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Jason Wert on Muck Rack

Jason Wert

Verified
Branson
As seen in: Branson Tri-Lakes News, EIN News, NewsBreak, WV News, Victoria Advocate, Longview News-Journal, News-Press Now, The Griffon News, KPVI-TV (Pocatello, ID), Water Online, Blue Mountain Eagle and
Covers:  Right now my beat is the city of Branson, Taney County government, Taney & Stone County crime, and state government news that directly impacts our region.
Doesn't Cover: National and/or state news that does not have direct impact on our area. PLEASE do not send me emails about "national" guests. They MUST have a direct, NOT general, connection to our local area.
Journalist.Father.Christian.Drummer "I never wanted to be famous. I wanted to be good." - Neil Peart "Music is the closest thing we have to magic." - Tom Petty
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The Magnavox Astro-Sonic Time Machine

The Magnavox Astro-Sonic Time Machine

Branson Tri-Lakes News — The last thing I expected when I made a quick trip to Springfield to see the opening of a friend's photography show was to find a time machine. Yet it's what I found. A Magnavox Astro-Sonic Time Machine. Now, if you look at the picture accompanying this story, you might say, "Well, it looks like a stereo to me.
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Branson aldermen meet with staff on critical issues

Branson aldermen meet with staff on critical issues

Branson Tri-Lakes News — The Branson Board of Aldermen held a one-day retreat with city staff on Friday, June 3, with the intention of looking toward the future of the city. The session, called "Collaborating for Success," was organized by acting City Manager Lisa Westfall and her staff.
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Pair sentenced in Taney County abuse case

Pair sentenced in Taney County abuse case

Branson Tri-Lakes News — The tragic tale of extreme abuse in Taney County has come to a close with two people spending the next 10 years in state prison. Ann Schilling was sentenced on May 31, to 10 years in prison on two counts of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly or Disabled person by Taney County Judge Jeffrey Merrell.
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Hundreds attend Memorial Day Tribute in Branson

Hundreds attend Memorial Day Tribute in Branson

Branson Tri-Lakes News — Hundreds of area residents came together at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery on Monday, May 30, to honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. The Branson Veterans of America hosted the annual Memorial Day Tribute to "honor those who have faithfully defended our nation and preserved our freedom."
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Golden's museum is golden

Golden's museum is golden

Branson Tri-Lakes News — Longtime readers of this fine publication know we are dedicated to serving Taney and Stone counties and strive to bring you the important events of our area. However, on the rare times we are actually off-the-clock (because, let's face it, news never really sleeps) Tim and AJ and I have hobbies and interests which take us away from our home base.
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New aldermen impact heated discussion on sewer extension

New aldermen impact heated discussion on sewer extension

Branson Tri-Lakes News — The Branson Board of Aldermen voted down an ordinance, which would have extended an agreement with Taney County regarding a sewer project near Country Bluff estates, during the May 10 meeting.
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Branson aldermen vote down sewer extension agreement

Branson aldermen vote down sewer extension agreement

Branson Tri-Lakes News — The Branson Board of Aldermen voted down an extension to a sewer line agreement with Taney County, and with it a solution proposed by Mayor Larry Milton to solve a long standing problem in a Branson neighborhood. The vote came on Bill 6158, which is in reference to the city's planned 2021 Sewer System Improvement Projects.
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More than meets the eye in Judge Yarnell's court

More than meets the eye in Judge Yarnell's court

Branson Tri-Lakes News — A recent visit to a Taney County courtroom revealed a court session to be akin to a duck swimming: it may look calm on the surface, but there's a lot happening you can't see. Branson Tri-Lakes News spent a morning in Judge Tiffany Yarnell's courtroom to observe the way Taney County courts have been operating post-COVID-19.
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Rep. Brian Seitz wants voters to hold officials accountable

Rep. Brian Seitz wants voters to hold officials accountable

Branson Tri-Lakes News — (Note: This is part two of a two-part story following a sit-down interview with State Rep. Brian Seitz. Part one can be found on our website.) Rep. Brian Seitz is counting on Missourians with traditional conservative Republican values to step up and begin to hold their elected officials accountable for sticking to the core beliefs of the party and stopping the undue influence of special interest groups.
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Rep. Seitz unhappy with expanded state budget

Rep. Seitz unhappy with expanded state budget

Branson Tri-Lakes News — State Representative Brian Seitz isn't happy with his party's leadership at the moment. Seitz was critical of leadership after the passage of a $47 billion state budget, the highest in the state's history, and $11 billion higher than the previous year.
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Kirbyville's Turner named Missouri SNA Director of the Year

Kirbyville's Turner named Missouri SNA Director of the Year

Branson Tri-Lakes News — Kirbyville School District is home to the state's newest Director of the Year for the Missouri School Nutrition Association. Patti Turner, Food Service Director and 27-year employee for the district, was named the 2022 MSNA Director of the Year.
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The collective anticipatory moment

