The Arkansas CW Crew had a chance to check out the World's Largest Toy Museum complex that is located in Branson. They have over 1 million toys spread across three buildings. They have a Paul Harvey exhibit of his life as a child recreated with the original furnishings from his childhood and a electric train exhibit. Come along with the crew as we check out the museum. Click below to watch an interview about the place and watch our tour.
Interview with General Manager Chris Newsom and the Crew takes a look at the museum.
Photo Gallery from Museum
They are located at 3609 W Hwy 76 in Branson, MO 65616. or you can go to worldslargesttoymuseum.com for more information.
The Arkansas CW Crew checked out the Fruitcake and Jelly Kitchen at College of the Ozarks located in Branson Missouri. For over 100 years students have worked rather than paid for their education. It was even nicknamed "Hard Work U" by The Wall Street Journal. We had a chance to taste some of their delicious treats for the holidays at their student ran Fruitcake and Jelly Kitchen.
Click below to see some of what is cooking at the Fruitcake and Jelly Kitchen!
There is a lot to see at the Fruitcake and Jelly Kitchen and around the campus including several veteran memorials. The Public Relations department provides free student-guided tours for charter bus groups. Tours are offered on the hour 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday thru Friday. To schedule an appointment for your charter bus, call 417-690-3241. The tour includes visiting the Williams Memorial Chapel, Greenhouses, Mill, and the Fruitcake and Jelly Kitchen.
Guests are welcome to visit campus at their leisure, using the Campus Map as a guide to see the many wonderful attractions on campus. An audio Cd is available in the public relations office for the self-guided tour.
Prospective student tours Call 417-690-2636 to schedule an appointment.
Photo Gallery
You can visit the campus website by going here: www.cofo.edu
The Arkansas CW Crew took a ride on the Polar Express on their holiday visit to Branson. The Crew put their jammi-jams on and departed at the historic 1906 depot in downtown Branson. Van Allsburg’s “The Polar Express,” the renowned story and 2004 film about learning to cherish and believe in the spirit of Christmas, comes to life each Christmas at Branson’s Scenic Railway. Find out more about the ride and after the interview check out the crew on the Polar Express. Watch video Below.
Interview and the Crew on the Polar Express
The Crew had a great time on the Polar Express Photo Gallery
For more information on the Polar Express and how you can have some family fun in downtown Branson. Go here explorebranson.com or their website bransontrain.com for tickets and times.
The Arkansas CW Crew spent the day checking out the holiday celebration going on now through January 1st at Silver Dollar City in Branson. Below you can check out the Joyful Voices Carolers, Tinker Juniors Toy Shop, (Tinker The Christmas Tree) Hillcreek Pottery, A trip through Jingle Bell Junction, Hazel Blown Glass, Frisco Sing-Along Steam Train, Christmas in Midtown and a trip through the 6.5 million led light displays. Last year, it was one of the top 10 holiday places to visit in the nation during the holidays. The Crew found out there is so much to see with the sun goes down in Midtown! Watch it all below just click the video and check out the photo gallery.
The Crew Checks Out the Holiday Celebration click below...
Joyful Voice Carolers Who travel around the whole park singing and bringing joyful elements to the holiday experience at the park. Tinker Junior's Toy shop A fun interactive children's show featuring Tinker Junior, a 12 foot talking and singing Christmas Tree. Hillcreek Pottery We found a lot cool gift ideas at Hillcreek Pottery! They offer daily demonstration of wheel-thrown pottery and a large array of pottery products. Jingle Bell Junction
This is a one stop holiday decor shop. So if you are looking for a place that provides wide range of holiday fun for your home, this is the place!
Hazel's Blown Glass Craftsmen
Master Craftsman Shawn Watt creates elegant yet functional works of art as Master Craftsman at Hazel's Blown & Cut Glass Frisco Sing-Along Steam Train This train ride takes passengers on a musical journey through the beautiful Ozark Mountain countryside. Christmas in Midtown Revel in the warmth and beauty of the Christmas In Midtown® light spectacular, featuring 6.5 million twinkling lights. Last year, it was one of the top 10 holiday places to visit in the nation during the holidays. Eva & Delilah's Expert bakers have combined carefully chosen fruits, nuts and spices to create the perfect traditional fruitcake. Plus, lots of holiday goodies ready for you to take home for the holidays!
Silver Dollar City Gallery
You can join in the holiday family fun from now until January 1st. Go to silverdollarcity.com for more information on holiday festivities and calendar of events at Silver Dollar City in Branson.
We found a lot cool gift ideas at Hillcreek Pottery! We had a chance to speak with Senior Craftsman Amanda Conner while visiting Silver Dollar City this past weekend. Check out below some of the creative pieces they are creating at the Hillcreek Pottery.
The Arkansas CW Crew had a chance to check out Branson for the 2018 holiday season! Over the next week we will be releasing our Do The Ozarks Holiday Series from Branson. Our first stop was Christmas in Midtown at Silver Dollar City. It was one of the top 10 holiday places to visit in the nation during the holidays. The Crew found out there is so much to see with the sun goes down in Midtown! Silver Dollar City increased their light displays from 1.5 million to over 6.5 million led lights this year. Click below to watch what the night at Silver Dollar City in Branson has in-store for you.
Christmas in Midtown interview
The Crew checks out the lights!
