Southwest Missouri News

$25,000 raised for lights festival

The Branson Area Festival of Lights (BAFOL), a committee of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, Oct. 7 raised more than $25,200 from a live radiothon hosted by Radio KRZK/KOMC and Country Tonight Theatre.

According to BAFOL Committee Chairman Carol Orr, "This is a great effort by the community to reach the $250,000 required to support BAFOL. We also have donations coming in from other BAFOL area appreciation shows that are being planned."

BAFOL will benefit, along with three other local charities, from the fund-raiser Carol of the Belle, Nov. 3 aboard the Showboat Branson Belle. The event, sponsored by the Silver Dollar City Foundation, includes caroling and hors d'oeuvres 5-7 p.m. on the Showboat and a performance by the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at 8 p.m. at The Grand Palace. Tickets are available by calling The Grand Palace at 334-7263.

Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce figures showed that 82,000 vehicles passed through the two-mile light display during the 1998 holiday season.

License Bureau moves to Cedar Ridge

The Branson License Bureau relocated Sept. 17 to the Cedar Ridge Shopping Center between Country Mart and Kmart on Missouri Highway 248 in Branson. The license bureau is operated by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

Main Street group meets for seminar

Twelve of Missouri's Main Street managers, including Gayla Hagerty, executive director of Downtown Branson Main Street Association, met Oct. 11-12 in Branson for a semiannual meeting and training sessions. The seminar, "Creating World Class Retailers," was conducted by Jon Schallert of Schallert & Associates Inc., a national firm that specializes in retail development. Local Branson merchants were also invited to attend.

Leadership style subject of seminar

Bob Ash, a national motivational speaker, will lead a business seminar, "Teaching Buffalo to Fly Like Geese: Leadership and Teamwork," 1:30-5 p.m. Oct. 20 at Matthews Hall auditorium at Missouri Southern State College. The Webb City and Joplin chambers of commerce are sponsoring Ash's visit.

Ash is president of Life Lessons, a training and seminar company. His clients include Hewlett-Packard, Pepsi, The Gap, NASA and Polo Ralph Lauren.

"Buffalo and geese, an odd couple, illustrate two different styles of leadership," Ash says in a news release. "Buffalo are led by the single, autocratic leader, while geese fly on the strength of one another. Geese provide a model for a real team approach." Ash said he will teach "six flying lessons" to those who attend.

The cost for the program is $39. Discounts are given if two or more from the same company attend. For more information, call 624-4150.

Norwoods open Blimpie on Fourth Street

Blimpie Subs & Salads recently opened its 2,100th Blimpie restaurant. This one is located at Fourth Street and Range Line. Lance and Stephanie Norwood are the owners. The Norwoods operate the Blimpie in conjunction with Smoothie Island.

State agency awards grant for city parks

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources awarded a $60,000 grant to Joplin for improvements to McClelland Park. The state-funded Landmark Local Parks Program provides grant money for cities and counties to buy land, develop or make renovations for parks and trails.

The DNR money was given for installing a sewer line, creating a water supply and building better restrooms.