The collective anticipatory moment

Branson Tri-Lakes News — I was sitting along Table Rock Lake this weekend working on a few stories for today's edition of the paper when I saw something pop up in my Facebook timeline feed which grabbed my attention. It was a picture of a rock concert.
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Branson aldermen vote on settlement agreement for Dobbins

Branson aldermen vote on settlement agreement for Dobbins

Branson Tri-Lakes News — In a closed session on Friday, April 22, the Branson Board of Aldermen voted to create a settlement agreement for Stan Dobbins, who had been placed on administrative leave as city administrator.
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Flicker of joy at the one year mark

Flicker of joy at the one year mark

Branson Tri-Lakes News — If you're reading this column on the date of publication for this edition of the Branson Tri-Lakes News, then it's exactly one year since my mother was able to ask Jesus face-to-face about what He was thinking when he created a platypus.
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Branson City Administrator placed on administrative leave

Branson City Administrator placed on administrative leave

Branson Tri-Lakes News — The changes at Branson City Hall promised by Branson Mayor Larry Milton have begun with the imminent departure of the city's top two administrators. The Branson Board of Aldermen voted in a closed session Tuesday, April 19, to place City Administrator Stan Dobbins on administrative leave as of April 20, 2022, at 12:01 a.m.
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Happy Easter from Cox Medical Center Branson Room 521

Happy Easter from Cox Medical Center Branson Room 521

Branson Tri-Lakes News — On the list of places you want to spend your Easter morning, Room 521 at Cox Medical Center Branson is not one which would rank high. Unfortunately for 2022, it's exactly where my oldest son Dale and I found ourselves, while most folks were headed to their church of choice to see what dresses the ladies bought for Easter, give baskets with Bible verses written on the eggs to the kids and worship Christ.
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Courts returning to normal post COVID

Courts returning to normal post COVID

Branson Tri-Lakes News — The Taney County court system is getting back to normal after dealing with COVID-19 restrictions placed on all Missouri courts by the state Supreme Court. One of the impacts on the local court involved selection for jury trials, which had to take place outside of the courthouse facility to be able to maintain social distancing requirements for the potential jurors.
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Cox Medical Center Branson's COVID Unit goes dark

Cox Medical Center Branson's COVID Unit goes dark

Branson Tri-Lakes News — Cox Medical Center Branson held a quiet celebration on April 12, when they discharged the last patient in their COVID-19 unit. The staff turned off the lights and opened all the unit doors for the first time in more than two years.
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New charges in Ridgedale man's sex crime case

New charges in Ridgedale man's sex crime case

Branson Tri-Lakes News — The sex crimes trial of a Ridgedale man took an unexpected twist when prosecutors announced they have been made aware of more victims. Cody Ryan Maberry had been charged with multiple child sex crimes related to encounters with victims under 18.
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Shopping and live shows attract nearly 10 million visitors to Branson in 2021

Shopping and live shows attract nearly 10 million visitors to Branson in 2021

Branson Tri-Lakes News — The Branson Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau presented a report to the Branson Board of Aldermen on March 22, regarding the demographics of tourists into the city in 2021. The report showed not only a significant increase from the pandemic impacted year of 2020, but increases across the board compared to the last non-COVID year, 2019.
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Judge dismisses Duck Boat charges

Judge dismisses Duck Boat charges

Branson Tri-Lakes News — The judge in the criminal trial of three men accused of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of 17 people in the Duck Boat Tragedy has dismissed all charges. Stone County Judge Alan Blankenship issued his ruling Tuesday, April 5, after delaying the initial hearing for his decision in March.
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Moon addresses "Missouri's Deep Dark Secrets"

Moon addresses "Missouri's Deep Dark Secrets"

Branson Tri-Lakes News — State Senator Mike Moon spoke to a group of area residents at the Hughes Brothers Theatre in Branson on Saturday, Oct. 2, about the Missouri Constitution and also told them about some of the "dirty tricks and power plays" which take place within the Missouri state legislature.
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Milton discusses tax revenue, CVB, ticket resellers

Milton discusses tax revenue, CVB, ticket resellers

Branson Tri-Lakes News — Branson Mayor Larry Milton spoke out on Thursday, Sept. 30, about the city's long term budgeting process and issues related to the promotion and marketing of the city. The mayor also called out third party ticket sellers, saying that their actions are taking millions of dollars from the city's tax coffers and making it harder on the city to provide citizens with needed services.
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Ending your silence is worth the price

Ending your silence is worth the price

Branson Tri-Lakes News — It was 1988, I was 17, and I was an outcast. I was bullied, insulted, and undermined by kids I went to school with. I was left out of social circles and thought the people I went to school with would be significantly happier if I was dead.
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