Southwest Missouri News

Branson

Go for the Gold benefits Habitat

The Gold Wing Road Riders Association and Golden Corral Family Restaurant in Branson will sponsor the second annual Go for the Gold Barbecue to benefit Mountain Country Habitat for Humanity.

The event will be held in conjunction with the Gold Wing rally, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. April 28-29, under the blue-and-white striped tent in the parking lot between Southern Oaks Inn and Magnolia on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in Branson. Meals are $5 per person.

While attending the barbecue, visitors will be able to view a variety of Gold Wing motorcycles on display. Frank Williams, organizer of the Gold Wing event, estimates about 1,100 Gold Wing owners will attend the Branson event.

"Habitat is building three new homes this year and will break ground on a fourth home in September," said Steve Weyher, general manager of Golden Corral and advisory board member for Mountain Country Habitat,

For more information, call 335-2015.

Skaggs to add new MRI system

Skaggs Community Health Center in Branson received state approval to place a fixed-site magnetic resonance imaging system, costing about $1 million, in its new Skaggs Outpatient Center which is scheduled to open this summer.

According to Skaggs, the 1 tesla Polaris MRI system provides superior image quality and has features that provide for optimal patient comfort, surpassing the capabilities of other MRI units used locally.

Because of its short bore or cylinder length, short magnet, larger opening and wider table, the new MRI will especially benefit claustrophobic patients and large patients.

Skaggs Community Health Center now provides MRI diagnostic imaging three days a week via a mobile unit.

SDC sponsors Project Learn cruise

The Silver Dollar City Foundation is sponsoring the Lake Country Boys and Girls Clubs' Project Learn cruise, 3:30-6:30 p.m. April 30 aboard the Showboat Branson Belle near Branson. Proceeds will help Boys and Girls Clubs in Stone County, Branson and Forsyth finance computers, computer tutors and educational software.

Tickets for the event, which includes an international, four-course dinner, World-fest performances by singers and dancers from Thailand, Ecuador, Australia and Russia, and a three-hour cruise on Table Rock Lake, are $45 for adults and $25 for children ages 4-11. Tickets are available at 800-775-2628 or 336-7171.

Main Street Hoops aids downtown

The Downtown Branson Main Street Association is sponsoring Downtown Branson Main Street Hoops, a three-on-three basketball tournament to raise funds for downtown revitalization and beautification projects. The tournament will be held April 29-30 in the Awbery parking ,ot in downtown Branson.

The tournament offers divisions for adults and for children age 6 and up. The cost is $40 per team, and entry forms can obtained by calling the association office at 334-1548.

Pam Tillis opens for fourth season

Country music singer Pam Tillis opened April 11 for a fourth season at the Mel Tillis Theater in Branson. Tillis joins her father, Mel Tillis, for selected dates in April, May and June, and for the Christmas show, "A Tillis Family Christmas," Nov. 7-Dec. 15.

The Grand Palace in Branson named its entertainment line-up for 2000, as well. This year's scheduled performers include the Oak Ridge Boys, Sammy Kershaw, Jeff Foxworthy, George Jones, Charley Pride and Lorrie Morgan.

Campground to be finished May 1

The city of Branson has nearly completed renovations to the city-owned campground on Lake Taneycomo. Cable TV hookups and 50-amp electrical outlets for large RVs have been installed in 97 of the 350 sites.

A new restroom and shower facility is under construction and is expected be ready for use by May 1.

According to the city, campground revenues are up about 4 percent for the first six months of the city's fiscal year compared to last year.

Carthage

Leggett & Platt moves up Fortune list

A Carthage company moved up several notches on this year's Fortune 500 List.

Leggett & Platt Inc., which reported its eighth consecutive year of record growth in February moved up from 436 in 1999 to No. 426 on the elite list.

Leggett & Platt reported sales during its last fiscal year of $3.76 billion, which was up more than 12 percent compared with the the previous fiscal year.

The company, with 27,000 employees, makes springs and other parts for residential and commercial furniture, as well as other products.

Joplin

Golden Corral to open in 2001

Golden Corral, a steakhouse and buffet chain, plans to open a restaurant in Joplin sometime in 2001. A specific location has not yet been chosen.

There now are 17 Golden Corrals in Missouri, including locations in Carthage and Neosho. Golden Corral restaurants generate average annual sales of $3 million each. Golden Corral has a total of 452 restaurants and achieved record sales in 1999 of $899 million, according to the company.

Police add Labrador to K-9 Unit

A 2-year-old black Labrador retriever has been added to the Joplin Police Department's K-9 Unit.

The 75-pound dog will work in narcotics. The department used a grant from Pillsbury Co. to purchase the dog for approximately $8,000.

The department now has two Labrador retrievers and two German shepherds.

Curves for Women now open

Curves for Women, a new fitness and weight-loss center, is open in the Southside Shopping Center.

Rose Erwin is the owner, and she also operates Rose's Nutrition Center, located next door to Curves for Women.