Shepherd of the Hills Gazette | March/April 2011

The Shepherd of the Hills GazetteMar/Apr 2011 Edition

Mar/Apr 2011 Edition The Shepherd of the Hills GazetteWhat’s Happening!by Sydney Stone

The Dalena Ditto Show, one of my favorites, has moved to the Hamner Barber Theatre. Another change: it’s a 2:00 p.m. show. (I’m glad, those morning shows are hard for me to catch!) Dalena does a variety of music in her show, fun comedy and an excellent band. Her dad was “Tennessee Floyd” (who played with leg-ends like Johnny Cash, Red Foley and Minnie Pearl); from the time she was very young she was performing, growing up around good music. She has a degree in music and broadcast journalism (Univ. of Iowa) and brings a lot of per-sonal experience and profes-sionalism to her show. Old and new country music, gospel, rock ‘n’ roll (love it!) ~ don’t miss it! Dalena opens her 2011 season on April 19 at Hamner

Barber. Read more in our next issue.

The Second Annual Missouri Food & Wine Festival takes place at Chateau on the Lake again this year, April 29 & 30. It was really a nice event last year. There are a lot of vendors, semi-

nars, lots of Chef’s dem-onstrations, wonderful food and wine to sample and buy. Along with the “Chef of the Fest” and “Best of Missouri Wine Classic,” two new categories have been added, “Branson’s Best Burger” and “Branson’s Best Pizza.” (I’m there.) Festival hours are from 2 – 9 pm Friday, April 29; and noon to 9 pm Saturday, April 30.

Some other things going on around town:

Fifth Annual Irish Celebration at Titanic Branson is going on all

month in March. Irish laborers helped build Titanic in Belfast and many Irish men and women served on her crew. Irish pas-sengers outnumbered all other nationalities on board. Titanic honors the Irish—“the spirited, irrepressible, hardworking men and women from the Emerald

Isle.” Experience the music, song and folklore that accom-panied them on their voyage to America. “T’is a grand time you and your family will be havin’ here at Titanic. Be sure to be wearin’ somethin’ green.”

Bill Haley’s Comets have moved to Music City Centre, and so has Doug Gabriel. Rankin Brothers are at Mickey Gilley’s. The Osmonds are at the Caravelle Theatre. Come back in the fall to see Ann-Margret with Andy Williams!

That’s all. I’m done.

(Thanks to Linda Burlingame for taking over my slot in the January – February issue while I was cruising warmer climates. I owe you one, Linda!)

Mar/Apr 2011 The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette

sight-sound.com • 800.377.1277

Last chance to see in Branson, MO!

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The Pierce Arrow ShowBranson’s Hottest Ticket in 2011

By Dirk Myers

Spring in the Ozarks is a beauti-ful thing to experience and in Branson Spring, 2011 is packed full of great shows for you to see. Pierce Arrow has become one of the most popular shows in Branson and this year they have turned it up a notch with great performers and entertainment for all ages.

Pierce Arrow is established as one of Branson’s hottest male singing groups. Truly blessed with great talent, these guys have sung separately with some of the world’s best talent and now together they are a virtual whirl-wind of entertainment. This group features the Guinness Book of World records lowest bass singer.

They feature amazing costumes and high-powered excitement in every show. These guys truly love work-ing together and it shows. The Pierce Arrow Show also fea-tures Jarrett Dougherty, Branson’s

funniest comedian. His humor will split the sides of people of all ages. Jarrett has been in Branson per-forming since 1995 and the funny man has been with Pierce Arrow for several years making people laugh show after show. Jarrett has

also been with the one and only Sons of the Pioneers.

Kim Boyce brings beautiful inspira-tion to the stage at the Pierce Arrow Theater. Kim is best known for her career in Contemporary Christian Music. Kim has seven albums with eleven number one hit songs. She has had several Dove Award nominations and has authored five books. If that isn’t enough, Kim was also Miss Florida and one of

the top ten finalists in the Miss America Pageant in 1984.

