Happy Independence Day! Celebrate Safely! Always FREE! Your source for local news and entertainment INSIDE... July 3-4, 2020 • Vol. 1, Issue 106 City of Branson will not mandate face masks, other COVID measures By Gary Groman, Columnist Emeritus Virtual Shopping: Tanger Outlets adds new service. Page 3 King’s Chapel: Church at Music City Centre to open. Page 8 Piano Man: Show now open at Star Theatre. Page 12 WEATHER...page 11 Highs in the low 90s with a chance of showers on Friday and Saturday. On May 4, 2020, the Branson Board of Aldermen took action resulting in no mandatory city regulations or ordinances protecting the health and safety of Branson residents and visitors from the threat of the COVID-19 virus. Instead of their previous COVID ordinances, they decided to use the statewide Order of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) dated April 27, implementing Phase 1 of Missouri’s “Show Me Strong Recovery” plan. On June 11, 2020, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced that Missouri would enter Phase 2 of its “Show Me Strong Recovery” Plan on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. His announcement said that during Phase 2, “there will be no statewide health order. All statewide restrictions will be lifted, though local officials will still have the authority to put further rules, regulations, or ordinances in place.” To date, Branson has not exercised its authority to “put further rules, regulations, or ordinances in place. On June 25, the Taney County Health Department passed a Resolution imploring “Taney County residents and visitors to protect the public’s health by wearing face coverings while in any indoor public places to interrupt disease transmission and protect the public’s health.” The Resolution states that “numerous epidemiologists have insisted that widespread use of a facemask is necessary to prevent the more rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus.” It also points out “that the United States Centers for Disease Control recommends that members of the public, when they need to interact with others outside the home, and especially in settings where many people are present, should cover their mouth and nose to prevent inadvertently spreading COVID-19.” Kara Miller, Community Health Educator, and back up Public Information Officer for the Taney Country Health Department, emphasized the importance of wearing face masks to reduce the spread of COVID-19. When asked if wearing a mask was as SEE CITY, PAGE 9 Photo of Branson Ferris Wheel, courtesy Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.
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