
4th of July FIREWORKS
July 1st - CITY OF GALENA FIREWORKS
Y Bridge
Viewable by Boat
July 2nd - FIREBURST FIREWORKS OVER TABLE ROCK LAKE
Kimberling City
Viewable by Boat
LAKESIDE RESORT
Viewable by Boat
July 3rd - LIBERTY LIGHT UP AND CONCERT
Branson Landing
July 4th - BIG CEDAR LODGE FIREWORKS
https://bigcedar.com/
Viewable by Boat
FIRE AND THUNDER FIREWORKS
Shell Knob
Viewable by Boat
HOLLISTER MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
July 6th - CHATEAU ON THE LAKE CELEBRATION
https://www.chateauonthelake.com
Viewable by Boat
Day TRIPPIN’
3410 US-65
Walnut Shade, MO 65771
Legend speaks of a mysterious creature known to locals as the Howler, that once roamed the Ozark Mountains. Early settlers would hear high pitched howls in the night. From time to time reported sightings described the creature as being the size of a bear, standing upright with a stocky body, orange fur, and prominent horns.
Some folks today say the Howler is still out there, awakening the wild nature in those who hear its howl...
Who doesn’t love a little folklore? Especially when the stories revolve around the rocks and trails of the Ozarks!
Howler Bike Park embodies the excitement and rush that adrenaline junkies (and families) seek. The
bike park sits on 200 acres with a ski resort style experience.
The park opened in May 2022 and is a family-owned operation with Max Penny running the day-to-day operations as “Head Howler”, supported by his parents, John and Jennifer Penny. Along with Howler Bike Park the family operates two retail shops in Springfield.
This family friendly park includes a central base camp featuring coffee, food, gear and a community of fellow adrenaline junkies. Riders can be shuttled up the mountain in the military cargo vehicle where they can choose the trail that fits their skill level. When asked if a rider can bike up to the top, the answer is “yes, crazy”, if thats your
thing, you absolutely can.
On my first visit to Howler I enjoyed the walk to Base Camp through the Ozarks. The path is cleared and well maintained.
Once I arrived at Base Camp I felt the excitement of the guests and staff. Music plays throughout the
cont. page 22
gathering places. There is a staging area with seating and fire pit. You can visit the gear shop, coffee shop, and multiple lounge areas. There is also a food truck that has the best smash burgers around, hands down!
Let’s be honest, the amenities are amazing, but we’re really here for the trails! Am I right?
So let’s get to it! The park features trails for everyone. There are beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert trails to choose from.
Each trail is carefully crafted with
ride quality as the top priority. There are stunning views, steep berms, hand built features and so much more.
For those that don’t ride, there is also a hiking trail for your enjoyment.
See Page 24 for Trail Map
TRAIL
TRAIL MAP
Al Fresco Dining
www.julieblanner.com
Al fresco dining can be such a magical experience. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the open air, gather with friends, and relax under a sunny blue sky or evening starlight.
Add some twinkling lights, a relaxed menu, and a few of your favorite people, and you’re ready for some dreamy outdoor entertaining!
Check out these easy, beautiful ways to impress your guests with
al fresco dining and entertaining. Al fresco. It just sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? Well, that’s how I feel about our lake cottage deck and patio. Dreamy.
It’s so peaceful and I’m so excited when we are spending time here, and especially when we are able to share it with others. So, unless it’s pouring down rain or freezing cold, we’ll be al fresco dining to make the most of the picturesque late summer and fall weekends.
1. Choose a Location – Dinner on the deck, patio, dock, park, overlook or bluff.
2. Plan the Menu – If you’re hosting away from home, select dishes that are easy to transport like Picnic Sandwiches, Basil Lemon Pasta Salad and make ahead dishes like Lemon Pepper Shrimp that can be served hot or cold. Use seasonal flavors to embrace the beautiful weather and the great outdoors.
3. Set the Table – Use a folding table to create an al fresco dining experience anywhere and layer with linens or an outdoor dining table. Consider integrating acrylic and bamboo where glass is not practical or prohibited.
4. Add a Centerpiece – Integrate multiple flower arrangements, a single large centerpiece or create a table runner using fresh fruit and greenery. Hurricanes work well, too!
5. Add Lighting – String Lights, candlelight, luminaries or lanterns. Create a memorable evening by integrating multiple light sources overhead, on the ground and on the table.
6. Add a Bar Cart or Tray – Make serving easy by setting up a beverage bar with mini bottles, wine, a pitcher of water or a signature cocktail (or create
a cocktail station like a Margarita Bar or Mojito Bar!)
7. Add Music – Bring a speaker if you’re dining at a remote location. Put on a great playlist to set the tone for the evening.
TIPS:
• Plan Ahead – Jot down everything you’ll need to set the table and for the meal itself. Pack appropriately if transporting.
• Check the Weather – Make sure you will not be expecting a big chill, high winds or rain. If so, make alternate plans or backup plans to prepare.
Why is Al Fresco dining so popular?
