April 6, 2019 - A darn nice day!

Forsyth MO. - Arising to a nice spring day is both a pleasure and a blessing. Sure, it was hazy and maybe the temps, in the mid sixties were not perfect, but that didn't matter. It was a Saturday, and many people were off from work making area parks hotbeds of activity; people fishing, kids running around, and old men like myself just enjoying the greenery that was emerging like a pistol shot! I hobbled around was walking path and then stopped to enjoy what I felt was a very meager lunch. After Empire Park I headed over to Shadowrock Park where I noted that five RV's had already set up residence! I was thinking that most of the spots would be taken by mid month, at that rate.

Bull Shoals was near normal!

For the evening hours, a thunderstorm or two was forecast and the local radar seemed to confirm the possibility. By hey, a 70 degree day made it very worth while. And Sunday promised to be even better with a forecast high of 75! And, yes, I planned to be out there again putting one foot in front of the other.

Area man does photo restoration!

Wind turbines likely cause of cancer!

Beat, beat, beat, beat....

In a hotly contested abstract published in Enquirer Med Today (EMT), Dr. Samuel Mathondis gave strident warning to a new form of cancer which he has named tubinmelitis ditis. In the abstract Dr. Mathondis cites literally 'hours of research' into the phenomenon of 'cyclic resonance caused by the immense blades impinging air molecules'. According to the almost Nobel prize winning doctor, 'this disruption of the local atmosphere establishes standing waves of a very specific frequency that can reach the lungs of people who smokes perhaps hundreds of miles away.' He paused to take a drag on his pipe and continued. 'Vell, don't you see? Those waves are able to set up harmonic sub-tones that cause the inhaled smoke particles to be driven much much deeper into lung tissues than would normally occur. A process that has gone on for decades in cities all around America and which is now finally coming to evil fruition for millions of smoking unfortunates, according to some sources in Washington.

Sadly, EMT could neither confirm of deny these additional allegations as Dr. Mathondis recently suffered a massive coronary stroke and is currently on life support systems at an undisclosed hospital that ironically, we have have been told, is close to a turbine wind field.

Note: This insanity was supposed to be published at http://forsythkid.blogspot.com/, but the author was too lazy to do that.

Forsyth area parks looking great! Shadowrock Park is open!

Forsyth Mo. - Early April and with the temps flirting at 70 plus, I decided to walk around one of two area parks to see if I could access their state of readiness. Bull Shoals Lake was at near normal levels and rain chances, through the middle of April, looked to be close to normal. So, flooding was not really a concern at the time.

While standing in Shadowrock Park, I looked over across the water to River Run (138 River Run Forsyth, MO 65653), a sister park area that was a bit more upscale as it was more expansive and had toilets and showers centrally located. Earlier in the week, I'd observed crews working on them, presumably to get them prepared for the vacationers that were sure to arrive. I tried calling the Park's official phone number at (417) 546-3646, and while it did ring - no one ever answered. However, I had seen campers already using one or two of over thirty RV sites that were equipped with water, electric (both only in-season) and canopies.
Road

Meanwhile, over at the Shadowrock Park location (715 Park Way, Forsyth, MO 65653), I discovered that this park had opened on April the 2nd. You can reach the park attendant by calling (417) 546-2876! He told me that the newly installed concrete RV pads had working water, electric and sewage.

Lunch at Oaxaca Mexican restaurant!

15920 US Hwy 160, Forsyth MO  (417) 546-2233

Old location off Coy Blvd.

Forsyth MO. – After a brief but popular existence at a previous location just off Coy Blvd in Forsyth Missouri, the Oaxaca Mexican restaurant was forced to close due to building issues that were apparently never properly taken care of. A few months passed and they then re-opened at what had formerly been the Golden Dragon on Highway 160.
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March 28, 2019 – On what was just the second day of being open, I took a good friend there for lunch on what was a beautiful early spring day. I had previously written a short review where I also posted copies of the menu they were using at the time and was not sure if they were going to using the same one. Well, yes they were, and while I couldn't tell if the item prices had actually changed, they looked to be close to me and the menu was the same.