Desta is an Oklahoma native who loves all kinds of music, but coun-try and gospel are definitely her favorites. Her influences include

Mar/Apr 2011 Edition The Shepherd of the Hills GazettePatsy Cline, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and Nicole C. Mullen. She has had leading roles in many musicals and won the True Value Country Showdown in 2003. Desta has played the piano for over 16 years and is also pick-ing up the guitar.

That much talent all in one show

would need to have a strong person-ality at the helm. Dan Britton was the original member of Pierce Arrow and now is the Executive Producer of the Pierce Arrow show. Dan is well known to Branson audiences. For many years, he was with the group The Branson Brothers, when they performed at Silver Dollar City.

When you come to Branson you need to take the time to see The Pierce Arrow Show; if you have seen the show this would be a great year to see it again. So many great performers and so much variety in one place; you will be glad you came. You can check out more

information at www.piercearrow-theater.com and book your tickets

to the hottest show in Branson.

Call 336-8742 for Your Tickets!

Mar/Apr 2011 Edition The Shepherd of the Hills GazetteHooray for Hollywood! Brand new show at Branson

Variety Theater

By Linda Burlingame

Hooray for Hollywood is an all-new show for 2011 at Branson Variety Theater in Branson. The show is fabu-lous, with brilliant song and dance moments from famous movies of the last 50 years. The nostalgic musical journey features classic movie high-lights, from shows like Singin’ in the Rain, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to Disney’s The Lion King. There’s a new projector, new big screen; the stage and curtain got a facelift. Movie film clips actually “come

to life” with the outstand-ing, talented cast of sing-ers and dancers. Excellent costuming, choreography and musical arrange-ments combine to make it a dazzling production. The most exciting new show in Branson!

The Twelve Irish Tenors ~ this show is a Branson favorite for all ages. Extremely talent-ed singers, they are also clever lads with a charm-ing, feisty stage presence. To be one of the Tenors, the singer must be Irish or possess a strong Irish heritage. The boys introduce themselves during the show. There’s Jeff from County Limerick and Jay from Galway Bay. Josh? He’s half Irish, half Italian and tells the audience that he’s the “best

looking and the only one who can cook.” John is from Waterford, the coastal “crystal” town. Adam says he’s from Drogheda, “and our chief export is handsome.” And so it goes. See what I mean by witty and amusing?!

The staging is very good and the show moves at a lively pace. Their Irish songs and medleys are superb. They also sound fantastic with music like Josh Groban songs, Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Glenn Miller, Beatles (I love their Hey, Jude), opera to pop, jazz to classical.

In 2010 Shake, Rattle & Roll made its North American debut

at Branson Variety Theater in Branson. The show has proven to be a “hand jivin’ good timin’ rock and roll dance party!” Hooray for Hollywood and Shake, Rattle & Roll were created by Branson Variety’s award-winning producer David King, one of England’s most famous producers; at any one time up to 20 of his shows are touring the world. Shake, Rattle & Roll was originally produced for King’s Monte Carlo venue.

Shake, Rattle & Roll is a “stroll” down memory lane. (Remember the dance?) Songs like Only You, Blue Suede Shoes, Good Golly Miss Molly, songs that have become classics. A large cast of talented singers and danc-ers, great costuming, and lots ‘n’ lots of costume changes complement the music of the 50’s and 60’s.

When you are planning your Christmas trip, be sure to include the Christmas shows at Branson Variety, including the new Hollywood’s Christmas Spectacular! Great entertain-ment all year long at Branson Variety Theater!

Mar/Apr 2011 Edition The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette

Mar/Apr 2011 Edition The Shepherd of the Hills GazetteNOAH – The Final SeasonSight and Sound Theater

By Dirk Myers

It seems like just yes-terday the Sight and Sound Theatre moved to Branson. People were all a buzz about what this company was going to bring to Branson. It seems that in all that excite-ment no one was left feel-ing flat. This theatre and show are d e f i n i t e l y something to behold.

