Branson

BRANSON, Mo. - Several venues in Branson will host Vietnam veterans as part of the first annual Vietnam Veterans Event and Vietnam Veterans Reunion this weekend. Starting today and running through April 1, many free events are planned to celebrate veterans of the Vietnam War, such as a parade and a special concert. An opening ceremony will feature local entertainers performing special tributes. Events include a veterans' expo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and a Vietnam veterans' parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, among others.

BRANSON, Mo. - Businesses and attractions are ready for the busy tourism season to start.  Many are heading in with a little more hope that in recent years.   Tourism numbers for Branson had declined 3%, per year, in 2008 and 2009.  The recession was blamed for the slump. But during 2010, a rise in consumer confidence brought some of the visitors back to town. Overall, tourism leaders say business through the year was up slightly.  Numbers for 2011 are also predicted to show a slight increase.

BRANSON, -- The warm weather has lead to a big turnout in Branson. The tourist numbers so far, look much better than last year. Last year, early spring floods and chilly weather made for a not so great turnout. Even though people are still picking up from the Leap Day Tornado, most businesses and shows are open and ready for visitors. It's opening day at White Water. Last year on opening day there were 800 visitors. This year, more than three thousand people are expected to hit the waves.

Branson, Missouri - November 14, 2011 - The line of Duggar fans weaved through the IMAX Entertainment Complex and out the front entrance.  Since early Saturday morning fans had begun collecting in the Complex, patiently waiting to personally meet the stars of TLC's 19 and Counting - Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their nearly 20 children - for a book signing that began at 1:30 pm. “I'm excited to meet the Duggars,” said...

It was 99 years ago today that the Titanic was launched from Southampton, England.  The luxury liner was the largest boat ever built.  More than 2,200 passengers and crew set out on the trip to New York City.    Five days later, it would be at the bottom of the ocean, becoming the most infamous maritime disaster in history. This weekend, the Titanic Museum in Branson held a special event honoring the heroes that radioed rescuers to save the passengers onboard.  Jack Phillips and Harold Bride sent distress signals into the early morning hours of April 15, 1912.

Branson, Mo. -- Mark Turner is the manager of Charlie's Steak, Ribs, and Ale on The Strip in Branson.  Before the Leap Day tornado hit, Turner was preparing for what should have been a busy summer season.  The day after, he was shocked to find his restaurant had been destroyed. "It's just amazing it's come to this," Turner said. Monday morning Turner watched the place he loved get demolished.  "I'm kind of glad it's coming down, because we get a brand new building.  But it's not the same Charlie's as what people are used to," Turner said.

Notch, Mo -- More than 15 thousand people attended opening day at Silver Dollar City. While a recent study suggests the tourism forecast in the Branson area to be flat this summer, Silver Dollar City managers are hopeful. It's the star attraction for this season, the new wooden roller coaster. "We came today to experience Outlaw Run, for its world debut. It was worth the drive from Kansas City to do so," said visitor, Sean Fite. Park managers consider the ride a $10 million dollar investment into the tourism industry.

BRANSON, Mo. - A Branson family is sharing their house-hunting experience on a popular HGTV series. Newlywed Tim Moodie and Heidi Holliday will appear on a new episode of House Hunters September first at 10:00 pm.m (CST).  The show is one of HGTV's most popular.  Home buyers look at three homes, then choose one at the end of the program.   Carol Jones agent Tim Sainato is also featured. "The show is successful because it keeps people guessing. You don't know until right up to the very end which house will be chosen," said Sainato.  "Filming the show was a long process-usually ten to twelve hours of filming per house.  The producers were careful to explore all of the clients' likes and dislikes at each location.

The tornado damage to Branson's city property totaled about $900,000, and more than $660,000 of that was to the old and vacant high school building, according to the city administrator. "This is a neighborhood we really want to concentrate on and help thrive," said Branson City Administrator Dean Kruithof. The City of Branson bought the old high school building in 2011, with hopes to make it over and turn in into an asset for the neighborhood. "We were really delighted when we saw that it sold and heard it went to the city," said Ruth Winkler, who lives across from the high school building.

Branson, MO - Friday afternoon, Western Taney County Firefighters were called to Bear Creek Road near the intersection of Reno Springs Road.  When Firefighters arrived on scene, the fire had spread from a trash fire and into the woods along a creek bed along Bear Creek Road almost to highway HH.  The fire was contained to about 5 acres and took approximately 2 hours to contain.  Firefighters from several stations and Mutual Aid from Highlandville Fire Protection District was called to assist in extinguishing the fire.