Is there anything better than cont page 30
soaking up a magical sunset with an incredible view? It’s such a memorable way to dine! If that view includes a serene shot of the water, you know you’re in for a real treat.
How do you elevate a backyard party?
Add twinkling lights and candles (real or faux) and you’ll instantly upgrade any of your outdoor entertaining. There’s just something about relaxing by those string lights and flickering candles!
Outdoor dining is filled with the sounds of croaking frogs and Midwestern locusts buzzing. It’s such a fun and relaxed way to enjoy an elegant dinner with friends!
For more recipes and entertaining ideas visit: www.julieblanner.com
Julie Blanner and family love spending time at their lake cottage nestled on Table Rock Lake
Eastern Whip-Poor-Will
Who hasn’t heard the strange sound of a bird calling in the night? The Eastern Whip-poor-wills are some of the few birds that sing after dark. Their well-known “whip-poor-will” call may be repeated hundreds of times a night. Often heard-seldom seen, it chants its name on summer nights. The song seems to go on endlessly.
These unique birds have short, rounded wings and when they are pursuing prey, they are able to turn quickly.
Their plumage is cryptically colored with brown, black and gray blending in a pattern that resembles leaves on the forest ground. The female has a buff band under
her beak and her outer three tail feathers have buff on the corners. The male has a white band under his beak and their outer three tail feathers are white near the tip. In flight, the wings and long tail are rounded.
Whip-poor-wills are common in forests and in woodlands. Many people hear them calling in the night, often very close, but few ever see them. The males sing at night to defend their territory and to attract a mate.
By day they rest on the ground among the leaves and debris where they are camouflaged perfectly. They sit completely still until you get close and then they fly off and vanish again.
Driving on dark country roads in the summer look for their eyeshine in the road in your headlight beams.
Being forest dwellers, the Whippoor-wills forage for flying insects, especially moths, beetles and mosquitos. They are most active in the dusk and dawn and are most active on moonlit nights because they need to see their prey to catch it. They even time egg-laying so that the young hatch about 10 days before a full moon, thus allowing the parents to forage all night to feed the hungry chicks.
The birds might time egg-laying perfectly, but they don’t build nests. They simply lay 2 camouflaged eggs right on the ground in
the leaf litter. The adults will incubate the eggs for about 20 days. Hatchlings are born with their eyes closed but they are well developed. They are able to move around at a young age and they leave the nest within about a week of hatching. The adults may have 1 or 2 broods per year.
These unique birds are here from April to September and they winter in Mexico and Central America.
The haunting song of the Whippoor-will appears in many novels, poems, folktales and songs.
Resources:
https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-whip-poor-will https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/eastern-whip-poor-will
Fresh Recipe The Rogue Chef
Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Ready in 30 minutes Serves 4 people
Ingredients
● 4 Large Portobello Mushrooms, stems removed
● 2 T Olive Oil
● 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
● 2 Ripe Tomatoes, sliced
● 8 oz Fresh Mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
● Balsamic Glaze, for drizzling
● Salt & Pepper, to taste
● Fresh Basil Leaves, for garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Place the portobello mushrooms on the lined baking sheet.
4. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle minced garlic over the mushrooms. Season with salt & pepper.
5. Roast the mushrooms in the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until slightly softened.
6. Remove the mushrooms from the oven and let them cool.
7. Layer each mushroom with sliced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese.
8. Return the mushrooms to the oven and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
9. Remove from the oven and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
10. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.
**Go Rogue by using cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls.
If you want Chef Jeff to make this delicious meal for you, contact him at www.TheRogueChefBranson.com
What Lies Beneath: Stories
About What Is Buried By Table Rock Lake
Phyllis (Carney) Owens © Tom Koobs
When the waters of the White River piled up behind Table Rock Dam for the last time in 1958, they buried more than a small town, the cemeteries, the old roads and bridges. They also covered the homes and farms of the folk who lived along the river; their lives would be changed forever.
Phyllis Carney was born in 1942 in a two-story wood frame house on the banks of James River. The Carney homestead was on the high terrace on the north side of Wilson Ford about ½ mile east of Piney Creek. Phyllis’ grandfather, Charlie Carney, was a schoolteacher and farmed the land along the James. Phyllis’ father, Orie Carney, was born on the farm and ran a Hereford cattle operation there until eminent domain took most of his property in 1956.
Phyllis lived at the isolated farmstead during her childhood with her
parents Orie and Blanche Carney, her sister Claudene and their hired hand Bill Costlow. Most people would have thought it a wild and lonely place, but Phyllis loved it. On hot days, she could swim in the river shoals with her dog Rex at Wilson Ford or Cole Ford. Cole Ford was about a mile upriver adjoining property the Carneys owned around Buzzard Hollow. Phyllis also spent a lot of time riding her horse.
Phyllis’ grandmother, Alice Clark, lived on the other side of Wilson Ford. Phyllis and her parents would paddle across the river in an old boat to visit her grandmother. Orie would haul a bucket of sand from the river up to the porch for Phyllis to play in. She had a wind-up toy bulldozer that she still retains to this day.
