Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” – John 2:19
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January 17, 2025 • Volume 6, Issue #3
INSIDE: • Around Town.... 12A • Churches.......... 11A • Classifieds......... 10B • Education........... 8A • Fun & Games.... 12B • Pets for Adoption �� 3A • Obituaries........ 10A • Food.................. 8B • Weather........... 10A
PLUS:
Sedona to Branson, CVB’s Hermen – SEE PAGE 4A
First measurable snow of the season One of the most beautiful parts of an Ozarks’ winter is the occasional snowfall that our area receives. While official reports listed Branson as receiving five inches of snow, reports of six, seven and eight inches came in from areas throughout the Tri-Lakes region. But, sadly, sunny and warm conditions meant most of the snow had melted by early this week. (PHOTO BY K.D. MICHAELS)
Is your tongue strking sparks? – SEE PAGE 1B.
Veterans of the Ozarks to offer QPR Suicide Prevention Training BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer Veterans of the Ozarks invite you to join them on Monday evening, January 27, for a free QPR Suicide Prevention Training. This valuable training session will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Kimberling City Elks Lodge, 37 Beach Blvd. in Kimberling City. The Veterans of the
Ozarks Suicide Prevention Program aims to combat suicide, particularly among Veterans in Stone and Taney counties. Several sources cite suicide among veterans as higher than among the general population, for a variety of reasons, but the problem is not confined to veterans, with youth populations also at increased risk over the last decade. It is
likely many of us have regular contact with someone who may be at risk. The VOTO initiative focuses on raising community awareness through in-person training in suicide intervention techniques. VOTO officers are grateful to be a Skaggs Foundation Grantee, which helps provide these valuable training opportunities along with initia-
tives to help identify at-risk veterans and connect them with resources. QPR stands for “Question, Persuade, and Refer,” three steps anyone can learn to help save a life. Persons trained in the QPR “Gatekeeper” course gain valuable techniques in as little as a one-hour session that will help them • Recognize warning
signs of suicide; • Know how to offer hope through asking appropriate questions; • Be familiar with resources and ways to get help. By enhancing public awareness and training community members, the program seeks to empower individuals with confidence SEE PREVENTION, PAGE 8A
Anita Williams helps meet needs of community members BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer Anita Williams and her team of warriors are offering help and hope to those in need in the Branson area through a group she founded. “Branson Outreach is a vision, at least to me, of being able to help homeless families, without any
strings attached,” Williams explained. “We help with food, clothing, gas and utility assistance. We can, on an emergency basis, provide shelter, such as ‘extended stays,’ mainly for domestic violence victims and families with children.” Williams explained how
Branson Outreach was formed. “I was looking around on Facebook and happened to come upon a group called ‘Helping Hands in Branson,’” said Williams. “’Helping Hands’ is a Facebook group that helps people if they request it online. It is due to
the fact that Donna Rogers and I shared the same ideas and vision, which led to the creation of Branson Outreach. Her group made me realize that it takes a village, sometimes.” Williams explained that the most common requests she receives through Branson Outreach are help with
3609 W. 76 Country Blvd., Branson, MO 65616 • 417-332-1499
food, clothing and shelter. “As weather conditions worsen, many times I wake up to 80-plus messages, and it requires most of my day and into the night, responding and assisting with these requests,” Williams noted. Williams has lived in BranSEE COMMUNITY, PAGE 8A
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