Sight and S o u n d T h e a t r e s started in Pennsylvania as the vision that Glenn E s h e l m a n and his wife Shirley expe-rienced. Their great desire for the Arts and illus-trating the Bible led them to rent-ing out the Theatre at Lancaster Bible College. The show played to roughly 30,000 and gave them the seed money to purchase their first property in Pennsylvania July of 1976. Through the years and several venue changes made

them realize that this vision would become the full-blown production that has prospered to this day.

In May 2008, Branson, Missouri welcomed the inaugural “voyage” of one of Sight & Sound’s all-time favorite productions, Noah - the Musical! The brand new, state-of-the-art, 2000-seat theatre opened its

doors to the public and has quick-ly become a favored des t ina t ion of Branson a u d i e n c e s . Noah - the M u s i c a l returned to the Branson stage in 2009

for a seven-month season, followed by the exciting premiere of theheart-warming family tradition Miracle of Christmas.

When I took my family to see Noah we were truly amazed. My kids looked in wonder at the giant wrap around stage and just couldn’t seem to take it all in at once. It was amaz-ing to me to see the intricate detail that was put into every animal and prop. As the show began I realized that in addition to the beautiful stag-ing the talent was excellent too. This is truly a show that was professional and a joy to watch. Never before had I seen the Bible story in such clarity. I would definitely say this is a show that will delight patrons of all ages.

With this being the final season of the show, your visit to Branson should include this experience. Noah is something every person should see and they will find no experience like it in Branson or anywhere else, Very few shows in Branson carry the message this one brings to it’s viewers and it can make you look at ideas you never considered before.

I have mixed emotions about the show leaving the area. On one hand, I hate to see something so good leave. On the other, I am very excited to see what is next in the Sight and Sound venue. I really enjoy the way that the Bible is brought to life in this way and I think the Sight and Sound group will bring justice and grace to any storyline they portray.

Get your tickets today! You can call at 1-(800) 377-1277 or order online at www.sight-sound.com. Ask about their group discounts if you are bringing a crowd. This is a great opportunity for any travel-ing coach or church group. This is truly one show you will be glad you had the opportunity to see!


Dixie Stampede Dinner AttractionE x t r a o r d i n a r y Experience!

by Linda Burlingame

Arrive at Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction, stroll along the Horse Walk admire the beautiful hors-es in their elegant stalls, enter the big Southern Mansion, then settle in for a lot of fun, delicious food and grand entertainment!

“Stampede of the Buffalo” returns to Dixie in 2011, “back by popular demand.” (Seems they do pay attention to audi-ence feedback.) Six tons of American bison! It takes a giant venue to accommo-date a production like that — the Dixie Stampede arena is 35,000 sq. ft. and there’s not a bad seat in the “house.” The bison open a show that is full of fun, excitement, beauty and talent. Another produc-tion number returning in 2011 is “Belles of the Ball.” Four waltzing couples and the fea-tured dressage-trained (“airs above the ground”) American Show Horse. The precision and elegance of this number is marvelous.

A cast of talented singers and dancers and thirty-two amazing horses bring the entire show to life. Appaloosas, Belgian draft horses, quarter horses, paints, pigs (pigs?). From fast and furious to light and elegant, the show is fan-

tastic, laced with friendly North-South rivalry, audience participa-tion, lots of music and fun. Barrel racing, a Roman rider jumping through a ring of fire, Southern bells in all their finery, pig races … what fun!

Just as remarkable is the deli-cious dinner. My favorite may be the creamy veg-etable soup, or maybe the herb-roasted potatoes. All of it is won-derful, prepared and cooked right there at Dixie Stampede in their incredible kitchen, served hot and fresh. You’ll also enjoy the hickory-smoked pork loin, tender whole rotisserie chicken, homemade buttermilk biscuits, corn on the cob and the flaky apple turnover served for dessert. The wait staff is efficient and also part of the fun as they help the audience cheer their side — the North or the South — on to victory in the contests that go on in the arena. The pre-show in the Carriage

Room is fun for all with the C o m e d y of Lucas. D a v i d L u c a s “brings to the stage an exp los ion of physi-cal com-edy unlike a n y t h i n g you’ve seen before!” I

find myself thinking, “How does he do that?!” Don’t overdo on the peanuts and non-alcoholic drinks, remember the meal that awaits you!

Plan your arrival (at least an hour before show time) to allow time to enjoy the Horse Walk

and pre-show. The horses are gorgeous, so well groomed; their stalls are beautiful, roomy and well designed. They are treat-ed to 13,200 bales of bedding, approximately 528,000 pounds of pine shavings. Continuing to take good care of the horses, the arena floor is a unique combina-tion of 320,000 pounds of clay, 160,000 pounds of river sand, and 100,000 pounds of gravel—

a surface that is dust-free and easy on the horses’ legs.

The animal aspects of the show always fascinate me. I’ve owned horses and know they require a lot of care. A year or so ago when I got these inter-esting statistics from Dixie, I learned they use 3500 bales of hay; that’s 262,500 pounds. The horses go through 1,152 shoes per year and 104,000 pounds of grain. All that feed…well, that “translates” to 832,000 pounds of manure!

Bison … never knew much about them. Found out there are herds scattered throughout the U.S. in preserved areas and number in the thousands. Each of the Dixie bison weighs 800-2,000 pounds and is nearly six feet tall at the shoulder. They can run at speeds up to 62 km/

hour and are good swimmers. (Who knew?!) These magnifi-cent creatures communicate vocally through grunts and snorts. (Now we know.)

Dixie Stampede is a wonder-ful experience, for people of all ages … share it with your friends and families and have fun!

Mar/Apr 2011 Edition The Shepherd of the Hills GazetteThe Shepherd of the Hills GazetteThe New Americana TheatreHot Talent Joining Forces

By Dirk Myers

Just when I think the Americana Theater can’t add anymore high-powered talent to their schedule it seems they do just that. In addition to The Haygoods, Red Hot and Blue, and Cassandre’, they have added Joseph Hall. There is so much that is good to see here you can basically book your vacation to this venue alone and see some of the best that Branson has to offer,

The Haygoods have been perform-ing in Branson for over eighteen years, and they show the polish and professionalism of sea-soned veterans. I don’t know that I was com-pletely expecting that simply because they are quite young in appear-ance at first glance. I knew from the first song that this show was differ-ent from any family show in the area. The energy and talent kept me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning to the

end. Innovative staging and effects made this show fun to watch; the use of state of the art technology adds subtle aspects that make the show a one of a kind experience.

The great thing about this show is the variety the Haygoods display. Violin (fiddle), saxophone, guitar, and harp barely touch the tip of the iceberg of what this family can play. Just when you think you have seen it all someone breaks something

else out and shows one more facet of their talent. In addition to that they are great vocalists as well. Singing everything from Country and Rock and Roll to Classic Hits and Celtic folk songs. I could not believe the range of talent this family displays.

Cassandre’ has a one-of-a-kind voice recognized by concertgoers around the world!! Her uniquely clear, pure tone, with incredible depth and range will delight your ears and will move you. She effort-

Mar/Apr 2011 Edition The Shepherd of the Hills Gazettelessly transitions through so many musical styles that those who attend Cassandre’s show RAVE about the amazing musical experi-ence and comment over and over that they never expected to see such a production here in Branson!

Red, Hot and Blue! -- Awarded

Best Morning Show, Best Dance Group and Best Vocal Group! Red, Hot... & Blue is an entertainment phenomenon that has taken Branson by storm for 16 smash hit seasons! ALL AGES absolutely love the high-energy experience of attend-ing a Red, Hot and Blue perfor-mance! …Now bigger, better and

more exciting than ever before! These incredible enter-tainers sing and dance their hearts out in this fabu-lous, high-energy, beautifully cos-tumed production show featuring the timeless melodies you will absolute-ly love reminisc-ing to! Sit back and relax as the “Hardest Working

Cast in Branson” takes you on nostalgic journey back to the classic jazz era of the 1940’s, the hilarious 1950’s, the Rockin’ 1960’s, the disco flash of the 1970’s.

Joseph Hall is the newest addi-tion to the Americana Theatre list of performers. Joseph is truly an experience that will have you wondering if you have truly stepped into the past. Recognized by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Joseph Hall has a very authen-tic show that brings “The King” himself to life in every perfor-mance. He was recently a top 10 finalist in America’s Got Talent and he has a whole new show that will knock your socks off.

Make your plans to visit the Americana Theatre this vacation and catch these shows. You can

call the theatre at 417-339-4663 and make your reservations to see some of the most amazing talent in Branson.

Mar/Apr 2011 Edition - The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette

King’s Quarters Location, Comfort, and Affordability

By Penny Lane

When you come to Branson it’s important to find the most comfort-able location at the best price with all the things you need while you are in town. The King’s Quarters is just that place in Branson. The King’s Quarters is a great place with very comfortable rooms. The

great thing about the location is it is located right in the thick of things but it has a great rural view provid-ing some nice scenery when you are back at the room.

Kings Quarters offers over 100 rooms with inside corridors, 2 queen beds, and ground level or elevator accessibility. Great outdoor pool for the kids, deluxe continental break-fast in the morning and Branson entertainment during the day fol-lowed by a wonderful night’s sleep at King’s Quarters makes this a win-ning choice for all.

It’s true that when you come to Branson so much time is spent out you have little time in the hotel room itself, but there is always a chance plans change. If you run into a rainy patch and it gets in the way of your outdoor plans or you just need a relaxing a f t e r n o o n by the pool; in either case they have you c o v e r e d . It’s nice to have a place to stay with room to accommo-date you if you need it for fam-ily time and

relaxation.

Are you bringing a group in and need meeting space? The King’s Quarters is able to handle that for you as well. They are also quite accommodating for large groups; a great location to bring reunion groups or tours. Call and ask about group rates.

In any occasion The King’s Quarter is the best choice if you want regal treatment at a family budget price. Call us at 1-800-507-5464 and reserve your rooms now!!

Mar/Apr 2011 Edition

• SHOW AND ATTRACTION GUIDE •The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette

SHOW THEATRE PHONE#1 Hits Of The 60’S Caravelle 417-339-19603 Redneck Tenors Mansion America 417-239-1333Absolutely Patsy Branson Mall 417-334-5412Acrobats of China New Shanghai 417-336-8888Always, Patsy Cline God and Country 417-334-6806Amazing Pets Grand Country 417-335-2484Andy Williams Moon River Theatre 417-334-1800Barbara Fairchild Show & Diner Victorian Village 417-336-4718Bill Haley’s Original Comets Music City Center 417-339-7469Branson Scenic Railway, Inc Old Downtown Branson 417-334-6110Brett Family Singers Dick Clark Bandstand 417-336-3100Brule RFD 417-332-2282Buckets n’ Boards Clay Cooper 417-337-7123Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Butterfly Palace 417-332-2231Cassandre’ The Voice of An Angel New Americana 417-339-4663Cat’s Pajamas The Duttons 417-332-2772Chubby Checker ICON Theatre 417-336-4266Cirque Montage Starlite 417-337-9333Clay Cooper’s Country Music Express Clay Cooper 417-337-7123Comedy Jamboree Grand Country 417-335-2484Country Tonite Oak Ridge Boys 417-239-1333Dalena Ditto Variety Show Hamner Barber 417-334-4363Diana The People’s Princess Roy Rogers 417-335-6611Dixie Stampede Dixie Stampede 417-336-7971Doug Gabriel Show Music City Center 417-339-7469Dutton Family Show Dutton Family 417-332-2772George Dyer Dutton Family 417-332-2772Hamner Barber Variety Show Hamner Barber 417-334-4363Haygood Family Enterprises New Americana 417-339-4663Hooray For Hollywood Branson Variety 417-334-2500Hughes Brothers Hughes Brothers 417-336-3688IMAX Little Opry 417-335-3533Inspiration Tower The Shepherd of the

Hills417-334-4191

Jim Stafford Jim Stafford 417-335-8080Joey Riley Comedy & Music Review Mickey Gilley’s 417-334-5100Joseph Hall’s Elvis Tribute New Americana 417-339-4663Kirby VanBurch Kirby VanBurch 417-337-7140Lee Greenwood and Louise Mandrell Welk Resort 417-337-7469Legends in Concert Dick Clark Bandstand 417-339-3003Legend of Kung Fu White House 417-335-2396Liverpool Legends - Beatles Tribute Mansion America 417-337-9333

SHOW THEATRE PHONEMoe Bandy Jim Stafford 417-335-8080Moscow Circus Yakov Smirnoff 417-336-3838Noah the Musical Sight and Sound 800-377-1277Oak Ridge Boys-( Limited Engage-ments)

Oak Ridge Boys 417-239-1333

Ozark Mountain Jubilee Grand Country 417-335-2484Paul Revere & The Raiders Moon River Theatre 417-334-1800Pierce Arrow Pierce Arrow 417-336-8742Presleys’ Country Jubilee Presley’s 417-334-4874Red Hot & Blue New Americana 417-339-4663Ride The Ducks Ride The Ducks 417-334-3825Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley Starlite 417-337-9333Shake Rattle & Roll Branson Variety 417-334-2500Shepherd of the Hills Historic Home-stead Tour

The Shepherd of the Hills

417-334-4191

Shepherd of the Hills Old Mill Theatre Drama


417-334-4191

Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights The Shepherd of the Hills

417-334-4191

Shepherd of the Hills Christmas On the Trail


417-334-4191

Shoji Tabuchi Shoji Tabuchi 417-334-7469Showboat Branson Belle White River Landing 417-338-8174Silver Dollar City Silver Dollar City 417-338-8174SIX Hughes Brothers 417-336-3688Sons of the Pioneers Dinner Show Pavilion - Shepherd 417-334-4191Spirit of Christmas Branson Variety 417-334-2500Texas Tenors Starlite 417-337-9333The Gatllin Brothers & Debby Boone Christmas

Mansion America 417-239-1333

The Rat Pack ICON Theatre 417-336-4266The Twelve Irish Tenors Branson Variety 417-334-2500Titanic Titanic 417-334-9500Todd Oliver and Friends Jim Stafford 417-335-8080Tom Mullica’s Tribute to Red Skelton Mansion America 417-239-1333Tony Orlando -Great American Christ-mas

Welk Resort 417-337-7469

Top 10 Rock and Roll Revue Branson Mall 417-334-5412Vigilante Extreme ZipRider The Shepherd of the

Hills417-334-4191

White Water White Water 417-339-6806World Famous Platters ICON Theatre 417-336-4266World’s Largest Toy Museum Toy Museum 417-332-1499

Yakov Smirnoff Yakov Smirnoff 417-336-3838


Silver Dollar City Presents Half Dollar Holler:A Million Dollar Play Area with Big Adventures for Lit-tle Explorers!

Adventure rules at Silver Dollar City’s new Half Dollar Holler, an all-new super-sized play area for little explorers, with treetop fun houses and climbing nets, box crawls and slides, mini-wave swings and truck-loads of sand for hands-on play. The centerpiece is a vintage classic with a new spin: Silver Dollar City’s hand-carved carousel returns in a brand-new way with whimsical woodland creatures to ride. This mil-lion dollar play area is a treetop wonderland designed for kids up to age 7, opening in spring 2011.

Showboat Branson Belle’s New Shows En-core! & Funny FiddlesBring Three New Headline Acts to BransonShowboat Branson Belle launches into 2011 with ENCORE!, an all-new world-class production featured on evening cruises, and Funny Fiddles, an all-new comedy cruise, bringing three new headline acts to Branson, plus a new menu, new staging and decor - making 2011 the biggest change year in the 700-seat paddle wheeler’s 15 year history.

Mar/Apr 2011 Edition

Church DirectoryAll Visitors Welcome

Call for Service Times Assembly of God

First Assembly of God600 West Main, Branson

417-334-3803

BaptistFirst Baptist Church

400 South Sunshine, Branson417-334-7437

Calvary Baptist Church625 Truman Dr., Branson

417-336-3475

Skyline Baptist Church949 State Hwy 165, Branson

417-334-6729

Bible ChurchBranson Bible Church

533 Branson Landing Blvd.Branson

Ph: 417-334-3678

Fellowship at Cross CreekT Hwy. - T10417-335-8008

CatholicOur Lady of the LakeVaughn Dr., Branson

417-334-3350

ChristianBranson Christian Church

213 S. Commercial, Branson417-334-3453

Church of ChristChurch of Christ

Hwy. 165 (near Welk), Branson417-336-3120

Church of GodChurch of the Apostolic Faith

100 East Main, Branson

Church of Jesus Christof Latter Day Saints

Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints

Church Road, Branson

EpiscopalShepherd of the Hills Episcopal

107 Walnut, Branson417-334-3968

FoursquareBranson Foursquare Church

2287 Fall Creek Rd., Branson417-339-5911

Full GospelRiver of Life, Church Alive!

1307 Bird Rd., Branson417-334-8287

Jehovah’s WitnessesKingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Hwy. 65-70, Branson417-334-5507

LutheranFaith Lutheran

Parnell & Malone St., Branson417-334-2469

Peace Lutheran Church ELCA350 State DriveHollister, MO 417-334-1499

MethodistUnited Methodist

1208 W. Hwy. 76, Branson417-334-3423

Non-DenominationalSalvation Army Church

1819 W. Hwy. 76, Branson417-339-4434

Unity of the Hills4868 Hwy. 248, Branson

417-334-6224

PentecostalOld Branson Pentecostal600 West Main, Branson

417-334-3803

PresbyterianFIrst Presbyterian

420 West Main, Branson417-334-3468

The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette

Mar/Apr 2011 Edition The Shepherd of the Hills GazetteBranson Craft Mall

By Linda Burlingame

Everyone loves the Branson Craft Mall. located on Hwy. 165. Besides Old John’s Wo o d s h e d , the 16,000 sq. ft. facil-ity is home to pottery, leather work, potato bags, brass engrav-ings, musical instruments, clever signs, h a n d b a g s , hundreds of other gifts and accessories.

Larry King, a silver and g o l d s m i t h ,

creates beautiful jewelry. He does “lost wax” castings, remarkable wildlife pieces and the most detailed coin piercing. Nearby, Nan has an endless variety of shirts, tops and jackets at Nan’s Classic Creations.

Ladies LOVE the appliquéd shirts, match-ing tank tops, the rhinestone knit tops and denim jack-ets. She can c u s t o m i z e something for you while you wait.

The Hillbilly Nut & Fruit area of Branson Craft Mall has really expand-ed. There’s a lot to sample:

Yogurt Covered Cranberries to coffees and fudge, French Burnt Peanuts, Rainbow Coconut slices (remem-ber those!), Cashew Brittle. Granny’s Favorites like Honey BBQ Sauce, Apple Butter, Elderberry Jam, Sassafras Tea (smells heavenly). Such variety! Ozark Mountain Coffee Co. has everything from “Jamaican Me Crazy” flavor to “Marshmallow Nut Crème” to “B-52. “ I’m guessing that’s a strong brew.

Juanita Herrell’s mosa-ic work is the newest art at Branson Craft Mall. Her work is beautifully unique. Using no commercial tiles, she cuts each piece by hand, then fires and glazes: no broken pieces or rough edges. Her art is astonishing; her technique has been published and written about. She is a member of The Best of Missouri Hands, the Missouri

Artisan Association.

Stop in and browse … Branson Craft Mall … the mall that has it all!

Mar/Apr 2011 Edition - The Shepherd of the Hills GazetteJim Stafford …“Out of his mind and into your heart!”

by Linda Burlingame

I’m not sure who came up with that, but it is funny. It goes along with what I have said, “Jim wakes up in a new world every day!” Meaning you never know what to expect, things change … but you can always count on fun. That’s the way I feel about the Jim Stafford Show, it’s always new and fun. As many times as I’ve seen it since 1990, I always enjoy it, always laugh, and always love watching the audience reaction.

