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.-- 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.

A group that helps the homeless in Branson now has a place to call home itself. For the last few years, the Jesus Was Homeless group has given thousands of meals to the needy.  The organization continues to grow because of the demand in the area. The group started with just a married couple in Branson making meals out of their home for the homeless.  Now, more than 50,000 meals later, the Jesus was Homeless group has a new place to serve people in need. "It feels really good," Amy Stallings said.  "It feels as though we are moving forward.  The more that people start to learn about the problems that we are having, the more involvement this is going to create interest with people.

REEDS SPRING JUNCTION, Mo. -- A driver escaped with only minor injuries after his truck carrying hazardous materials crashed on Missouri 248 near the Taney/Stone county line on Wednesday afternoon. Western Taney County Fire Protection District says the truck was broken into several pieces.  The bulk tank was carrying ammonium nitrate.  That material is an oxidizer and is commonly used as a fertilizer in the agricultural industry.  A small amount spilled.  Crews worked to clean up that spill, but traffic on Missouri 248 may be restricted into Wednesday evening.

FORSYTH, Mo. -- A preliminary hearing date has been set for a man from California who is charged with shooting his wife to death in a hotel in Branson. Thomas P. Brown, 68, is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the death of Marilyn Brown, 63, in February.  A housekeeper at Ramada Inn found the victim's body and called police.  She had been shot to death. Thomas Brown was arrested a few days later.  He was staying at another hotel just a few miles from the crime scene.

GALENA, Mo. -- A man from Powersite is charged with shooting another man in Branson West on Sunday evening.  Carmen Ramos-Herrera, 42, is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader says his deputies and officers from Branson West responded to a fight at 128 Fritts Way on Sunday at 7 p.m. and found Cornelio Rodriguez had a gunshot to his right foot.  He was treated at a hospital in Springfield. Rader said Ramos-Herrera fled from the scene.  Nearly two hours later, Greene County sheriff's deputies arrested him on Interstate 44 after they pulled over his pickup.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A man is being questioned for a shooting in Branson West. The man, whose name has not been released, was taken into custody after a traffic stop on I-44 west of Springfield last night. The shooting happened at a duplex on Fritts way in Branson West. It happened a couple of hours before the man was pulled over. The Stone County Sheriff says the victim of the shooting has non-life threatening injuries.

BRANSON, Mo. -- A crane tipped over on Monday morning, creating quite a mess in downtown.  The crane was lifting a piece of refrigeration equipment at Mr. Ice Man, a business near the Branson Scenic Railway depot. Branson Fire Chief Ted Martin said the crane fell into some power lines about 8:15 a.m., knocking out power to about a 10-block area.  By midday, only about one block didn't have power. Martin said a small amount of refrigerant might have leaked from the equipment that the crane was trying to lift, so firefighters asked people in the immediate area to stay indoors as a precaution.

BRANSON, Mo.  - At its Table Rock campus, Ozarks Technical Community College is helping sharpen minds and shape lives. "If there had not been a campus here in Branson I would not have been able to attend school... because at the time I started I couldn't afford driving up to Springfield every day," explained student Kathy Westmoreland. Westmoreland is a part of the growing number of people getting degrees at the campus.  The facility is currently at the Branson Meadows shopping center.  However, in Hollister, the future is taking shape with a new campus.

BRANSON -- People into sports, muscle, vintage, classic, custom and antique automobiles packed into the Branson Collector Car Auction on Saturday where some 250 cars were up for bid. The event featured 100 year old antiques to the latest sports cars. For car enthusiasts and movie buffs, the auction also had a replica of the Batmobile and Steve McQueen's 1946 Indian Chief motorcycle. Last year 5,000-6,000 collectors, consigners, bidders and car enthusiasts gathered for the live auction, according to the auction company.

BRANSON, Mo -- Two of the largest hotels in Branson are going to the auction block. The company that owns the Days Inn and the Howard Johnson has filed for bankruptcy. They hit a real estate market that already includes two icons that have sat empty for years. It's one of the largest Days Inn in America. The minimum bid is one million dollars. The Live Entertainment Capital of the World has undergone a lot of changes just within the last year.  A few acts have left and a tornado barreled its way down the strip.  Still, city leaders say change brings opportunity.

BRANSON, Mo. - A Branson man has been arrested after a child pornography sting by the Nixa Cyber Crimes unit. The Taney County Prosecutor's Office filed charges Friday against Paul Wesley Young, 37, who was arrested Thursday on suspicion of child pornography. Nixa police say a detective with the Cyber Crimes Unit found more than 100 files of suspected child porn that were being shared or downloaded from Young's home in Branson. Police say the investigation into Young began January 13, and officers obtained a search warrant Thursday.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- Customers of Panera Bread can enjoy the new pasta dishes Friday, April 12th, and help provide meals for hungry children at the same time. Most second Fridays of the month, Panera donates part of the proceeds for selected items to the backpack program at Ozarks Food Harvest. Panera Cafes in Springfield, Branson, and Joplin are participating in the fundraiser. Panera will donate $2 to Ozarks Food Harvest for any pasta combo purchase, which includes the Tortellini Alfredo, Pesto Sacchettini or RusticPenne Bolognese.