This year, I think we can all be especially thankful!

November the 24^th, on an otherwise glorious Thursday, our Nation will take pause to celebrate Thanksgiving. This being an annual national holiday marked by religious observances and a traditional meal including turkey. The holiday commemorates a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621, and is held in the US on the fourth Thursday in November. For millions of us, it is also a time to reflect on just how fortunate we are to live in a country like these United States. (For myself, personally, it is also a time of political celebration).

I would hope that we all take a moment to reflect on who and what we are as a Republic and where we are heading in the coming years. That we will face great challenges is a given. But, with new leadership in the Executive branch and in both Houses, I have a great hope that we may soon shake off the doom and gloom that seems to have pervaded the country for so long, And then, perhaps we can begin to make positive and common sense decisions concerning the very large concerns and hardships that are shared by so many. 

I know also that many of our citizenry will be working on that day. Men and women, who maintain essential services, will be on the job as will be many who work in the service industry. My hat goes off especially to these people, along with all those who have died in past wars, just so I can celebrate this day as a free man. May God look down upon all of us and may He guide us forward as a Nation... Amen!

Forsyth Christmas Parade Dec 3, 2016!

'I think everyone loves a parade, don't they? No matter how big or small, we all like to stand next to a roadside and be pelted by other people throwing candy at our soft heads.'

This December's Christmas Parade will be extra special to me for a couple of reasons; 1) we will be getting a new President real soon, and 2) I also have a good friend who will be in the parade that I hope to cheer on. Boy! I can hardly wait!

Now, while Forsyth Missouri supports a population of only about 2200, there seems to be no lack of enthusiasm when it comes to 'putting on the dogs'! I would therefore like to encourage everyone to show up and stand along Hwy 160 between Coy Blvd and Hwy Y and give a cheer out to all the great floats and marching bands. The kiddies will have ample opportunity to grab up a load of candy that I understand is donated by the area dentists. For my part, I plan to be hanging out at John's Frosted Mug and filling myself with good Christmas Cheer before standing bleary eyed to watch the parade rumble on by...

Note that the rain date for this event will be December 10^th!

Body found at Shadowrock Park still clouded in mystery!

So, here are the facts as I understood them concerning the body that was discovered by a passerby on November 16, 2016:

• That an autopsy had been performed.
  
• That the person died due to 'self-strangulation'..
  
• That the state of decomposition was so great, the determination of gender was impossible.
  
• That an 'Investigation at the scene by both the Forsyth Detective, two Taney County Detectives and the Assistant Coroner (who is a retired Detective) all concluded that the incident appears to be non-suspicious and there is no concerns of public endangerment involved with this incident.'
  
• That the Taney County Sheriff Jimmie Russell, in a separate statement also issued Thursday morning, did not rule out the possibility the body could be that of Amanda Hillhouse, a 30-year-old Forsyth woman who had been reported missing. Hillhouse was last seen Oct. 25 about a half mile from the site where the body was found, according to Russell. Unlike the statement from Forsyth police, Russell’s press release states that the body is a woman’s. 

If I were to read this the way in which it has been presented, I would tend to conclude that some poor individual, most likely a woman, crawled under the old bridge next to Shadowrock Park and then committed suicide by self imposed strangulation sometime in the past, say around Oct 24^th when it also just so happened that a young woman name Amanda Hillhouse was also reported missing and who has not been seen since. And, now we are all waiting for dental records to see if that individual was indeed Ms Hillhouse. Hmm. And, it has been reported that 'Ms. Hillhouse was last seen on Oct. 25 at a location within ½ mile from where the body was located.' Quite a coincidence, wouldn't you day?

Finally, this factoid needs to be read again.. 'Investigation at the scene by both the Forsyth Detective, two Taney County Detectives and the Assistant Coroner (who is a retired Detective) all concluded that the incident appears to be non-suspicious and there is no concerns of public endangerment involved with this incident.' Wow! How'd they come up with that little tidbit so quickly? 

Other speculation. Were this individual turn out to be Amanda and were she to have expired on or about Nov 24, the temps were warm enough for rapid decomposition (see below).
 

Well, anyway we still have to wait for a positive ID on the body via a dental comparison with Amanda's dental records, but one could still wonder what would happen if it does indeed turn out to be her? Why that would certainly open up a new can of worms, wouldn't it?

Update: November 25 - Still waiting... crickets making sounds...

Update: November 28 - Taney County has their best man working this case... 

Update: December 4 - Nothing, nada. I assume that the body was identified, but that the person was so unimportant as to not be worthy of media followup....

Update: Body was identified!! What a sad surprise. And the who horrific and terrible event was still classified as a 'not suspicious' death!

  [Source: Branson Tri-Lakes News]

Post Forsyth Senior Friendship Center 'all you can eat event' report!

