Arvest Bank branch in Forsyth to close!

Forsyth MO. - Representatives from Arvest Banking headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas; with branches in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri announced that the branch located in Forsyth Missouri will be closing its doors on December 30, 2016. The drive through will remain open for customers to make and withdraw money and there are two locations; one in Hollister and another in Branson that offer full banking services.

Fat Daddy's LiL' Piglet meals!

Forsyth MO – A recent visit to Fat Daddy's for a luncheon engagement dealt out a nice surprise for this overweight gnome. I went there with a friend named Mary to eat, but didn't really look forward to yet overly large meal that would better suit a younger and trimmer working man. Just too many calories! Actually, any meal over 700 calories would be pushing my self imposed limits. Losing weight, for us older people, can be a real challenge. No, I wanted something that was modest and after asking my server, I discovered it! Down towards the bottom of my menu was a section called LiL' Piglet Meals. In that section was an item called 'Piglet Pork'. A small hamburger sized portion contain ¼ pound of smoked pork, along with a side of fries for about $5. Wow! The taste was awesome, I didn't destroy my diet (~650 calories) and the whole meal deal was very affordable! Next time your over that way, please give this selection a try!

Hong Kong Express opening in Forsyth in November!

What is it with Forsyth Missouri and eateries? At my casual estimate, there were eight places to eat in a town of just over two thousand! Now we will have another 'oriental styled' venue come later in the fall.

As a venue, I admit to avoiding any type of restaurant that serves a buffet styled menu. I'm a bit leery of food that sits for hours and hours before someone comes along. Some food must be kept cool while others have to be maintained at certain levels of heat. Either way, things can (and do) go wrong. Thus, I do not plan to go to this location very often unless someone I'm taking to lunch insists!

As Forsyth has had a Oriental/Mexican restaurant for some time now, I could not help but wonder at the apparent duplication. I would have preferred to see something like a Wendy's or even a Shorty Small's as they offer a few pasta dishes that are excellent.

Well, time will tell, as they say. I hope to visit this venue after they open and will make a followup report.

The Mouse Pad for all your computer needs!

Mouse Pad, 113 Main St, Forsyth MO 65653

Over the years, the Mouse Pad has been located in a number of sports. I first noticed this business on Hwy 160 next to the White River Plaza. It was then relocated to a spot on Hwy 160 near Charlie's restaurant. Today, this rather 'mobile' enterprise is situated right across from Save Alot at 113 Main Street in Forsyth!

I was able to talk briefly with the owner, a man named Jamie Johnson, and he informed me that they do all sorts of general computer maintenance and repair along including computers sales at great prices!

The Mouse Pad can be reached by calling 417-546-2648 during normal business hours. Jamie can also be reached on his cell phone at 417-207-6776 in case of emergencies.

Disclaimer: All data & info provided on this site is for informational & Entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site makes no representations whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any material presented here & will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or for any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.
 

Best burger and fries in Forsyth MO!

In my view, an old fashioned hamburger and fries is tough to beat almost any old time. And, the 'Kountry Burger' served up at the Long Horn Family Dining venue might just qualify as the best of the best offered up in my small town of Forsyth Missouri!

The Longhorn Family Dining restaurant is open seven days a week at this time, from 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM, although I would call them at 417-546-9751 to confirm, just in case.

Update: Sadly, the Long Horn's renters decided to quit and so the business was once again shut down.

Economy Screen Printing in Forsyth MO!

Economy Screen Printing, 163 Main Street, Forsyth MO.

A recently opened shop located at 163 Main Street in Forsyth MO. called Economy Screen Printing, does professional screen printing on T-Shirts and all sorts of other object like cups, hats mementos and more! The store is run by Martha Rudnick and Susan Lawrence both of  which can reproduce custom designs and logos; either from material a customer might bring in or from scratch. The cater to everyone; from individuals up to and including companies or organizations that might need to orders exceeding one thousand pieces. As you can see from the pictures of these T-shirts, almost anything can be created and at very reasonable prices!I was very impressed with just how detailed and beautiful the work that they do is close up!

