Branson

At first glance, there's nothing different about a teenage girl playing miniature golf at the Great Adventure miniature golf course in Branson.  But what you don't realize is that the 15 year-old girl is Olivia Prokopova (pronounced "Pro-pov") from the Czech Republic, one of the most successful professional miniature golfers in the world.  The man who's constantly at her side is her coach, and for the last two weeks for 8 hours a day every day, Olivia, who started playing the sport at age 3 and turned pro at age 7, has been in Branson preparing for the U.S. Open, one of the country's two major events in this sport.

BRANSON, Mo. -- The flooding is taking its toll on homes all over the Ozarks.  It's also impacting some businesses. One look off the dock at State Park Marina gives a small glimpse of why this dock is closed. "It's disappointing for everybody but it's just part of it.  The world doesn't revolve around fishing,” said Kent Cella of Shreveport, La. Before the flooding started, this park was full of campers and boaters ready to hit the lake -- some 200 professional anglers, and 200 amateurs -- but plans changed quickly after relentless rainfall.

It was double trouble in Branson all this weekend, as twins took over the city.  More than 100 sets of siblings joined in the fun for the International Twins Association's convention. Every year since 1934 twins have gathered to celebrate their similarities. Twins of all ages attended the event which wrapped up Sunday. Twins Meryl and Cheryl Hollar, say "Twins understand twins. And other people sometimes don't understand twins, or they look at  you kind of strange, but when you come to a convention you know other people understand who you are and they have the same feeling, the same relationship.

BRANSON, Mo. - City leaders in Branson will meet tonight at City Hall, and they're set to hear a proposal to allow deer hunting in Branson's city limits. That means hunters could be tracking deer close to homes, but leaders are hoping to cut back on car/deer collisions, which have been problematic in the Branson area for awhile. The police chief says the ordinance would give hunters the green light to use bows and arrows in certain areas, but he says there will be tough restrictions to make sure no one gets hurt.

BRANSON, Mo--The Texas Tenors return to the Starlite Theatre for performances during the month of October.  The "America's Got Talent" finalist just finished a 24-stop tour through the UK.   After their opening week at the Starlite the trio flew out to Los Angeles for one night only to perform at The Autry Foundation's 23rd Annual Spirit of the West Awards.  The event raised over $1 million for the foundation.   The Texas Tenors will return to Branson in November and December for their Christmas shows.

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. - Branson's Hometown Daily News reports a developing story this morning, that 50 homes in the Hiawatha Heights neighborhood in Branson are without water. That neighborhood is west of U.S. Highway 65 and south of Missouri Route 76. Branson's utilities director told Hometown Daily News his crew is trying to locate a water main leak. They aren't sure how the main broke. Officials don't know how much longer the water outage will last. We are trying to get more info and will pass it along as we get it.

BRANSON, Mo. -- The City of Branson is one step closer toward approving a revitalization project of the downtown area.  The plan was approved on Tuesday night at a second reading by the board of aldermen. CMT Engineering, the engineering firm in charge of the project, is going to move to one of the downtown offices so managers can be closer to city officials while they work on the project. The project will include digging up the current street and sidewalk to refurbish water pipes and storm drains.  Then the city will continue with above-ground landscaping improvements, which will include a new sidewalk and trees.  Bus stops will also be renovated to take advantage of the downtown trolley system.  Construction will begin near the intersection of Commercial at College and continue north to Commercial at Main.  Officials say they hope to keep the current feel of the already popular downtown area.

BRANSON, Mo. -- You could think of it as The Ozarks' version of the St. Louis Arch or the Golden Gate Bridge:  a monumental, God-inspired undertaking that its planner thinks could draw millions of people from around the world. "This actually started as a vision that my dad had about 15 to 20 years ago," said Kerry Brown, the man behind the effort to build a 200-foot cross along U.S. 65 north of Branson on Bear Mountain. Brown says he is on a mission from God.  Now he's taking his father's vision and he is making it a vision everyone in Branson will share.