VP Rodney Dempsey

Forsyth Mo. – I had the very great pleasure of attending a fund raising event held by the kind people at the Forsyth Senior Friendship Center located at 13879 US Hwy 160 who were asking $5 for an all you can eat breakfast! When I arrived, I was greeted by VP Rodney Dempsey (pictured above) who also took a moment to show me a display of what the new center will look like after it is built on Hwy 76, in the near future! Wow! Mr. Dempsey was quick to tell me that this center will be for 'everyone', not just just for those aged 55 or older. The site will contain all sorts of games and will seat an even larger number of diners, as the daily offerings of discounted foods are a very popular reason people like myself go there. (They have a monthly calendar of food and events that can be picked up any time at the site).

Hungry customers enjoying food and friendship!

When I sat down at a table, it was just like an upscale restaurant, only without the waiting. Almost immediately a volunteer server approached me, order pad in hand. On the menu was; scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits with gravy and pancakes. For the beverage selection, there was apple juice, orange juice and coffee! As I was on a very strict diet, I decided to order one of everything!

Before I could have believed it, a plate of food and the drinks were brought to me. I was in culinary heaven and thought the $5 cost was a real steal of a deal! The quality of that food was excellent and as I dug in to eat, I had also a chance to talk to a gentleman named Rick who told me that he goes to the Friendship Center at least twice a week. (I agreed and would urge everyone to call 417-546-6100 if they have any questions or need more details)! The Center is here to serve our community, which it does very well, and only asks that everyone frequent it from time to time! I know that I plan to!

Pictured here is the November calendar of all the food that is being offered. You can click on it to enlarge.

See this and similar articles at www.taneyservices/mashed

Forsyth Senior Center: All you can eat breakfast!

Forsyth MO - On Saturday, November 19, the Forsyth Senior Center located at 13877 US Hwy 160 just to the north of Forsyth will be hosting an all you can eat breakfast from 7AM to10 AM! This is a monthly breakfast to  help support the center and to pay some bills. The food is prepared by the seniors themselves and will consist of eggs, sausage, pancakes with biscuits and gravy. Beverages will include fresh coffee and orange juice. Admission is $5 with special pricing for children. For more information, call 417-456-6100! Source: Taney County Times

I'm planning to do a full report with pictures after attending this event!

NOTE: IF YOU ARRIVE BEFORE 7AM, YOU WILL BE PART OF THE COOKING STAFF!! LOL!

Death of person found by Shadowrock may have been accidental or not!

 

Indicated location a guess by author

Forsyth MO. – On the morning of Thursday, November the 17^th, it was disturbing to see the horrible news flashed on a social media outlet. Apparently, someone had discovered a body of a woman near a bridge leading to the popular Shadowrock Park next to the Bull Shoals lake area.

KY3 aired a piece on the discovery but supplied precious little hard information. The local sheriff's police did promise to release additional details when the became available. Of great interest to most people living in and around the park area would be to have some idea as to how the victim ended up where she did?

According to a later statement by the police, 'Forsyth Police Chief Roger Ellis reports the body was found by a citizen Wednesday evening, under a bridge on U-S Highway 160. The location of the body was concealed from view by anyone who was traveling thru the area on the lower bridge leading from Shadowrock Park and from the bridge on U-S Highway 160 on Forsyth Hill.

Ellis also stated in a news release the decomposed condition of the body made it impossible to absolutely determine the identity of the victim. An autopsy has been scheduled for Friday and Ellis says it could take several days or weeks before the identity of the victim is known to authorities.

Ellis added that the investigation at the scene by the Forsyth Detective, two Taney County Detectives and the Assistant Coroner all concluded that the incident appeared to be non-suspicious and there are no concerns of public endangerment involved with this incident.

For now, everyone will have to content themselves with waiting for forensic identification of the person a week or so from now...

Update: November 19 - I had come into possession of the name of the deceased (not verified), the cause of death and the name of a person of interest to the police. None of this information will be released by me until such time as it is made official by the authorities.

More search warrants issued in murder case!

Forsyth MO. – The investigation into the wrongful death of 18 year old Eric Summerfield continued, in mid November, as additional search warrants were recently issued. A request, by the media for the release of information concerning the search warrants had been rescheduled for a hearing scheduled for December the 6^th. The issuance of more warrants would indicated that the investigation was still active and, of some interest, is that a least some of the warrants pertained to juveniles. 

Tristan Carr, the suspect in the case, remained in jail on a half million dollar bond. Source: Taney County Times

Update: Dec 6, 2016 - State by PA Merrell. Defendant was with Attorney Davis. Media request to be filed in this case. Request for next hearing to be held on 1/26/17 @ 1pm. Preliminary was then set for hearing 1/26/17 @ 1PM. Defendant Carr's request to bar the media for being present during preliminary was denied. Media to be restricted to still photographs only. Deft to be allowed to have a dress shirt, slacks and slip-on shoes for preliminary. Jail to allow the changes of clothes immediately before hearing. Clothes to be provided by the Police Department. Motion for bond reduction taken up. Motion for reduction denied.