In the near future, I was told that a customer will even be able to come in and create their own custom T-shirt and then print it on the spot! That would be very cool indeed!

Also, the shop can make available limited spaces for aspiring artists to set up shop and display their creations on a monthly rental basis. (And, while I decided not to post that amount here, I was very impressed with how low it was)! Note that this will not be a flea shop concept, but rather a place for a select group of artists to gain exposure. For the limited few people who can take advantage of this opportunity, ( I think I was told that there are only about 6 to 8 spaces available), they will need to act promptly as the spaces are already being reserved. as for advertising, I was told that the owners may even consider an open house type of event to help draw in additional traffic! If you have an interest in this, or would like additional information, the shop can be reached at 417-546-0631 during normal business hours.

In closing, I gained the impression that this business will likely do very well. The equipment I saw located there appeared to be top end. At the time of my visit, they were getting ready to fulfill an order consisting of a thousand t-shirts!

Please make it a point to stop in and to check them out. There were many very interesting items on display that I didn't cover here, but hope to in the future...

Disclaimer: All data & info provided on this site is for informational & Entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site makes no representations whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any material presented here & will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or for any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.

Forsyth Fun Day 2016!

Unlike the Fair this past June, this very popular event will be at the Shadowrock Park, one of my favorite locations. This event is sponsored by the City of Forsyth and is one of the real highlights of the summer! Two bands will supply awesome sounds, vendors will be doing their thing as a dedicated group of professional BBQ'ers go head to head to produce the most succulent culinary creations to be had on this planet! In the midst of all this will be the craziness that can only be found in cardboard boat races! Bring some chairs and blankets and make it a day to remember!

Complete Service Repair - D's Auto!

Forsyth MO. - Dennis Renteria, owner of D's Auto recently opened for business performing oil changes, engine work, transmissions and brakes not to mention preventative maintenance work. All this work is performed at 180 Kelly Ave in Forsyth Mo. at affordable prices!

It's great to know that getting your oil changed can still be done right in town. When I stopped by, Dennis and his crew were busy with numerous customers. While I was there, a customer by the name of Debbie, had traveled all the way from Branson West, where she works as a lead at Silver Dollar City, just to get an opinion about a problem she was having with her auto. That told me a lot!  Please give Dennis a call at 417-230-6090 to schedule an appointment any time 8-5PM Monday through Friday! You can also email Dennis at DennisRay2117@Gmail.com! I plan to get my next oil change done at this venue and will plan to do a followup report at that time!

Forsyth Fun Day 2016 coming September 10th!

Looks of grilling!

Forsyth MO. - Coming to ya, Saturday, September 10th will be an event that I personally have always enjoyed. Forsyth Fun Day has always been held in Shadowrock Park, (whenever it wasn't flooded). The day features fun events for the kids and centers around an area wide BBQ style cook off with awards going to the best prepared of a number of BBQ'd meats that the public gets to enjoy! I did a short video way back in 2009 that tried to capture the experience. The bottom line for me is the awesome food along with the chance to run into folks you might not have seen for a while.

Update: More info now available at http://forsythkid.blogspot.com/2016/08/forsyth-fun-day-saturday-september-11.html

Critique: The Tire Crew LLC in Forsyth Mo!

Forsyth MO. – Every so often in ones life, I've run into exceptional individuals working at improbable occupations. When I look back over the years at my experiences with auto repair facilities, I've generally walked away disappointed for one reason or another. That business sector has been often populated by practitioners that could best be described as somewhat shady. That was definitely not the case at the Tire Crew located at 13149 Hwy 160 just to the north of Forsyth Missouri! The owner, Don Goodman who is ex-military, runs a very 'tight ship'. I felt I was treated very promptly and in a professional manner.

While waiting for an oil change, I was impressed with the amount of activity going on. Mr. Goodman was on the phone with a local parts supplier who had promised that a part would be there early Monday, but which was not. When he discovered that there was another duplicate part over in Branson West, he dispatched his daughter in law, Heather, to go fetch it for two customers who were there waiting patiently at the facility for that part to repair their vehicle. I found that sort of 'get it done' attitude to be rather impressive.

