A new, phone call notification system has been installed at School of the Osage — even better, since parents’ phone numbers were automatically programed, parents won’t have to remember to register.

The district plans on using the alert system to notify parents and guardians of school cancellations and early dismissals due to weather. The superintendent can also use the program to send out other emergency messages deemed necessary.

Fall and winter at Lake of the Ozarks usually means a lull in activity and a break on the roads. That's not so this year. In the next few weeks, new roads will open to traffic, detours will reroute vehicles and fresh projects will get underway. Combined, more than $200 million has been spent by the Missouri Department of Transportation in the lake area. The projects have transformed the landscaped, redefined how residents and tourists get from one destination to another and even made it a little safer to travel.

Fire damaged a home on Turkey Bend Wednsday afternoon, but the occupants escaped without injury.

A ruling by three judges in the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District against a state government commission leaves some Lake Ozark and Osage Beach residents with feelings of vindication.

The appellate court ruled against the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Land Reclamation Commission and Magruder Limestone Company in the case of a piece of property on Woodriver Road that has been disputed for more than three years.

Magruder Limestone initially sought a permit to open a rock quarry on its Woodriver Road property, but the Lake Ozark/Osage Beach Joint Sewer Board and a concerned citizens’ group raised a legal challenge to stop the quarry from opening. A quarry, they say, will threaten the sewage treatment plant near the proposed blasting site and the two force main sewer lines that pass through Magruder’s property.

The School of the Osage High School Homecoming Parade is Friday, Sept. 24, at 4 p.m. Community businesses and organizations that would like to support School of the Osage are invited to submit an application to have a float in the homecoming parade on the Bagnall Dam Strip. The application can be found on the School of the Osage website.

The deadline for applications is Monday, Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. Return all applications to the main high school office or email completed applications to durninb@osage.k12.mo.us.

On Thursday, August 19, 2010, the Osage Beach Fire Protection District held a ceremony to promote seven personnel. David Radlund was promoted to fire captain. Bobby Latham, Jimmie Chipley, Jeff Mellencamp, Mike Oakes, Casey Jones and Pete Zimmerman were promoted to Fire Engineer. The fire engineer is a newly created position within the district. An engineer is responsible to drive and operate the apparatus.

According to AAA Midwest Traveler magazine, the Lake of the Ozarks is home to two of the top three state parks in the Midwest.

Table Rock Lake State Park in Branson claimed top honor amongst AAA Midwest Traveler readers. Lake of the Ozarks State Park settled for second place silver, and Ha Ha Tonka State Park finished third in the voting.

The magazine asked its readers to vote for their favorite places to visit, eat and shop. This spring, more than 2,500 readers cast ballots for their favorite places to visit in the Midwest.

Capt. Ben Smith was 29 when he died in Iraq at hands of the enemy.
His memory and that of 117 other fellow Missourians who lost their lives during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom were at the forefront during a special “Run for the Fallen” commemorative event Saturday morning in Osage Beach.
During a heartfelt ceremony at Osage Beach City Park, an estimated 120 people came out in support of the national tribute memorial event.
Trish Creach, executive director of the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, said 205 miles were recorded for the national campaign. The effort, started in 2008, encourages participants to run or walk one mile for every service member killed during the two conflicts. Until recently, 116 Missourians had been killed. The death of a Kirksville, Mo., soldier this week pushes that number to 117.

Mary Ann Johnson, superintendent of School of the Osage, has decided she wants to spend more time with her grandchildren.

She announced her resignation and subsequent retirement at the conclusion of Monday night’s monthly board of education meeting. Her decision is effective at the end of the 2010-11 school year.

“I dearly love the school, the board and the people, but it’s time,” she said.

This is Johnson’s seventh year as superintendent, and the 13th with the district.

With Camdenton and School of the Osage students heading back to class this week, all public schools are now in session for the 2010-2011 academic year.

We want to see your pictures, too. If you took pictures of your child, grandchild, niece and/or nephew, etc., as they headed back to school, share them with us!

An 18-year-old from Osage Beach faces three felony charges after a routine traffic stop leads to the seizure of three different illegal drugs.

Travis L. Nelson, 26, of Osage Beach was arrested Friday night on a charge of third degree domestic assault.

Four Camdenton Laker football team members scarfed a victory Saturday, Aug. 21 over three Osage Indian football players and one very brave dance team member at the Ozark Bar-B-Que in Sunrise Beach. The Laker and Indian booster clubs held a pork eating contest, “Packin’ in the Pigskin,” at the restaurant to raise funds. 

The final two schools in the lake area — Camdenton and School of the Osage — begin their terms Monday. Officials at both schools have been furiously putting the finishing touches on various projects as school opens for students in both districts Monday, Aug. 23.

Both candidates vying for the office of state representative of the 155th district attended Attorney General Chris Koster’s symposium on Lake of the Ozarks water quality this week at Tan Tar-A.

Rep. Wayne Cooper (R-Camdenton) held the seat representing Camden County for the past eight years, but has exhausted his term limits. Republican Diane Franklin and Democrat John Page agreed to interviews after watching the symposium from the gallery.

The Missouri attorney general’s symposium on Lake of the Ozarks water quality concluded with tourism officials requesting further pursuit of science and information and Attorney General Chris Koster asking for more comments from the public.

Attorney General Koster’s Office invites you to submit written comments until Sept. 18. The comments on the symposium will be up for consideration until the office issues its formal summary of information in November. Comments can be submitted by email to attorney.general@ago.mo.gov or by mail to Kathy Abner, Missouri Attorney General’s Office, P.O. Box 899, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

An effort to help the community find a way to donate to area organizations culminates this weekend as Hope For The Lake holds its auction.

The event is Saturday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. at Tan-Tar-A resort and will feature a live auction by Rick Bryant and a silent auction. Silverhammer will perform, and there will be a cash bar with appetizers.

Larry Wayne Davis, 18, and Brandon Terrell Green, 19, both of Jefferson City reportedly fled Marshall's department store in Osage Beach with stolen merchandise.

The first day of the Missouri Attorney General’s symposium on Lake of the Ozarks included discussion of bacteriological science, public opinion and illness. Attorney General Chris Koster organized the two-day event at Tan-Tar-A in Osage Beach to explore the future of caring for water quality.

“The present focus of public attention on lake water problems and not on lake water solutions has the potential, over time, of eroding confidence in what is unquestionably one of the Midwest’s finest recreational destinations. To allow such a drift in public opinion to occur, hurts all of us,” Koster said.

At the Dogwood Animal Shelter, animals truly are the star of the show. A pack of dogs happily greets anyone who enters the doors, perhaps waiting for a treat, a scratch on the head or something else just as pleasant.

For the human members of the team, another pleasant surprise came through their doors in the way of an anonymous donor.

During one of the shelter's bingo nights, one person left a unique donation — A $1,000-winning lottery ticket.