BRANSON, Mo.--  Some changes for Branson motels are causing new challenges for owners and residents.  They deal with motels that are extended stay, where people live year round.  Now the city has new regulations that will impact these businesses. Branson has more than 200 lodging properties, some that rent by the night, but others that rent by the month.  "I bought the Palms in August of last year, and it's been run as an extended stay since then," says Chuck Bayer. Chuck, along with the owners of many of the other extended stay facilities in town, about 20 in all, are upset with the city's latest moves.  They've been classified as apartments in the past, but the city now says they're hotels.

BRANSON, Mo. -- Law enforcement officers apprehended a man who fled from an apartment where a dead man was found on Friday.   The discovery and arrest of the man concluded a manhunt that lasted several hours. He was caught in Lake Taneycomo, just downstream from Table Rock Dam.  Police brought him to shore in a boat after pulling him from the water.  Earlier in the day, around 4 p.m., a man's body was found at the Park Place Apartments, 3515 Arlene St. in Branson.  A police department spokesman said the victim appears to be a man in his 20s.  The call to police said the man was stabbed but police aren't sure he really was stabbed.  They said an autopsy will have to determine the cause of death.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Federal Aviation Administration finalized its decision on Friday to close 149 airport traffic control towers across. The closures are part of the expense cuts that the FAA says are necessary to satisfy the federal budget sequester that started March 1. The agency will close 149 contract towers over a four-week period beginning on April 7. They include the towers at Branson Airport near Hollister, Columbia Regional Airport...

BRANSON WEST, Mo -- Another Ozarks community could soon go pseudoephedrine free, at least over the counter, if the Branson West police chief gets his way.   To help combat meth production,  he is introducing an ordinance to require prescriptions for most cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Chief Steve Dalton says, because other communities have passed similar measures, criminals are now coming to his city to buy the drugs. The ordinance would allow some cold medicines over the counter -- like Zephrex-D.  It is a tamper-resistant type of cold medicine.

Springfield, MO - City of Springfield internal auditor Kristy Bork will take on a new role as the assistant director of aviation - finance and administration for Springfield-Branson National Airport, effective April 8.  She replaces Mark Roy who retired. “Everyone at the airport is excited to have Kristy coming onboard,” said Brian Weiler, director of aviation at the airport. “Since the airport is a hybrid of government and the private sector, her experience in government and business will be particularly valuable.” Bork has been the City's Internal Auditor since 2010, and prior to that was a supervisor accountant with BKD in Springfield since 2004.

BRANSON, Mo -- The city of Branson plans to tidy up the 100-year-old historic downtown.  Those working on the $5 million facelift project are getting feedback from folks on what upgrades should be made. "I hope it continues to thrive, but I really don't want it to change that much because that to me is the essence of the historic downtown.  It's not like any other place," said Judy Dees with Mr. B's Ice Cream. People say they want more parking space and outdoor dining, better sidewalks for visitors, and better trolly stops.  Also on the wish list are more restrooms, trees and park benches.

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.

Maria Neider continues to make progress learning a bolero number with her partner Jim Criger -- getting ready to strut their stuff at this year's Dancing with the Stars of Branson competition. To help them take home the trophy, you can donate at the Dancing with the Stars of Branson website . All the money raised goes to nine different charities. Maria and Jim are supporting the Branson Arts Council. Maria's sponsors Ozarkland, PFI, Andy's, and Big Cedar Lodge are teaming up to provide giveaways.

BRANSON, Mo. -- Piece by piece, crews are tearing down and hauling out parts of the old Branson High School building near downtown.  City leaders plan to repurpose the building after taking input from the community. "We've demolished this north wing of the high school.  It was a two-story wing," said Garrett Anderson, the city's economic development director. The City of Branson first purchased the property for $200,000 in 2011 with hopes of finding a new purpose for the 1950s-era building.  When the Leap Day tornado hit in 2012, estimated damages to the building topped $600,000, and the city got money from an insurance payout to get the project going.

BRANSON, Mo  -  Some students in Branson were part of a mock shooting drill this week while many of their friends enjoyed Spring Break. Eighteen Branson High School students came in while the rest of the school is on spring break to be a part of the active shooter simulation. The Branson Police Department says having the students there made the simulation more realistic for the agencies involved. The Branson Police and Fire Departments, as well as the Taney County Ambulance District, participated in the simulation along with Branson school officials.