The Tire Crew does just about everything right, be it new tires, oil changes, brakes, exhaust systems, batteries or just about whatever needs to be done. They even have a towing service and can pick up a customer when their vehicle is ready to go! Add that to the fact that their invoices are itemized with fair pricing and I think I will be a customer of theirs for years to come! The Tire Crew shop can be reached at 417-546-7435!

Roy Blunt's staff to visit Forsyth MO!

Senator Roy Blunt's staff will be at Forsyth City Hall on Tuesday, July 12. This will likely be your only opportunity (ever again) to meet with Blunt's staff mono a mono. They will arrive in a mobile office and will graciously receive the public, one at a time, for sixty minutes from 1:30 to 2:30 PM. Citizens are asked to please keep a civil tongue and to refrain from the tossing of rotten fruit.

Rockaway Beach offers up a couple of new venues!

While it's true that businesses open up all the time in my southwestern town of Forsyth Missouri, it's still good to see something happening in the neighboring town of Rockaway Beach!

In mid June 2016, what have been the Taneycomo Market was transformed from a convenience store slash gas island into a sports bar slash gas island. Now going bay the name of White River Sports Bar and Grill, owner Al Patel decided to go ahead and thrown the dice and try something new! In a recent post on Forsythkid, I went into some additional detail and hoped that this change will result in success for a hard working couple from India.....

In addition to a new bar, I was also informed that there would soon be cab service! That's supposed to open soon.

Improving efficiency should always be a business goal!

Most any business has some inefficiency built into its day to day operation. Some run much better than others depending on staffing requirements, the work environment and skill levels needed. I find restaurants are a good model to look at as they offer a full menu of areas than can be improved (excuse the pun).

For this post, I decided to take a look at a situation similar to the one I've drawn below:

In the schematic you have a bar area with dining tables on two sides. (You can assume that the kitchen is located towards the back area). Please notice that there are two cash registers areas; one located by the entrance and a second over behind the bar. Typically, bar patrons pay at the bar register while diners amble over to the register located by the entrance after they've finished dining. Note that on any given day there will be on average two servers, a cook and a bartender/manager. Now, while everyone is pretty much cross trained at all the positions, it is typically the bartender who serves as the main cashier at both register locations. He or she is also responsible to make sure new arrivals are cordially greeted and seated after which a server takes over.

Next, let's take a look at some potential inefficiencies in this scenario. Note that the bartender is most likely to be found behind the bar as a typical starting point. Second, let's assume that on a typical day our theoretical establishment will ring up about 100 tickets. (This would imply that the four employees present, during any one shift, are all kept pretty busy). Third, let's make an assumption that of the 100 tickets rung up each day, 60 are at the entrance register and 40 are at the bar. All things being equal, one could then reasonably extrapolate that the bartender will make quite a few trips to the entrance register during the course of a normal business day. Next, for the purpose of argument, let's estimate those trips to be about 30 per day. Furthermore, that each trip would require the employee to navigate from position X over to the entrance register/greeting area. (Now, while that person can take one of two possible routes, let's average it out and say that the distance covered is about 40 feet for one round trip). Summarizing, forty trips at forty feet per would equal ~1600 feet traversed each day. That figure can then be used to estimate that the distance walked would be roughly 11,200 feet per week which would come to something like 548,200 feet a year

(that's just about 110 miles)! Now, assuming that the person(s) walked at 2 mph, the time spent going back and forth would come to 55 hours of time per year. Wow!

OK, now let's change a couple of small things:

 

Note that; 1) an access way has be inserted in the main bar and 2) the entrance register has also been moved to that general location. Additionally, the old register booth was now being used for merchandise which makes that square footage a cash producer (potentially)! The bartender/manager now only needs to walk a few feet, in either direction to service either the bar customers or the diners. This series of changes will result in three positive changes for the owner;

1. A significant number of man hours could  be saved each year
2. Patrons coming in to the establishment could be greeted a minute, or so, faster
3. Square footage was freed up for new income potential

What's really happened her? A quantifiable increase in efficiency at little infrastructural cost.

