“I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.” – Oscar Wilde Always FREE! Your source for local news and entertainment INSIDE... July 29-30, 2020 • Vol. 1, Issue 115 Parents look at online classes, homeschooling for upcoming school year Mental Impact: Cox Branson employee survives COVID. Page 2 By K.D. Michaels Staff Writer With the beginning of the 2020Kids in the Kitchen: Train Up a Child has a fun recipe for kids. Page 6 Gary McSpadden’s son, Shawn, and daugher, Michelle, speak at their father’s celebration of life. (Photo by Marshall Meadows.) Hundreds gather for pastor/songwriter Gary McSpadden’s Celebration of Life By Brenda Meadows Staff Writer Songs that Gary McSpadden had written, arranged, recorded or won awards for filtered throughout the Mansion Theatre on Saturday, July 25, while about 700 friends, What’s that sound? Grasshoppers create the sound of summer. Page 14 WEATHER...page 13 Highs in the 80s with multiple chances for showers and thunderstorms. family, fans and congregation members gathered for his Celebration of Life service. McSpadden, 77, passed away on April 15 from pancreatic cancer. Mansion General Manager Larry Wilhite welcomed those in atAnd it’s yes for face mask mandate BRANSON, Mo – The Branson Board of Aldermen voted in favor of mandating face coverings in public spaces in a special public meeting held Tuesday, July 28, 2020, at Branson City Hall to slow the spread of COVID-19 within the City of Branson. In a double read, the vote was in favor of the mandate 4-1 on the first read and 4-1 on the second read with Alderman Larry Milton voting no on both SEE FACE MASKS, PAGE 8 tendance. “Some people are stars in the world’s eyes,” he said. “Gary was a star of celebrity status who never believed his own press.” Shawn McSpadden hosted the celebration in honor of his father. Although McSpadden had received many awards for his singing, song writing, producing and performances with Gospel music artists including The Statesmen Quartet, The Imperials, The Oak Ridge Boys, Bill and Gloria Gaither the Gaither Vocal Band and even Elvis, “he was a preachSEE McSPADDEN, PAGE 3 21 school year just around the corner, many families are looking forward to some sense of normalcy as they send their children back to school. But for others, it’s a different story. With the spread of Covid-19, parents are concerned for the well-being of their children, and that leaves many searching for an alternative to a traditional classroom setting. When the pandemic caused an abbreviated school year this past spring, most schools offered some form of online learning for students to continue their education. For the upcoming school year, many of these schools will offer a choice between seated classes and virtual or online classes. These are both viable options for many people, but still others are considering a third option -- homeschooling -where they can have more control over what, when, and how their children learn. Homeschooling has been on the rise for several years. In 2019 over 2 million school aged children, or more than 3.4% of kindergarten through twelfth grade students across our nation, were schooled SEE HOMESCHOOL, PAGE 2
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