Branson Lights Gallery provided by Silver Dollar City You can join in the holiday family fun from now until January 1st. Go to silverdollarcity.com for more information on holiday festivities and calendar of events at Silver Dollar City in Branson.
Frozen Turkey Donations, Matched By Butterball and Knorr Sides Will Benefit Both Northwest Arkansas and River Valley Families
40/29 (KHBS/KHOG-TV) and The Arkansas CW encourage Northwest Arkansas and River Valley residents to help feed our neighbors in need by donating to the 6th annual Feeding Hope Turkey Drive this Friday on November 16th.
40/29 News anchors, reporters, The Arkansas CW Street Team, station volunteersand Feeding Hope Turkey Drive partners will be collecting uncooked *turkeys from 4:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. at twenty-two locations.
Below are the two primary drop-off locations:
•Rogers - Walmart Super Center, 4208 Pleasant Crossing Blvd.
•Fort Smith – Walmart Super Center, 8301 Rogers Avenue
*For every Butterball turkey you give, your donation will be
matched, up to a total of 1,000 Butterball turkeys. Plus, this year, Knorr will
donate 10,000 bags of Knorr sides to supplement holiday meals for the hungry in
our viewing area.
The River Valley Regional and Northwest Arkansas Food Banks and their agencies will also be collecting turkeys at the following area Walmart Super Centers & Neighborhood Market locations:
River Valley:
Fort Smith Main Location for Drop off– Walmart Super Center, 8301 Rogers Avenue
River Valley (6am – 6pm): Alma - 367 W Cherry Street Booneville – 1400 East Main Street Clarksville - 230 Market Street Dardanelle – 1172 N Highway 7 Fort Smith – 2210 N 62nd Street Fort Smith - 2425 South Zero Street Fort Smith – Neighborhood Market - 8600 US Highway 71 S Fort Smith - Neighborhood Market – 4900 Rogers Avenue Suite 101J Greenwood - 551 Liberty Drive Mena - 600 Highway 71 N Van Buren - 2214 Fayetteville Road
Northwest Arkansas (8am-6pm): Berryville - 1000 West Trimble Fayetteville - 3919 North Mall Ave. Huntsville - 157 Gary Hatfield Way Rogers - 2110 West Walnut Siloam Springs - 2901 Highway 12 East Springdale - 4870 Elm Springs Road Springdale - 2004 South Pleasant
“Our stations are honored to help fight hunger, especially during the holidays,” said 40/29 and The Arkansas CW President and General Manager, Shawn A. Oswald. “Our Feeding Hope partners are extremely generous to help with the collection and distribution of donations.” 40/29 and The Arkansas CW’s Feeding Hope Turkey Drive is a community outreach initiative developed with the support of Walmart, The River Valley Regional Food Bank, The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, their agencies, food pantries and supported by Butterball, Knorr and Allwell.
"Service Dogs of Distinction" is a non-profit organization with the goal of providing quality service dogs to veterans. We had a chance to speak with one of the veterans who have graduated from the program, army veteran Sheri Nodine. Click below for interview.
U.S. Army Veteran Sheri Nodine
Sheri began the program in November 2014 and graduated in the fall of 2015. Sheri is a veteran of the U. S. Army where she worked as a air traffic controller. She also worked for the Pea Ridge National Military Park for 24 years and retired as the facility manager.
Bailey is a 5 year old Toy Poodle that Sheri purchased as a puppy. Bailey is a graduate of Service Dogs of Distinction program and helps her do things she was unable to do before. Sheri feels this program is saving veterans lives and continues to be involved.
Many PTSD, TBI Veterans don't drive, don't answer the phone, don't go outside in public, don't interact with strangers and resist assistance. These rescued dogs bring hope to veterans and a chance for a better life. If you are a veteran or know a veteran suffering from PTSD, TBI or related illness and are in need of a service dog or would like to make a donation or get involved please contact them at:
For more information on the organization or how to donate go here:
"Service Dogs of Distinction" is a non-profit organization with the goal of providing quality service dogs to veterans. We had a chance to speak with one of the veterans who have graduated from the program, Army Veteran Bradley Drain. Click below for interview.
U.S. Army Veteran Bradley Drain
Bradley Drain is retired from the U.S. Army. Scooter a lab-hound mix is 5 years old and was a shelter dog out of Madison County. They were matched in the summer of 2015. Bradley and Scooter completed training and graduated in June of 2016. They continue to work with "Service Dogs of Distinction" volunteering to participate in fund raising and other events. Bradley and Scooter currently volunteer with Sheepdog Intl in an effort to give back to other veterans. Scooter has allowed Bradley to go on vacation, drive by himself, attend public events, go shopping alone and a multitude of daily activities he couldn't do before.
Twenty-two veterans a day commit suicide. These men and women feel alone, misunderstood and devalued as human beings. In many local cases, "Service Dogs of Distinction" is a veteran's last resort because Department of Veteran's Affairs does not provide nor reimburse veterans for service dogs.
"Service Dogs of Distinction" search for rescue dogs that will fit their program from local animal shelters, donations and rescue organizations. These rescued dogs bring hope to veterans and a chance for a better life.
If you are a veteran or know a veteran suffering from PTSD, TBI or related illness and are in need of a service dog or would like to make a donation or get involved please contact them at:
For more information on the organization or how to donate go here:
