Tri-Lakes Education News

BLUE EYE SCHOOLS

Blue Eye counselor receives MRTA Foundation grant to help students get to school on time (BY JOELENE POWELL, Staff Writer)

For some students, getting to school on time can begin with something as simple as finding an alarm clock that actually wakes them up.

Blue Eye High School counselor Kristy Linscott recently received a $500 Classroom Grant from the Missouri Retired Teachers Association Foundation to help students who struggle with oversleeping and arriving at school on time.

Linscott was one of 106 grant recipients selected from more than 600 applications submitted statewide this year, according to her MRTA Foundation award letter.

Linscott used the $500 grant to purchase a variety of alarm clocks that students can borrow when phone alarms are not working for them. The options include wrist alarms that vibrate, alarms that vibrate under a pillow, extra loud alarms, sunrise simulating clocks and alarms that roll around the room until the user gets up to turn them off.

The different options will allow students who repeatedly miss the bus or arrive late because of oversleeping to find an alarm that best meets their needs.

“Students who repeatedly miss the bus or arrive late because of oversleeping will be offered a chance to ‘shop’ in an attempt to find something that works for them,” Linscott said.

The goal, Linscott explained, is to remove a barrier that could prevent students from getting the most out of their school year.

The Missouri Retired Teachers Association Foundation supports Missouri public education through programs including classroom grants for educators.

BRANSON SCHOOLS

Chase added to Pirates’ wall of fame (BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer)

A special ceremony prior to Friday night’s Branson Pirates football game saw the second picture placed on the Pirate Wall of Honor inside Pirate Stadium.

John Earl Chase served the Branson School system for decades. Chase began his coaching career in Branon in 1939, as head football coach and assistant basketball coach. He would leave Branson High School to coach basketball and track at School of the Ozarks in nearby Point Lookout before returning to Branson in 1950 as head basketball coach, track and baseball coach.  

In his more than eight years as Branson’s Head Basketball Coach, Chase led his team to 248 wins and only 48 losses, and advanced to state tournament play four times. Chase was later inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Chase also served as the Superintendent of Branson Schools for 16 years.

Chase’s career in Branson left an impressive legacy, and he is remembered for his athletic excellence, administrative services and his dedication to the students and the local community.

The Pirate Wall of Honor serves to pay tribute to coaches, teams and individuals who have made lasting impressions on Branson Public Schools’ great contributions to the success and spirit of the school’s athletic program.

Chase was the second name added to the Pirates Wall of Honor. The first inductee was longtime Branson Football Coach Steve Hancock.   

Border Battle win goes to Harrison (BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer)

The opening game of the Branson Pirates football season was a tough one for the Pirates and their fans.

The Branson Pirates took on the Harrison Goblins in the Pella Windows and Doors Border Battle, pitting the two states - Missouri and Arkansas - against each other. This year marked the third that the Border Battle has been played. The Border Battle began in 2024, marking the first time in 40 years that the two teams had met in football play.

The first year the Pirates beat the Goblins by a score of 23 to 7, and Branson kept the prestigious Border Battle Traveling Trophy in their possession until the two teams met again. The second Border Battle, played in 2025, saw the Harrison Goblins defeating the Pirates, and moving the trophy to Harrison.

On Friday, the third game in the Border Battle, the Harrison Goblins once again bested the Pirates, with a final score of 28 to 16.

The Border Battle Trophy will remain in Harrison in 2027, when the two teams meet again.

COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS

College of the Ozarks President and First Lady featured on ‘Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson’ (SUBMITTED TO BRANSON GLOBE)

College of the Ozarks President Dr. Brad Johnson and First Lady Laura Johnson were recently featured on “Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson,” discussing the College’s mission to provide students with a Christ-centered education while preparing them for lives of purpose, service and leadership.

The two-part interview, titled “Everyday Heroes Who Are Making a Difference at College of the Ozarks and Beyond,” features a conversation with Gary Bauer, former U.S. Secretary of Education and president of American Values, about the distinctive mission of College of the Ozarks and the role of faith, character and service in higher education. The programs are available for listening online: Listen to Part 1: https://bit.ly/college-of-the-ozarks-and-beyond-pt1 Listen to Part 2: https://bit.ly/college-of-the-ozarks-and-beyond-pt-2

FORSYTH SCHOOLS

Friday Night Lights: Panthers take on Bears in season opener (BY AJ FAHR, Staff Writer)

The Forsyth Panthers took to the gridiron as the roar of Panther Nation set the stands on fire under the Friday Night Lights. 

