Enhance your fruitcake knowledge September 14, 2005 at The Tri-Lakes Women`s Connection`s A Taste of Autumn Brunch, 8:30 a.m., at the College of the Ozarks Student Center Cafeteria. The College has a fruitcake and jelly production kitchen, and one of its representatives will be speaking at the brunch to tell you all about famous fruitcakes and other goodies. You can also take a free tour of the kitchen. Reservations are required, and the cost is $9. Call 417. 239.2856 for more fruity info.

The Missouri Cajun Marketplace, located 3.3 miles south of Highway 76 at 14981 Highway 13 just north of Kimberling City in Branson West, offers homemade Boudin, dine in, take out, cookbooks, gifts, music, catering, groceries and spices, Mardi Gras supplies, and frozen meat and entrees.

Veteran members: Lawrence "Rooster" Lockard, a Platter since 1958; Eddie Stovall, a Platter since 1974; and Willie Nash, a Platter since 1999. Newest members: Yolanda Fletcher was asked to join the group after the other members of the group heard her sing at the Spring Branson Fest this year. Her Branson ties prior to that: singing at last year`s Branson Idol competition. Freddy "Doc" Holliday joined the group last year following the death of Damon Freeman in a car accident. Where to see The World Famous Platters: The Starlite Theatre, 3115 W Highway 76, Branson, Missouri, 10 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Come on and shake it when you join the conga line with The World Famous Platters performing at the Starlite Theatre!

You`re a true Branson veteran if you remember Mutton Hollow. It was a Branson theme park on the site of what is now Celebration City. It`s also where The World Famous Platters first performed when they came to Branson in 1996 (at that time they were the only black entertainers, except for some appearances by Charley Pride at the Grand Palace). Following that, the Platters moved to Roy Clark`s Celebrity Theatre. Now catch them at The Starlite Theatre.

Three cars from the Dukes of Hazzard tv show will be on display at the Super Summer Cruise 2005 at Shepherd of the Hills August 11 through 14. The cars are owned by Scott Romine of Little Rock, Arkansas, and they got Romine a part in the new Dukes of Hazzard movie which is in theaters this summer. He and some buddies who have replicas of the General Lee were in the movie as pit crew mechanics for the car that races against the General Lee. Their claim to fame lasted about 3 seconds. When Romine takes his Dukes of Hazzard cars to car shows, he also sells Dukes merchandise and products ranging from models to t–shirts. He donates the proceeds to the Special Olympics.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd's management has canceled their concert scheduled for August 12, 2005 at the Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, Missouri, due to illness. Mel Willard, Fair Director, said, "We are deeply disappointed this show has been cancelled. We know there are a lot of fans that will be disappointed as well."
The Missouri State Fair will have a free general admission concert featuring the Nace Brothers opening for Cross Canadian Ragweed who had been scheduled to open for Lynyrd Skynyrd. All purchased tickets are eligible for a refund. Tickets purchased from the TicketMaster website or from the TicketMaster 1-800 telephone number will automatically receive a refund credited to the credit card account to which the tickets were charged.


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To download the Missouri State Fair Youth In Agriculture scholarship application, visit: http://www.mostatefair.com/scholarships.html

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Speaking of Tony Orlando's Yellow Ribbon Salute To Veteran' s…we' ve heard that it will NOT be taking place this year during Branson's Veterans Week. We'll let you know if we hear any differently as the time approaches.

Branson Jubilee, a new 2-hour musical special coming to PBS, is expected to be shown in more than 100 markets in 29 states including New York, Florida and California. The show's producer, Debra Moreno-Lowther, has been working on this project for more than 2 years. One of the 2-hour specials is ready and will air on PBS Saturday, August 13th. There are 10 more shows completed. More editing of over 500 hours of recorded entertainment will soon net more shows. Debra Moreno-Lowther came to Branson in the ' 90's to perform in Blondes, Blondes, Blondes, a show she wrote and produced in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. She has also co-produced and performed in Tony Orlando`s Yellow Ribbon Salute To Veterans. Interesting: Debra Moreno-Lowther is married to Springfield, Missouri attorney Jerry Lowther.

Thousand Hills Golf Resort opened in 1995. The person to hit the first golf ball there? None other than Branson, Missouri performer Andy Williams.

Benefits of a time share condo over a hotel room: multiple bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and sometimes even washers and dryers!