Mobile 1 Station in Forsyth MO under new ownership!

On the occasion of getting my oil changed in my vehicle, I was surprised to find that the Mobile 1 service facility located at 194 Coy Blvd., in Forsyth Missouri, was under new ownership when I drove over there to set an appointment! I had a chance to talk briefly with Dennis Renteria, the new owner, who seemed intelligent and nice. I made an appointment the next day at 8AM for an oil change and inspection. The next day, I arrived and was taken care of promptly and professionally. And, while I'm not clear on what happen with the previous ownership, this new guy seems to be OK. 

The facility was clean, equipped with bathrooms and the mechanic, Mike, who serviced my car told me that he had worked briefly under the old management, had quit and then come back to work for Dennis and was very happy with the way he ran things. Time will tell on well this service location is accepted by the community.

I included the business card for the information it has on it, but neglected to find out their business hours. I would guess you can call them to find that out. This facility is a full auto service and repair location for most any auto related problem you might have!

Texas Hold'Em Poker Tournament!

This looks to be a lot of fun and it helps to benefit our High School Grads!

Blue Grass & Gospel Concert April 11th!

Popular local bands such as The Big Creek Bluegrass band, Bob Hammons and Wildwood along with The Haining Family will be performing live at Shadowrock Park near Forsyth MO on April the 11th! The scheduled times are from Noon to 8PM, the cost is $10 and I'm sure there will be a food vendor or two present. So, bring a lawn chair and sit a spell!

Area infrastructure ailing or failing?

Forsyth MO - Crews were out, once again to repair a water main that has repeatedly broken in recent years with crews from the local Water Department coming out to patch as best they can. This raised a question, in my mind, as to how well small communities are maintaining basic service infrastructure in what many call a poor economy?

Public swimming pool in Forsyth Mo?

A public swimming pool located in Forsyth Missouri is a novel idea. I understand that it has even been proposed in the past, but I've never heard of it going anywhere. That's sad, because I think it would be a great thing for the city to have over the long term.

Over the years in cities and town all across America, public pools have served as informal meeting places for women, especially those with kinds. It gives the children something to do, during the hot summer months, that is both very healthy for the young (physically) and therapeutic for the older adults who generally may not get enough exercise due to sore joints! Properly run and maintained by the city, a public pool can be profit producer for the city's coffers.Oh, and did you know that sunbathing is back in?

I feel that this is an issue that should be brought up again by the City of Forsyth!

Sluggish economy noticeable in small towns!

River Run Park, Forsyth MO

Forsyth MO. – As the country continue to grind along at a snails pace, the effects are beginning to be plainly seen even in the small town of Forsyth Missouri where I currently reside. Most notable was the relatively bare parks near where I live. Both Shadowrock and River Run are normally pretty full by this time of year, but as you can see that were rather empty in the mid week shot. I also noticed

Prime Time, Forsyth MO

that area restaurants seemed to be less busy than I remember them being last year, but that could be my imagination. What isn't my imagination, was the report in the local newspaper that tax receipts were down quite a bit for the month compared to years past. Fuel costs, (due in part to the problems in the Middle East) were also on the rise and could spike past the $6 a gallon mark if things go really sideways internationally.

So, things have been very quite early this summer of 2014. I haven't heard even one firecracker go off in my subdivision, and that concerns me more than anything else!

Taney County Fair opens June 24!

This is the most recent aerial  view I have. The Park is actually a lot nicer now!

Don't forget! The Taney County Fair opens Tuesday,June 24, located at the beautiful Shoals Bend Park near Forsyth MO. The park is located just behind some a storage enterprise at the intersection of Hwy 76 and Corner Stone Dr.

Admission to the lovely grounds is FREE this year, although there will be a $5 charge for arena events and rides... Well, you can purchase an armband, and then the rides will be free also!

