Friday, September 21, 2018

Peggy's Park Place Customer Appreciation Day!


I ran across this post in on a local media channel. Sure hope it's true!

'We're having a customer appreciation picnic on October 6th. From 11-2 we will be giving away hot dogs and drinks. We're also going to be selling raffle tickets during the picnic This awesome kayak cooler is one of many things to be raffled off. So come in and see us on Saturday October 6th for a chance to win something awesome. Thank you, for all of your continued business!'

17463 US-160, Forsyth, MO 65653 Tel

(417) 546-5845


Update: Oct 6, 2018 - Peggy's Park Place had a great turnout with lots of happy customers devouring free hotdogs, chips and drinks. 














Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Bull Shoals Roundabout drive bys! Sept 19, 2018!


Update: September 19, 2018 - It looked as though both lanes on the new bridge were open as construction now seemed to be focusing on the Roundabout end.

September 13 update video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGTbw0GwEHg&feature=youtu.be

August 14, 2018

One-Lane Traffic ?Round the Clock
At Route 76/Bull Shoals Bridge Further Delayed until Aug. 20
 
Forsyth Area, Taney County – Drivers can expect one-lane traffic with temporary traffic signals regulating traffic on Route 76 at the Bull Shoals Lake bridge project east of Forsyth starting Monday, August 20, the Missouri Department of Transportation said.

The move to the temporary traffic pattern during this phase of the bridge project has been further delayed due to weather.

Originally, the plan called for Route 76 to be closed for up to two weeks to connect the new bridge into the existing highway. However, after hearing strong concerns from the community about the closing of the Route 76, MoDOT committed to work with its project contractor to minimize the impacts to the traveling public. MoDOT and the contractor developed an approach to keep traffic flowing during this part of the project.

It’s expected the one-lane traffic and temporary traffic signals will remain in place for up to two weeks.

Mid-way through the process of building the new pavement connection, Route 76 traffic will move to the new bridge. However, one-lane traffic and the temporary traffic signals will remain in place until all the connecting pavement is complete.

Drivers can expect delays on Route 76 during this phase of the project. They are urged to allow plenty of extra travel time and expect backups on Route 76 approaching the bridge.
During the work, law enforcement officers will assist with traffic control during busy traffic times. Contractor crews along with law enforcement will assist first responders through the work zone during emergencies.




.


Taneyhills Community Library to feature a talk on Lord of the Rings!

Branson MO - J. R. R. Tolkien lovers will not want to miss this opportunity to join with James S. Baumlin, Distinguished Professor of English at Missouri State University, to discuss the inspiring literature of The Lord of the Rings on October 2nd at 6:00 pm in the Stanley and Elaine Ball Tech Room at the Taneyhills Community Library. In this talk and Q&A session, Baumlin will explore the ways that literature—Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings specifically—accompanies us through our life stages.

Baumlin will read select brief passages and encourages audience members to bring their own copies of Tolkien.

This rare FREE opportunity is being provided in part through Ozark Public Television’s The Great American Read program. The Great American Read is an eight-part series that explores and celebrates the power of reading, told through the prism of America’s 100 best-loved novels (as chosen in a national survey). The series appears on OPT Tuesdays at 7:00 pm.

Space is limited. Please stop in at the library and sign up at the front desk for this free session or call 417-334-1418 to make a reservation.

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

The forgotten Park - River Run!

Forsyth MO. - One of the great pleasures of living in a rural setting that is hilly, green and blessed with water ways are the parks, wherever and whenever you find them.

The Forsyth Missouri area in southwest Missouri is blessed with two great recreational parks; Shadowrock Park which the town leases from the Corp of Engineers and River Run which is run by the Corps. Shadowrock has faced some challenges over the last year or two with the construction of a nearby bridge and roundabout. That process, thankfully, is nearing an end and the hope is that this great park will be restored to full usefulness. River Run had also been impacted by the bridge construction but additionally faced other obstacles,  notably the aforementioned Corps of Engineers. And that is the topic of this post.
Two gates control access!

Years ago, I lived in a neighborhood that was adjacent to River Run and for many years, I fully enjoyed the covered RV sites and the boat launch. Then sometime around 2012 or 2013, a pair of gates (see diagram above) were erected at the Hwy 76 junction and at the top of the hill on Baker street. When they were closed, the park was effectively closed. I recall that the first time I really paid attention was during the government shutdown in October of 2013. Over the course of the years to come, these gates were closed more and more often. Many times it was explained by the Corp that it was over 'safety' concerns due to flooding. OK. But I wondered about all the decades that came before there were gates. Whenever the park flooded, folks knew not to drive there... Whatever, now the Corps had a convenient way to completely shut down that park whenever the mood hit them.


Then, a series of event occurred. First, it was the installation of sewers and then it was the bridge construction that keep both gates closed most all the time. And I could understand the reasoning there. However today, not so much so. You see, even as it may be proper to keep Gate 1 closed due to road construction for the new bridge, Gate 2 could be opened. Guys with boats could then use the boat ramp while others could walk or picnic. Sorry! There is a sign at gate 2 that states the park is flooded - Uh, no the Bull Shoals level was only at 657 feet msl, or about two feet below normal! So, you can see my confusion here.

While all these events were going on, the park has continued down the path of neglect and decay, not showing much in the way of care that I could determine from my viewpoint across the river. Hey! That's my park they're messing with!

Here's my thinking for 2019. Why not encourage the Town of Forsyth to take out a lease on River Run, like it has for the other park? It seems to me that the Corps of Engineers may be too busy doing other stuff (what stuff I have no clue?) to be effective and perhaps our City Hall might even make a few bucks off it come next summer. Just a thought.