Southwest Missouri News

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Branson|ret||ret||tab|

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Nygard drops out of race|ret||ret||tab|

Barbara Nygard has withdrawn from the Ward 3 Branson Board of Aldermen race, according to a release from the city of Branson. |ret||ret||tab|

Nygard was seeking her first full term on the board after being appointed last May to fill the unexpired term of her husband John in May. John Nygard died shortly after being re-elected to the board in April 2001. |ret||ret||tab|

Nygard said she is not seeking re-election because of the time and work needed to operate two local jewelry stores she owns in Branson. Business also requires her to make frequent out-of-town buying trips.|ret||ret||tab|

Nygard's name will still appear on the April 2 ballot because the ballots have already been printed, according to the Taney County Clerk's Office.|ret||ret||tab|

There are four other candidates running for the two vacant seats in Ward 3: Walt Stone, Dick Gass, Jeanne Hen-dricks and Larry G. Taylor. Nygard has endorsed Hendricks. |ret||ret||tab|

Voters will elect two candidates. |ret||ret||tab|

The candidate receiving the most votes will serve for two years, and the candidate with the next highest total will serve for one year.|ret||ret||tab|

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Vacation Channel wins awards|ret||ret||tab|

The Vacation Channel of Branson was recognized by the 2001 Telly Awards. |ret||ret||tab|

The Vacation Channel received a Silver Award for a commercial produced for Ozark Mountain Bank of Branson. The spot focused on the bank's computer banking program, Banking@home. |ret||ret||tab|

The channel also received two Bronze awards. "Visiting Ozark Mountain Coun-try, a program conceived produced and aired by The Vacation Channel, won a Bronze in the TV/Cable Information Program Category. |ret||ret||tab|

"A Day in the Life Of ...," produced for Youth Life, won in the Non-broadcast Production Religion Category.|ret||ret||tab|

The Vacation Channel is a division of Orr and Earls Broadcasting.|ret||ret||tab|

Landing won't affect amenities|ret||ret||tab|

According to the city of Branson, work on the Branson Landing project will not interfere with activities typically enjoyed along the downtown lakefront. |ret||ret||tab|

The city's campground is open, the city pool on Lake Street is being prepared for its May 28 opening and Mang Field will be available for Little League play as of April 15.|ret||ret||tab|

The city campground property is not included in phase I of the Branson Landing project and will remain open for several more seasons during the development of the lakefront project. |ret||ret||tab|

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Festival includes patriotic rally|ret||ret||tab|

The 2002 Branson Fest will begin at 2 p.m. April 7, featuring gospel music and a patriotic rally. |ret||ret||tab|

Acts scheduled include Gary McSpad-den, N'Harmony, Chosen Few and the Lennon Sisters. Also featured will be a 20-minute segment of "The Promise," a musical about the life of Christ, as well as a performance by the 399th Army Band of Fort Leonard Wood. |ret||ret||tab|

Tickets to the event, sponsored by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Com-merce and Convention & Visitors Bur-eau, are available through the Lawrence Welk Champagne Theatre.|ret||ret||tab|

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Joplin|ret||ret||tab|

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Auxiliary presents donations|ret||ret||tab|

The St. John's Regional Medical Cen-ter Auxiliary recently presented the hospital with a $20,000 donation.|ret||ret||tab|

The group also presented a check for $2,500 to the Ronald McDonald House of the Four-States.|ret||ret||tab|

The money for the hospital has been designated for medical needs, including a patient-tray warming system, an inflatable lung kit, a portable spirometer, equipment for respiratory care, games and videos for pediatrics, and a television/video recorder for training in cardiac surgery.|ret||ret||tab|

Other areas receiving a share of the money are the pain center, medical records, the wound-healing center and home health.|ret||ret||tab|

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Southtown Meat issues recall|ret||ret||tab|

A Joplin meat company recently voluntarily recalled approximately 2,800 pounds of ground beef that may have been contaminated with E. coli bacteria.|ret||ret||tab|

The Southtown Meat Co. had distributed the meat to institutions, restaurants and grocery stores in Carl Junction, Carthage, Diamond, Joplin, Neosho and Webb City, as well as several Kansas locations.|ret||ret||tab|

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Great Outdoors Grill expands|ret||ret||tab|

A manufacturer of premium outdoor gas grills is expanding its Joplin facility by more than 30 percent.|ret||ret||tab|

The Great Outdoors Grill Company is constructing a 36,000-square-foot addition to its headquarters and manufacturing operation.|ret||ret||tab|

The addition to the company's existing 103,000-square-foot facility will allow for an expansion of showroom space and 35,000 square feet for manufacturing and warehousing. |ret||ret||tab|

"We've been very pleased with the market response to our high-quality gas grills," Chuck Hixson, general manager of The Great Outdoors Grill Company. "That response gives us the opportunity to continue to grow in the Joplin area. Overall, the expansion will result in an investment of more than $2 million and may eventually add up to 20 new jobs to the current employment of 90."|ret||ret||tab|

Great Outdoors began operations four years ago in 17,000 square feet of leased space. |ret||ret||tab|

The new addition, like the original building, is being constructed by Joplin Construction Design and Management. |ret||ret||tab|

The Great Outdoors Grill Company products are sold under its own name through nationally known retailers.|ret||ret||tab|

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Newton County|ret||ret||tab|

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Audit delayed over CPA bids|ret||ret||tab|

A large gap between bids offered by two public accounting firms for a three-year audit of Newton County finances has led to a delay in awarding the bid.|ret||ret||tab|

Firms from Joplin and Springfield expressed interest when bidding opened March 21.|ret||ret||tab|

Mense, Churchwell and Mense of Joplin bid $32,560 for 2001, $33,540 for 2002 and $34,545 for 2003. Springfield firm Davis, Lynn and Moots, bid $15,500 for 2001, $16,000 for 2002 and $16,500 for 2003.|ret||ret||tab|

The difference between the two bids prompted the Newton County Commis-sion's decision to review the bids and to discuss potential contracts with the two firms before making the award.|ret||ret||tab|

Because New-ton County became a second Class County on Jan. 1, 2001, it is required to retain an independent certified public accounting firm to audit the county's federal and internal funds. [[In-content Ad]]