I stopped by this location to see what was what - and as you can see very little was happening on Sunday, June the 22nd! I'm sure, however that this will change drastically over the next day or so as the Fair is only about 60 hours off.

Update: Tuesday, June 24 - I tried to get in close to see what rides were available when the Taney Fair kicks off, but there was a barrier, so I couldn't get very close. Here a a couple of pictures of what I could see.... Some of the rides are visible in the distance. It looks like it will be a lot of fun!

The Taney County Fair is coming!

Everyone get set for the arrival of the Taney County Fair, due to arrive on Tuesday, June 24^th and run through Saturday, June 28^th!

This year is their 75^th Anniversary, and the entrance fee will be free while Arena Events will cost $5 per. Free to rides to those who elect to purchase arm bands at select local stores in advance for $15 or $20 at the gate. Booklets are also currently available for free at selection area locations.

There remains some confusion as to the 4H event location, as one person told me it would be held at Shadowrock due to the lack of animal pens and water facilities at the Shoals Bend Park! But, even a cursory inspection of the facility at SR reveals there are no pens there anymore!So, who knows. I will guess that everything will be held ad Shoals Bend and that's a bit sad as I personally do not like the venue.

You can visit their site on Face Book at https://www.facebook.com/TaneyCountyFair!

Disclaimer: All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.

Is Charlie's Steak Ribs & Ale an upscale restaurant?

Asking whether Charlie's Steak Ribs and Ale, located in Forsyth Missouri is upscale depends on what you mean by that term 'upscale'. To me, a truly upscale eatery, must meet a few basics in order to qualify:

Fast service

When eating at Charlie's, I've rarely had to wait for great service. On a recent visit there for breakfast, I had the pleasure of  being served by a young lady named Lisa. She came to my table in a blur of motion - got me a cup of coffee and took my order, all in Wonder Woman style! That's the kind of service I appreciate - consistent and professional!

Great food

As you can see, The Works Platter, I ordered, looks pretty darn good! The eggs were done to perfection as was the bacon and hash browns! The taste was excellent in point of fact, and after eating at this venue for many years, I've always appreciated the consistency of how well the food is prepared and presented!



Competitive pricing

The Works meal was being offered at just $5.49 (at the time of this post). In my book, that a great deal and I know (after frequently checking other local venues) that the owner is consistently at or under the cost of similar meals offered at other nearby venues! In this economy, that's a good thing!

So, that's the word! Consistent! A term that is applicable in describing; the service, the menu and the costs, are what make for an upscale restaurant in my book!  Please consider stopping there for your next breakfast lunch or dinner! Charlie's can be reached at (417) 546-2011.

River Run quiet in Mid June 2014!

A short run taken through River Run Park near Forsyth Missouri showed just a few slots taken by campers on what promises to be a quiet weekend in mid June. Lake levels are up a bit at 662.63 feet making boat ramp access a breeze!

Everything is very green due to the recent rains with lots of clean air and low pollen counts to help make an outing enjoyable at this time!

Marketing keys for success!

 A few random thoughts about the value of advertizing in a competitive marketplace.

In order to survive in a highly competitive market, a small business needs to use most every trick in the trade in order to survive. No where is this more true than in the restaurant industry where eatery's can be stacked check to jowl even in small towns, such as I find myself in. Forsyth Missouri has a population of something like 1300. It's small by most small town standards and is basically laid out on one highway – Hwy160. From one end to the other, is not much above 4 miles and most of the ten eateries are all situated along about a one mile distance.

Of course, all these venues stay competitive price-wise within the framework of like establishments. The two fast food joints watch each other price points as does the two meat houses, two American, two Asian and two specialty houses. Each sub group offers up a unique eating experience to be sure, but the shear numbers (10 establishments) crammed so close together mean that garnering the money from a particular diners pocket will be challenging!