Jim’s show really is fun, and funny, whether it’s the music, the comedy songs — Cow Patty is one of my favorites! — the black light

n u m b e r , 3-D adven-ture, or something as simple as “Roll C a l l . ” P r a c t i c e m a k e s p e r f e c t , p l a y i n g the guitar or doing c o m e d y . Jim prac-tices both. He told me when he began doing comedy, he put up mirrors all around the room and practiced in front of them. He per-fected his expressions and timing: how long to pause between lines; how long to maintain eye contact; is it a nod of the head or a body turn? A myriad of emotions and tiny motions make all the difference!

Jim is one of the most talented gui-tarists anywhere. Whether he’s play-ing Mason Williams’s Classical Gas or his own Spiders and Snakes, it’s magnificent. Jim has been “makin’ a living” with his guitar since he was 16 years old. Jim is in good com-pany when it comes to hit songs. Spiders and Snakes (1974) sits in the top 50 of Billboard’s Hot 100 Country Songs, along with the hits

of Elvis, Glen Campbell, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Marty Robbins and other recording artists.

Shea and G.G., Jim and Ann’s two children, are still part of the show. They’re growing up, turning into seasoned performers. Shea and G.G. have been part of the show since they were babies. Sheaffer is now 18 and G.G. is 14. (I remind everyone again, we don’t get old as fast as our kids.)

Jim will never stop practicing. I’ll never stop enjoying The Jim Stafford Show! And I’m betting you won’t either. Enjoy!

Call to make Reservations at 417-335-8080!

Mar/Apr 2011 Edition - The Shepherd of the Hills GazetteThe Vigilante Extreme ZipRider – Extreme Fun for All Ages

By Sharena Naugher

When you’re ready to see the beautiful Ozarks from a whole new perspective you need to head to The Shepherd of the Hills to ride the Vigilante Extreme ZipRider. It just opened the summer of 2010 and visitors have been raving about the fun and thrilling ride!

The Vigilante launches from the top of Inspiration Tower, mak-ing it the highest launch site of a ZipRider any-where in the country. You can purchase your tick-ets at the tower, and then glass elevators take riders up to the enclosed obser-vation deck. There you’ll have a chance to fill out paperwork and go over the rules and restrictions. Riders must be between 75-275 lbs and, just like at the doctor’s office,

you’ll need to hop on discreet scales before you go (aren’t you glad the license bureau isn’t like that?) Now you’re in the ride que and you’ll have a chance to watch other rid-ers launch out the panoramic win-dows. When your turn is up, you’ll

travel down a short flight of steps to the launch pad. There the friendly ride operators will get you comfort-ably seated in the harness and ready for take off. When all 4 riders are ready its time for launch. The gates open and you are soaring 200 feet above the ground! You will travel a half a mile and reach speeds of 50 mph on the way to the landing pad. After the surprising gentle landing, ride operators will help you disembark and then you’ll hop on a shuttle for the ride back up to Inspiration

Tower. There you’ll have the opportunity to view and pur-chase a photo snapped of you mid-zip! Guests who are not riding can walk out on Inspiration Point to watch your take-off from the ground. There

are pouches in the back of your seat to store small items, like flip-flops or sunglasses, but purses and camera bags should be left in the car or with some-one not riding. You’re welcome to hold onto a small camera on the ride down if you dare risk it, but hang on tight!

Reservations are not required, but the wait can be an hour or longer during peak

periods. It’s best to call 1-800-653-6288 to make reservations for a specific time, then you’ll go to the front of the que when you arrive,

s i g n i f i -c a n t l y decreasing your wait time. T h e Vigilante E x t r e m e ZipRider – definitely an amaz-ing expe-rience you will not forget!

Get Your Tickets to Ride Today at www.

VigilanteZiprider.com!

It’s the Most Exciting Ride in Branson!

Shepherd of the Hills Gazette | March/April 2011

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Transcript of Shepherd of the Hills Gazette | March/April 2011