During harvest, Phyllis helped her
cont on page 44
daddy with farm chores. At seven she was driving the hay truck and at nine, she drove the tractor hauling hay and oats across the steep pasture hillsides. On cold mornings, Phyllis helped milk their cows. Her mother strained the milk through cheesecloth and churned some into butter. Phyllis drank the milk warm.
The Carneys raised cattle, hogs, goats and sheep. They grew hay, corn and oats for livestock feed and tended a vegetable garden. They kept horses for riding and farm work. Each year, Phyllis would raise a kid or lamb. The sheep were sheared for wool until the losses from coyotes became too limiting. Blanche Carney tended a chicken operation. She would purchase live chicks and raise them for meat and eggs. Phyllis relates her mother’s determination toward her chickens in the following story:
“Them chickens was my mama’s and they were a serious business. I remember one time daddy’s old sow got to killin’ ‘em. He was at the barn and she heard the chickens squawking. She went out the door and she hollored, ‘Orie, you better get your old sow, I’m gonna kill her!’ And she would of. Didn’t take daddy long to get his old sow out of the chickens.”
The Carney homestead consisted of an old unpainted wood frame house, a large, sturdy barn and several outbuildings. There was no electricity until 1954. Their light came from kerosene lamps. The only running water was from a windmill supplying a large cattle trough. Later, Orie Carney ran a water line from the windmill to the back porch and eventually piped the water into the kitchen. Water was heated on the wood stove. They owned
a battery operated radio. Phyllis remembers listening to the news, the Lone Ranger and the Grand Ole Opry. The highlight of the year was a trip to Springfield’s Ozark Empire Fair.
The road leading to and from the Carney place was very rugged. It ran along the James’ north terrace and then followed Piney Creek for about one mile before heading north to cross Woolly Creek. The old road stayed north until intersecting State Highway C about three miles west of Cape Fair. Parts of this road were gravel, but some sections were nothing more than trails cleared down to ledgerock. It was three miles and thirty minutes from the Carney’s home to their mailbox. The road was not a county road and part of it ran through National Forest. Orie did what he could to maintain this link to the outside world. He drug a horse-drawn road grader across the rough spots, but it didn’t help much. A tire patch kit and a hand pump were necessities as the old ’36 Ford pickup often experienced flat tires. Phyllis says about the road: “If I see someone down there that I knew when I was a little kid, the first thing they’ll say is, ‘I remember how rough that road was getting down to your house.’ I think they remember that more than they remember me.” If it snowed, the road was basically impassable. Blanche Carney always made sure to stock up supplies for the winter. An alternate route from the Carney homestead ran north crossing Cole Ford before connecting with Route Y. The road crossed Bear Den Hollow and hugged the shore of the James before reaching the old Cape Fair Bridge. This route was useful only when the river was low enough to cross at Cole Ford.
Orie Carney liked to gig for suckers in the James. In the fall he and his hired
hand Bill would take out the old wooden rowboat they kept at Cole Ford. Fishing the river, often at night, they gigged fish with a long-handled gigging pole. The scaled, filleted and scored suckers made a hearty meal. Blanche Carney would usually can some of the fillets.
The early 1950’s were drought years. Piney Creek all but dried up, but the James still ran cool and clear. The Carney’s cattle were pastured on the other side of Cole Ford along Route Y. To provide water for their livestock, they had to haul water. Orie bought a couple of large galvanized tanks of about 250 gallons each and placed them in the pasture. He borrowed a 500 gallon stock tank from a neighbor. The tank was loaded onto the hay trailer and hauled to Cole Ford. Orie, Bill and Phyllis filled the tank by hand with river water and carted it to their thirsty cattle.
By 1956, the Carneys knew there was plenty of water coming. Table Rock Dam was under construction on the
mighty White. All but 19 acres of their property were sold through eminent domain to the U.S. Government. The barn was dismantled and partially rebuilt at a new site near Cape Fair. Some lumber was salvaged from the old house, but the rest of the homestead was bulldozed down to the foundations.
Phyllis (Carney) Owens says she is still bitter about the loss of her home. She admits it may have been beneficial for her parents. It was getting more difficult to make the farm productive due to their isolated location. The Carneys moved to Cape Fair in 1956 and ran a Holstein dairy operation- but it wasn’t the same as it had been on the river. Phyllis married Glen Owens whose father was born in the Owens Bend area and seldom returns to the area of her childhood. Phyllis reminisces: “I liked it down there. I was perfectly happy right there. I liked the cows and was always outside with daddy. That was a sad day when the cows left. He kept twelve of them when we moved to Cape Fair in 1956, but sold them a couple years later.”
Phyllis Carney lived her idyllic childhood on the banks of the James River. Her home sat between elevation 900 and 915 feet. Now when Table Rock Lake is low, you can see the remnants of the barn, the house and the windmill. Perhaps as the wind whispers across the lake’s surface, you can discern the giggles of a happy little girl, splashing with her dog at the ford.
Tom Koob is a local author who has written several books about Ozarks history. His work is available on Amazon “new” books or by contacting him at : wolpublishing@gmail.com.
