Southwest Missouri News

Telemarketing fraud gets Nixon's attention

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, while speaking at an American Association of Retired Persons legislative committee meeting Aug. 18 in Branson, said he would work with them in supporting tougher state telemarketing legislation. According to Nixon, more than half the telemarketing fraud victims are age 55 or older and it is estimated that senior citizens get at least two telemarketing calls every week.

Nixon proposed laws that will:

?Require callers to identify themselves, the purpose of their call and the product they are selling.

?Require telemarketers to disclose the total cost of merchandise, any restrictions or conditions, and any refund or cancellation polices.

?Prevent telemarketers from using profane or threatening language and from calling at unreasonable hours in the morning or night.

?Make it illegal for other businesses or organizations to sell personal or financial information to telemarketers without the customer's permission.

?Require telemarketers to honor a consumer's request not to be called again and not to have his or her name passed along to other companies.

Nixon said he also wanted to work with the AARP in support of regulations that will help prevent fraud on the Internet.

Sept. 11 run helps Habitat for Humanity

The Sixth Annual Run Wild for Habitat will begin at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 11 at Table Rock Lake State Park south of Branson. Proceeds from the event will benefit Mountain Country Habitat for Humanity. The run is sponsored by Golden Corral Family Restaurant and NatureGraphics, both of Branson. The run course is 3.1 miles, and there is also a leisurely 2-mile course for walkers. Preregistration is $12, or participants can pay $15 the day of the event. For more information, contact Mountain Country Habitat for Humanity at 335-2015.

Workshop series set for Top of the Rock

Fall workshops for "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" have been scheduled for Sept. 27-29, Oct. 25-27 and Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at the Top of the Rock Restaurant south of Branson. The workshops are coordinated through the Silver Dollar City Foundation. To register, call Ozark Mountain Bank at 334-4355, ext. 4147.

Fox to broadcast area golf tournament

According to the city of Branson, the Fox Television Network has been in the area to film an amateur golf tournament at the new Branson Creek Golf Club located south on U.S. Highway 65. The city reported that it is the first time a golf tournament has been televised in the Branson area, and it will air on Midwest Fox Sports Channel in September. The telecast will also have a two-minute segment on Branson as a vacation and golf destination.

Empire presented Community Award

The Branson Advisory Council on Disabilities has presented its annual Community Award to Empire District Electric Company of Branson. The advisory council gave the award in recognition of Empire's work on the park and fishing dock along Lake Taneycomo that is totally accessible to those with disabilities.

Safe food service course offered by MRA

In conjunction with the Missouri Restaurant Association, the Branson Health Department is sponsoring its annual applied food service sanitation course. John Sunny, a certified culinary educator and president of the Missouri Restaurant Association, will teach the course. The class will meet 5-9 p.m. Sept. 8, 15, 22 and 29 at the Branson Community Center. The course is open to everyone, but is especially geared to managers for the training of staff in correct and safe service procedures. Call the Branson Health Department at 337-8551 for more information.

Lakeside Forest dedication set for Sept. 1

The city of Branson will officially open its new 130-acre Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area with a dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. Sept. 1. The ceremony will be held at the wilderness area on the east side of Fall Creek Road, a quarter mile south of Highway 76.

Those attending the dedication may park at the Midtown Diner at the corner of Fall Creek Road and Highway 76. Shuttle buses will take attendees to the wilderness area. City employees will lead hikes following the ceremony.

Lakeside Forest has nearly two miles of frontage along Lake Taneycomo. It is designed to preserve the area's natural heritage. Hiking trails through the land offer views of the lake, a natural waterfall, several caves and 61-year-old stone steps built down to the lake.

The city acquired the property from the Lyle Owen family, which wanted the land to remain undeveloped. During the past year, volunteers worked to improve the stone steps and trails for greater safety and convenience.

"We are very proud of this area and excited about opening it to the public," said Branson Mayor Lou Schaefer. "The community has come together in establishing an enduring legacy of hiking and nature trails for future generations."

Historic district considers sidewalk grant

Business owners will get to voice their opinions about financing sidewalk repairs on the square. Members of Main Street Carthage recently agreed to send property and business owners a questionnaire, asking if they want to apply for a Community Development Block Grant or if they want to bring their own sidewalks up to city code. If approved, the block grant could finance up to $300,000 of the cost. Only property and business owners in the historic district will be eligible to vote.

Diane Sharits, president of Main Street Carthage, and Dave Wacker, chairman of the economic development committee, discussed options and designs for sidewalk repair and landscaping. Wacker said if owners decide to apply for a grant, there is no guarantee of how much money the project will receive.

Grape and Fall Fest Sept. 10-11

More than 40 craftsmen and 25 entertainers will be featured at Hollister's second annual Grape and Fall Festival Sept. 10-11.

The event, which takes place in the National Historic District of Hollister on Downing Street, is sponsored by the Hollister Chamber of Commerce and the city of Hollister.

A classic car show Sept. 11 will feature more than 60 automobiles.

"Every car show we go to, we pass out fliers about the festival," said Tonya Bass, coordinator of the car show. "We're really pleased with the response."

Barbara Fairchild will host a gospel jubilee at 6 p.m. Sept. 10. Other area entertainers will perform both days.

Children's games, including a grape stomp and radio-controlled car race, will be featured. There will also be a train shuttle to bring visitors from the parking area. All craftspeople will be in tents, with some demonstrating their skills on the street.

This is the second year of the festival's rebirth.

The community celebrated fall harvests earlier in the century when the area was a large producer of grapes.

The festival is free and opens at 10 a.m. Sept. 10 and 9 a.m. Sept. 11. More information is available from the chamber at 334-3050.

MedFlight gets full accreditation

St. John's MedFlight has received full accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems. MedFlight has been providing helicopter air ambulance service since 1992.

MedFlight, a service of St. John's Regional Medical Center, serves an area of 150 nautical miles. MedFlight has completed more than 3,000 medical missions. Bob Denton is director.

Surgery center opens in Thousand Oaks

Four States Surgery Center has opened in the new Thousand Oaks medical building at 1905 W. 32nd St.

The center, which seeks to tap into the outpatient surgery market, has 13 local surgeons on its roster with 15 more expected to be added soon, according to Mary McLelland, director of managed care.

The center is managed by Surgery Centers of America, based in Edmond, Okla.

The target population is patients needing outpatient surgery, including gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, podiatry and urology.

McLelland said the center offers the highest quality care with competitive pricing[[In-content Ad]]