Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good– Titus 3:1
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July 28, 2023 • Volume 4, Issue #30
White River Electric kicks off rural broadband project
INSIDE: • • • • • • •
Around Town.......... 50 Churches................ 58 Classifieds............... 56 Entertainment......... 5 Opinion.................. 6 Puzzles................... 54 Weather.................. 55
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ANOTHER DANCE – Current Silver Dollar City Saloon Show cast welcomes former crew Marty Murray, Walt Fischer and Helen Williams SEE THE STORY on page 28. (Special to Branson Globe)
BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer On Thursday, July 20, White River Connect held a dedication ceremony to recognize the start of its expansive fiber project to rural areas in Christian, Douglas, Ozark, Stone and Taney counties. Members of White River Connect; its construction partner ITG Communications, LLC; and design partner National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) were on hand, along with community leaders, to answer questions about the project. The 10 a.m. ceremony took
place at the College of the Ozarks’ Hog Farm on Gobblers Knob Rd., Hollister, Missouri. In welcoming those present, President and CEO Chris Hamon of White River Valley Electric Cooperative, thanked C of O for hosting and shared that the location held personal memories for him because of boarding the school bus at that very spot as a child. Hamon introduced CEO Beau Jackson of the Cooperative’s fiber subsidiary, White River Connect. Comparing the connectivSEE BROADBAND, PAGE 12
Non-recreational marijuana users will not pay the marijuana sales tax
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BY GARY J. GROMAN, Independent Journalist In the General Election on August 8, 2023, voters will vote on imposing “a sales tax of three percent (3%) on all retail sales of adult use marijuana.” Although all voters will get to vote on the issue, only those purchasing “adult use marijuana,” recreational marijuana, will pay the tax. Those not pur-
chasing recreational use marijuana will not pay the tax. The tax on the ballot does not apply to the sale of “medical marijuana.” It only applies to “adult use marijuana,” recreational marijuana. During the Branson Board of Aldermen meeting, as they put the tax on the ballot, Branson Police Chief Eric Schmidt presented information that the legal sale of
recreational marijuana increases activity and costs for law enforcement and emergency services. An ad on the Branson Chamber of Commerce’s website sponsored by the “Taney County Backs the Blue” points out that while those not purchasing “adult use marijuana” will not pay the tax, they have a vested interest in voting for the tax to help meet the costs of these
additional services. The ballot language for the tax in Branson, Forsyth, Hollister and Rockaway Beach specifically designates the tax proceeds to go to “public safety.” In these cities, the voters dedicate the tax to help pay for the enhanced law enforcement efforts and public safety initiatives necessary to meet the additional SEE MARIJUANA TAX, PAGE 18