Branson

BRANSON, Mo. -- With so many restaurants and stores, Branson may have plenty of places buy booze. "So that's a big thing and obviously alcohol is more easily obtained," said Kara Miller, health educator at the Taney County Health Department. The health department says Branson's ratio between the population and the number of establishments that serve alcohol- is nearly 7 times (6.6) higher than the state average. Miller admits, however, that is partly because Branson has such a large number of restaurants and other venues catering to tourists - and not those living there.

BRANSON, Mo.-- Branson police are investigating a possible murder-suicide at a motel on Highway 76. Police began investigating Saturday night shortly after 11:00 p.m. at the Queen Anne Motel in Branson.  Names have not been released pending notification of family. Police say they will release more information as the investigation continues.   

BRANSON, Mo.-- A man is fortunate he wasn't hurt when his car got up-ended near Branson. His car went upside down in a ditch. The driver apparently lost control on east Highway 76 and flipped into the ditch. He was able to get himself out of the car, and didn't need to go to the hospital.

BRANSON, Mo. - Most people wouldn't recognize Jim Thomas' name but they know the stars he brought to Branson.  Thomas died Wednesday morning at age 87. Thomas talked Roy Clark into building a theatre on the Highway 76 strip in the 1980s.  That was the beginning of a long line of singers and performers whose appearances turned Branson into America's music show capital.  Ray Stevens, Jim Stafford, Mickey Gilley, Mel Tillis, and Bobby Vinton also...

BRANSON, Mo. -- About 30 homes in the Murphy Addition subdivision behind Skateworld will be without water for four to six hours on Tuesday evening due to a break in a water main.  Homes affected are those on Miller, Todd and Truman streets. A city spokesman says utility crews are working as quickly as possible to repair the leak and return water service to this area.

FORSYTH, Mo. -- A repeat driving-while-intoxicated offender received a 12-year prison sentence recently.   Brian Ferris of Branson pleaded guilty in September for driving drunk near Forsyth two years ago.  A trooper pulled him over after seeing the vehicle swerving. Ferris was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 1997 for an alcohol-related crash that killed a woman.

BRANSON -- A former Branson businessman could spend the next ten years in federal prison for his part in a Visa fraud scheme. Court documents show John Voisine pleaded guilty to charges that he doctored Visa forms to allow Filipino workers to get jobs in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.       He used to own Santa Cruz Management, a major employer of foreign workers in the United States.       Voisine could also have to pay up to $500,000 in fines.

BRANSON, Mo--Fire did extensive damage to an extended stay motel in Branson Tuesday morning.  It started around one o'clock at the Palms Inn on west Highway 76. Investigators say the flames started in the linen room and then spread to the second and third floors.  Renters in 30 units were able to escape without injury.  The motel owner has moved renters to another property.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

BRANSON, Mo. -- Firefighters fought a large fire at an old, closed motel on the west side of the city on Wednesday afternoon and evening.  Heavy smoke could be seen from a camera at Table Rock Dam. The fire at the two-story Queen Anne 2 motel on Shaefer Drive was reported about 5 p.m.  It was largely out by 7:30.  Fire crews remained on scene through the evening, dousing any remaining hot spots with water. Authorities say the 36-unit motel building has been vacant for the past year, and was in the process of being remodeled.

BRANSON, Mo. - Security camera footage from outside a Branson apartment complex has captured the moments surrounding the Leap Day tornado striking the area. The video, which was uploaded to YouTube by a KY3 viewer, shows the rapidly changing conditions in just under two minutes as the late-night tornado bore down on the Branson area. At roughly 1 minute, 45 seconds into the video, a major power flash can be seen as a transformer blows, sending sparks upward into the tornado. The tornado itself is difficult to see because of the rain that steadily fell amid the darkness; however, the video shows just how quickly the storm intensified the night of Feb. 28 into the morning of Feb. 29.