As we arrived just after 11AM, the place was not very crowded, (but did get so by 11:30). Eating lunch a tad early proved to be a great idea as parking is somewhat limited, (a fact that would likely resolve itself after the grand opening excitement had worn off). After ordering drinks, I decided on the dinner selection number 8 which was two tacos with beans and rice. My friend ordered a #1 which was a taco and 2 enchiladas. The service was fast and the food great!

Every touch screen tested had fecal matter present!

London England - According to a research paper, they swabbed the new self-order machines in six different England locations—six in London and two in Birmingham. The breadth of different and concerning bacteria on each one worried Senior Lecturer in Microbiology at London Metropolitan University Dr. Paul Matawele, who told the Metro: "We were all surprised how much gut and [fecal] bacteria there was on the touchscreen machines. These cause the kind of infections that people pick up in hospitals."

Among those bacteria was staphylococcus, which has been linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome. Matawele called the bacteria "so contagious." He was also concerned about the listeria, klebsiella, and proteus strains found, each of which contributes to a different serious illness.

100 gloves cost about $10

I saw this post and then wondered if the McDonald's located in my small town of Forsyth Missouri would also be acquiring one of these devices to help cut back on the number of people working there. (I understand that with the rise of minimum wage requirement, restaurant owners have needed to cut back on the total payroll in order to stay profitable). I hadn't seen any thus far, but wondered just how long it would take for them to make an appearance. When that occurs, there will then be the question of just how sanitary those device surfaces will be. My thought would be to purchase a package of disposable surgical gloves that could be worn when ordering and then tossed, along with the remains of the meal, once I'd finished eating.

River Run Park reopens along with other select topics!

A 'close to spring' sun peaks thru early morning clouds!

Forsyth MO. - Will wonders ever cease? Just one day before the start of Spring and River Run, a popular park area near Forsyth Missouri was once again open after being closed for some period of time! And, the water levels had gone down to near normal levels! Just how long either were to last was open to question. That said, I visited all three local parks in the immediate area; River Run, Shadowrock and Empire Parks and found them to be looking great.

River Run Park

The only, short term problem I could see, was the paving work going on at the newly constructed roundabout at the intersections of Hwy 76 and 160. That should, however, be wrapped up very soon and then everything would appear to be set for locals and vacationers to come and enjoy activities like camping and fishing for which the area has been very popular over the years.

Shadowrock Park Mar 28

Update: Mar 26 - Bull Shoals lake was back down to 'normal' full pool levels and the roundabout was looking great. Shadowrock Park was also looking good when I drove through it at couple of days later!

Following are a few notes concerning area locales and businesses:

Charlies - This venue which had been up for sale for over two years was currently off the market and apparently not for sale. That was speculation on my part, but they had not been listed on the local real estate boards to the best of my knowledge, after canceling their contract with KW in late February... Update: April 2019 - I talked to a knowledgeable source and was informed that the owner family decided to try and sell the place themselves. The 4300 square foot establishment's asking price was still at $850K last I heard.

Oaxaca Mexican Restaurant - I drove by on this post date and saw no activity at the new location. The property was looking great with the signage and all, just no sign indicating when they might be opening. Also, no one was answered the phone, when I tried calling that same day in the early afternoon hour. There was also nothing that I could find on their Facebook site that mentioned an opening date. So, while they do serve up a great cuisine, maybe their front office could use a quick make-over.... Update: Oaxaca to re-open Wednesday March 27, 2019. Update: Check out my Mar 28 review!

Shadowrock Lodge - I spoke briefly, with the ownership of the Lodge, and was told that while progress was being made to open the bar, needed benchmarks were still yet to happen. So, while the Cafe/Hotel will likely open eventually, it remained a question of the pwnership getting some additional improvements made before that could take place.

Bull Shoals Lake level - Even as water was being released from the Powersite Dam and even as the current Bull Shoals water level was just two feet above the normal pool or operating levels, I still had some concern for levels at Beaver Lake which was also riding at two feet above normal. With improving conditions in Arkansas after a record setting period of late fall 2018 rains, things were looking to get back to normal. In additional, long range forecasts for regional rainfall for southwest Missouri did not look all that bad! These facts gave me the hope that both Shadowrock and River Run Parks would stay dry through at least the early spring period. (The bottom line was for everyone to get out and enjoy them as soon as the weather warms up)!

Update: Mar 26 - All three reservoirs were nearing 'normal' levels for the time of year. That be very good news!