Fairfield's Branson Resort opened in 1993. Now they have 438 condos at three resorts: The Falls, The Meadows and Mountain Vista. Mariott Vacation Club International opened Horizons by Mariott in 2001. Currently they have 88 units, but plan to expand to over 414 units in the next few years. The Fall Village, a Bluegreen Vacation Club property, is adding 3 buildings with 28 units. Big Cedar Lodge's Wilderness Club is adding 64 units and 11 cabins this year.

In 1985, Bill Daily, husband of well-known novelist Janet Daily, opened the Country Music World Theater in Branson. Back then the town had about 8 theaters…today there are 45. Shoji Tabuchi was one of the performers Daily presented to Branson. Daily`s latest Branson project was the New Shanghai Theatre built for the Acrobats of China show. Daily was also the person who, in 1990, loaned Jim and Ann Stafford the money to buy their first theater. That same year, 1990, Daily started the first widely known morning show featuring Jennifer Wilson. Many more morning shows were to follow and dozens still play today. He was partners with Jim Thomas in the Lodge of the Ozarks on highway 76. Bill Daily passed away Friday at the age of 76 after a battle with cancer. Memorial Service is at the New Shanghai Theatre, and at Daily`s request, Jim Stafford will be performing a musical tribute at the service.

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Well, if that`s what you need to make your Branson vacation complete, then look no further than Dick`s 5 & 10, Downtown Branson. With over 55,000 varieties of merchandise in the store, you`re sure to find what you need…and don`t need. While you`re there also check out Dick`s displays of his personal collection of WWII airplane watercolor prints, an antique juke box, and his arrowhead collection.

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The Branson Landing`s Hilton Hotel will have 294 rooms. The boutique Hilton will have 241 rooms. The Branson Convention Center will be 220,000 square –feet. The 95 –acre shopping center will open in April 2005, and the Convention Center will open in 2007.

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Allegiant Air now offers nonstop flights from Springfield to Orlando, with introductory fares as low as $59 one –way. Service starts October 5th, 2005. All tickets must be purchased by August 24, 2005 for travel to be completed by January 31, 2006. Blackout dates: Nov. 16 –26; Dec. 21 –31; and Jan. 1 –7, 2006. See the following link for more restrictions and rules for the special price fares.

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In Branson, all but 25 of 340 condominiums planned at the downtown Branson Landing are sold. Pick one up today…prices range only $300,000 to $600,000. (The $420 million lakefront shopping and residential district is set to open in April 2006.)

We`re not sure where a deep-fried Twinkie fits in the new Food Guide Pyramid, but if your diet can handle one…you can find it at Branson, Missouri`s theme park Silver Dollar City. Yes, stick a Twinkie on a stick, dip it in a funnel cake-like batter, deep fry it, top it with powdered sugar, and PRESTO, a snack like no other. Be sure to grab a napkin…the Twinkie filling melts and runs out when you bite into it! (There`s also a deep-fried Oreo…it ends up tasting like a hot brownie…not bad!)

Check the Branson, Missouri`s Tanger Outlet Mall website (http://www.tangeroutlet.com/) for discount offers from some of your favorite brands: Bass, Izod, Mikasa, Van Heusen, Banana Republic Factory Store, Old Navy Outlet, Book Warehouse, Gap Outlet and Kitchen Collection. Print the coupons…and remember to pack them with your vacation things.

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...to that river of rumors, gossip, facts and guesswork we shamelessly call "Rumors and Facts." Don't say we didn't warn you, and hey, remember, you ASKED for this.

Branson has a record number of live shows this year. Can you guess how many? Clue: It's a bunch. It's amazing. It's unheard of. So guess real high, then see our Headlines for the answer.

You bet. Bob Newhart May 29 at the Grand Palace. Can't make reservations early enough for this one. Tickets.

Relax Pam Tillis fans. If you can hold on till September, your superstar singer-songwriter-actress heroine definitely will be back in Branson. What's more, Pam will be joining Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers to play 71 shows at the Welk Resort Center September 14-December 11. Yay, we say.

Well, they're pretty tiny, but if you get out the magnifying glass you can make out bandleader Les Brown, singer Doris Day, and His Eminence Bob Hope. Why are they here? It's all about rekindling memories with the great Les Brown Band of Renown, now in Branson. See our Headlines.