FORSYTH, Mo. - A man charged with leading police on a high speed chase will be in court today for a disposition hearing. Johnny Bryan, Jr. was arrested near Forsyth in February after two months on the run. Bryan faces ten charges from a chase in December that led law enforcement from Branson to a rural area near Highlandville. Authorities said Bryan hit three patrol cars and tried to run a deputy over at an apartment just north of Branson as the chase ensued. Officers and deputies looked for Bryan throughout that day, but were unable to find him. Bryan was taken into custody nearly two months later.

BRANSON, Mo. -- City police are investigating a fatal motorcycle accident on Saturday on Cliff Drive, just east of Pocahontas Street.  A motorcycle operated by Jonathan W. Brooks, 30, of Hollister, struck a tree. Police say excessive speed likely was a contributing factor in the accident.  Brooks received medical attention at the scene but died there.

RIDGEDALE, Mo. - It's an emerging sport that has long been popular in the Ozarks. Now, Bass Pro Shops is bringing the first ever U.S. Open Bowfishing Championships to Table Rock Lake Saturday. Over 120 boats will be out on Table Rock Lake Saturday in what tournament organizers hope becomes an annual event here in the Ozarks. "It's like the best mix of hunting and fishing because you're constantly hunting for that big fish and out on the lake all night long," says John Paul Morris, who organized the tournament.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A hospital building boom is underway.  Both CoxHealth and Mercy Springfield are in the midst of major expansions.  Between Springfield and Branson construction, the two health care companies are spending about $365 million. Both Mercy and CoxHealth says their current expansion plans are based on the needs of a growing and aging population. Mercy just broke ground on a rehabilitation hospital in southeast Springfield, and is nearing completion next door on its orthopedic facility.  "It really is based on need," said Mercy President and CEO Dr. Robert Steele.

BRANSON, Mo. -- The Taney County coroner says an autopsy found that a man who fell in Lake Taneycomo on Wednesday drowned.  Robert Rossman, 66, lived in Princeton, Kan. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says Rossman was fishing when he stumbled and fell into the lake. He was pulled out by his son and another bystander.  Despite CPR, Rossman died at the scene.

BRANSON, Mo. -- The Taney County prosecuting attorney charged a man with assaulting a man who was found dead in an apartment on Friday afternoon.  Sean Roberson is not charged with murder yet because investigators have not determined the cause of death. As of Saturday, Roberson faces assault, armed criminal action and burglary charges.  Branson police haven't released the victim's name yet but Ivan Valentin says the victim was his brother, Andros Valentin. He says he found his brother's body in a bathtub at the Park Place Apartments.

Branson, Mo. --  The struggling Branson Airport is slated to lose funding for its air traffic control tower May 5.  Now airport leaders say they are looking for other ways to keep operating and keep Southwest Airlines. "The contingency plans that we have available to us will insure commercial service here in Branson continues," said Jeff Bourk, the airport director. Less than a month after Southwest Airlines landed in Branson, with packed daily flights to three major cities, the Federal Aviation administration announced the small airport's control tower is slated to close.  "We're one of the largest commercial airports on the closure list, and that's 2012 data," Bourk said.

BRANSON, Mo. -- City police said Monday that a man whose body was found in a bath tub on Friday was strangled.   That resulted in a murder charge against Sean Roberson, 24, the man who was charged on Saturday with assaulting Andros Valentin, 18. That charging statement against Roberson lists him as living in Branson in the Park Place Apartments, 3515 Arlene St., where Valentin was killed.  Two days before the murder, however, Roberson was in...

BRANSON, Mo. -- The Veterans Boulevard Bridge is scheduled to be closed at 9 a.m. on Monday, April 1.   The bridge over Roark Creek is just south of Cox (formerly Skaggs) Hospital. The closure is so a contractor can complete needed maintenance and rehabilitation of the structure.  This is the third major rehabilitation for this bridge, which was built in the 1930s.  A contract for $378,215 was awarded to Lehman Construction.   In April 2012 the Board of Aldermen heard a presentation from the city's design consultant on options for the bridge repair.

BRANSON, Mo  -  A new record for a food pantry in Branson. Christian Action Ministries served a record-breaking 1500 families in January, that's double the monthly average from 2010. Food pantry officials say Branson's seasonal unemployment of around 22% led to the spike in January.  They say the increase in demand started back in 2009, when the pantry saw a 34% increase from 2008; a trend that has continued ever since. "That really makes it pretty astounding to us, but people are going back to work now so those numbers are dropping off slightly for us," says Executive Director Pat Davis.