What sets each establishment apart and either make the more or less attractive, in my mind, is as follows:

1. Good signage – are they easy to spot from the road!
2. Cleanliness – are there any rumors of disease?
3. Ambiance – how the venue makes you feel when you enter!
4. Service – are they fast to get and create your order?
5. Parking – can you find a spot during typical rush times?
6. Menu – does the venue offer a wide choice of food?
7. Prices – is the place affordable?
8. Longevity – Has the venue been around for some time?
9. Amenities – does the venue have something extra like a bar, specials, wifi or a drive thru?
10. Advertising – What media channels does the venue employ to garner business?

This last item in the list is, to my mind, one of the most important and yet most often abused of anything else on the list! Some establishment do everything right with the exception that the advertising of their presence really sucks! The five channels that are realistically available to them (TV is not for most) would typically include:

1. Word of mouth – Getting people to talk about an establishment is very effective!
2. Radio – Expensive, but also effective over the long haul!
3. Local newspaper – Helps to announce, maintain interest, promote specials, etc.
4. Flyers – Time consuming and marginal in overall effectiveness.
5. The Internet (web pages, Facebook, Blogs, etc.) - Can make or break a venue, in my view.

Very few of the local establishments make use of all five outlets or exploit them to full advantage. To my mind, the one that comes closest is Fat Daddy's, followed closely behind by Charlie's and perhaps the Mug. All three are visible on the Internet and use Facebook extensively. What about Sonic and McDonald's? I don't really like to count national chains as they are in a whole different ballpark when compared to the small business owner – even when they are individually owned they typically have access to a very well run advertising machine!

Today's eating crowd is a whole lot more techno-savy than they were even just a few years prior. Even grandpa and grandma jump on the net, without nary a thought, when they want to check out a new or exiting eatery. In today's very fast paced and hi tech world, a well maintained Facebook, web page or blog can sell what you got for literally pennies a day! In additional, establishments that actively promote the collection of Email addresses have a ready made method of communication without resort to expensive snail mail! After all, one email blast to a thousand customers costs exactly zilch! 

Disclaimer: I'm sure there are many other aspects to helping a business succeed. The ones presented here were off the top of my aging head!

On this Day!

Candidates for August 5th Republican primary election in Taney County!

The ballot is set for the August 5^th Republican primary election in Taney County. Candidate filing closed Tuesday evening. Several contested races will appear on the ballot.

Incumbent Tony Williams is running unopposed for Associate Circuit Judge, Division 1. In Division 2, four candidates have filed for judge, including Eric Eighmy, Bob Paulson, Tim Davis and Michele Wilson.

Four candidates are running for Circuit Clerk, including Reba Retell, James Holvick, Beth Wyman and Scott Starrett.

Taney County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Merrell has re-filed for his position, and is not facing a running opponent.

Incumbent Ron Houseman has re-filed for Presiding Commissioner, and is facing a challenge from Mike Scofield.

Sheila Wyatt is running unopposed for re-election as Taney County Collector.

Incumbent Robert Dixon is facing a challenge from Josh Smith for the office of Recorder of Deeds.

Former County Assessor James Strahan has filed for County Clerk. He will appear on the ballot along with incumbent Donna Neeley.

County Auditor Rick Findley has filed for re-election, and is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

This information was provided by KRZK radio webpage.The candidates who are in bold type are the ones this author intends to vote for.

Hills & Hollows Gardens now closed!

Forsyth MO - Located at 20130 US Hwy 160 near the intersection of Hwy 160-76 and just across from the Taney Center is a small greenhouse called Hill and Hollow Gardens. It's run by a nice lady by the name of Rachael and is open just about every day of the week during regular business hours.

I stopped in on a lark to see what was being offered and saw that there was a good selection of both vegetables as well as flowering plants and herbs! I was also amazed to see other cars pulling in while I was there, so the establishment was fairly busy. I'm guessing there are a lot of folks who are itching to get something planted in the ground even though it is very early April.

While there, I noticed a selection of tomatoes I was not familiar with called MarGlobe. Evidently they are a well know heirloom variety that offers a good old fashioned tomato taste! Each four pack was priced at just $2 and so I bought a tray of those as well as a 4-pack of Better Boy tomatoes which are a variety I've grown before. I was also pleased to find that Rachael accepts all forms of payment including visa, debit, checks and cash.

If you get a chance, make it a point to stop by and take advantage of plants that are just the right size for early transplanting. Update: I believe they are now closed for the season and will be returning next year!

Charlie's endless cup of coffee dilemma!

Let's see now, the word dilemma means the following according to some dictionaries:

'a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, esp. equally undesirable ones.'

That could well describe the current situation at Charlie's Ribs Steak and Ale located in Forsyth Missouri where a program whereby patrons could buy a plastic mug and get an endless cup of coffee for a buck has come to an end. Or, has it??

The plastic mug pictured above used to be available for something like $7 at this very popular eatery and it afforded the purchaser the ability to get free refills of coffee for only about a dollar. However, starting in January 2014, there has been a severe shortage of coffee beans which has meant the prices have doubled due in large part to a continuing drought in Brazil! So, without further ado, the owner pulled these cups from display and is no longer offering them for sale. However, that still leaves a small group of customers who eat there on a regular basis and who still have their mugs! The question on their minds is whether the deal they made when they originally bought their mugs is still good?

As one of those customers who owns a mug, I will be anxious to find out for myself....

The entrepreneurial spirit is not dead! Yet!

I stopped, recently, at a booth located in from of the Country Mart in Forsyth and bought a cross from a young lady who had informed me that God had saved her from a life of drug addition!

It's good to see that the entrepreneurial spirit has not been completely destroyed by our government. At least not yet!

Charlie's egg, hash brown and toast breakfast!

A good, nutritional breakfast starts any day off on the right foot. Today, I stopped at a local eatery for just such a meal!

Charlie's Steak-Ribs and Ale is located in Forsyth Missouri on Highway 160 just across from City Hall. They serve up a full menu breakfast including their menu item #1 selection, aka eggs, hash browns and toast. At just $3.49 (effective price as of this post), I feel this is a real meal deal.

Service at this establishment is brisk and professional. I love the relaxed ambiance and how clean everything is. Charlie's also features a full service bar, takeouts as well as lunch and dinner service. You can reach them at (417) 546-2011.

One word of caution: If you order anything other than scrambled eggs, they will hit you with a fifty cent extra charge! That's a 14% increase in the cost of this meal!

Auto detailing available in Forsyth area!

There's a young man here in the Forsyth Missouri area, by the name of Matt Lynch, who is advertising auto detaining work that he can perform. The work includes such items as a car wash, interior vacuum and windows among other services. Matt can also perform oil changes,fluid inspections, power washing of boats, home siding or driveways.

Anyone interested in this form of service can reach him by calling 636-388-2477 during regular business hours!

Troubled bridge over Bull Shoals!

Just this morning (January the 28^th) on Hwy 76 as you cross the Bull Shoals bridge near Forsyth Missouri, there is a lit sign advertising a meeting at the local High School concerning the 'Bridge Project' to be held Tuesday, February the 4th at 5PM. Interestingly, no one at the local Bridge and Planning office seemed to know anything about it. I then contacted MoDot in Springfield at (417) 895-7600 and was told by the person who answered that they also had no idea of who erected the sign, but that they would get back to me.

Jann Clark of the Taney Country Times was the only person I contacted who seemed to know what

was going on. Yes, evidently a District Manager (Modot?) would be available to answer questions at the school cafeteria on that date presumably concerning some of the impacts that would result as part of the extensive renovation efforts that could see the bridge closed down for many months.

Fortunately, an article published, last Tuesday, in the Branson Tri-Lakes News on January the 21^st went into better detail as to some of the particulars concerning this effort. The bottom line seems to be that Mo-Dot is just beginning to look at the entire project, slated for 2017, and may even elect to push it back in time if needed.

Update: I'm not sure who I heard this from, but a person I know that went to the Bridge Project meeting held at the Forsyth High School on February the 11^th told me that one idea was to just leave the old bridge standing even after a new one is built. The old bridge could then be used exclusively for foot and bicycle traffic for pedestrians. I like that!