The Panthers faced off against the Ava Bears at their 2026 season kickoff on Friday, Aug. 28. The Panthers headed into the season as the Mid-Lake Conference Champions. The Panthers are led by returning players along the offensive line and at linebacker including Carter Williams, Mason Keys, Spencer Hilliard and Cam Hirahara. The team also has senior leadership with Josh Skeek, Evan Heier and Ethan Hutchins.

The Bears came in with an impressive 13 consecutive winning seasons. This was the first time since 2018, that saw the Panthers facing the Ava Bears.

With the coin toss, Forsyth was to receive the kick-off. No. 1 Quarterback Sophomore Jackson Linehan started off the game. Forsyth started with a monster line-up but with a fumble and a turnover, the Ava Bears gained control of the ball. Both teams chose to keep to the ground by running the ball in the first quarter. With another fumble, the Panther’s Josh Skeek picked up the ball, gaining control once again for the Panthers. Hutchins picked up the first catch of the game, right after an incomplete pass. A fumble on the four-yard line was picked up by Ava. With the last second of the game, the first quarter closed without any points put on the board for either team. All three possessions in the first ended in fumbles.

In the second quarter, the Ava Bears threw for the first time in the game, but it was incomplete. The Forsyth Panther’s Clayton Turney came in for a big tackle to help stop some momentum for the Bears. Hutchins caught the punt and gained some field ground for the Panthers at the 48 on the Ava side. The Panthers with a hand-off to Clayton Muller who brought it to the inside the one by pushing out to the goal line. In the next play, Muller put the first six points on the board with a dive play touchdown. The extra point kick was no good. 

The Ava Bear’s Braxton Swearengin ran the ball for 33 yards, breaking through two tackles to give the first Bears a touchdown. With a good kick, the Bears took a one-point lead 7-6. After the Panthers gained control of the ball, Forsyth No. 54 Carter Williams went down with an injury with 3:11 on the clock. Williams was able to get up on his own. The Panthers took the first time out with a little over two minutes on the clock for the first half. Once back on the field, Linehan passed but it was incomplete. Ava gained control of the ball once again. The Bears tried to rush, but fumbled the ball. Braydon Turney was able to get the turnover. The Panthers with seven seconds on the clock, rushed and then took their second time out. The first half finished with a score of 7-6 in favor of the Bears. 

In the second half, the Bears started with control of the ball. Ava pushed forward holding back a strong den of Panthers. With a fumble, the Bears quickly picked up the ball but had them lose six yards. The Bears get a complete pass getting them in the red zone. Swearengin once split two and once again found his way to a second touchdown for the Bears. The extra point kick was good, giving Ava a 14-6 lead over the Panthers. The Panthers start their offensive play with a hand-off. Muller stumbled his way to a first down trying to gain every yard he could. After moving forward slowly, Muller was able to once again push for a first. The Bears were able to get a sack on Linehan followed by a deep incomplete pass to Hutchins. Linehan passed Muller an almost 20-yard pass for another first down.

After two injuries, one for both teams. With another missed pass, Linehan got Muller in his sights and completed a pass before he was tackled during the last play of the quarter. Going into the fourth quarter, Ava led the Panthers 14-6.

With one quarter left, Forsyth had control of the ball. Soon after the quarter began, Muller was able to bring down two linebackers to give Heier a free lane.

The Panther’s Heier ran through his blockers up the middle for 13 yards giving Forsyth its second touchdown. Forsyth went for the two points; the pass was incomplete. Neither team was able to make it to the endzone for the rest of the fourth. 

Forsyth lost to the Ava Bears 12-14. 

In other Friday Night Light action around the area: Branson fell to Harrison 28-16; Hollister fell to Berryville 40-24; Reeds Spring picked up a win for their season opener against Parkview 7-6.

REGIONAL SCHOOLS

Veterans of the Ozarks invests in next generation through scholarships (BY JOELENE POWELL, Staff Writer

The future of service was celebrated during the Veterans of the Ozarks’ recent membership meeting as the organization awarded its first-ever scholarships to four area students for the 2026-27 school year.

Veterans of the Ozarks, also known as VOTO, awarded scholarships to Delaney Guardiola, Zachery Hembree, Reece Loveland and Conner Jackson.

The new scholarship program was developed to help with educational expenses for active-duty service members, ROTC and JROTC students and family members of retired military personnel and veterans.

David “Mac” McAllister, president of Veterans of the Ozarks, said the scholarship program reflects the organization’s commitment to supporting military families while investing in future generations through education.

“Through this scholarship program, Veterans of the Ozarks is honored to support students and military families as they take the next step in their education,” McAllister said.

Scholarship recipients included Guardiola, who is homeschooled and the daughter of a Navy veteran; Hembree, an Ozark High School JROTC student; Loveland, a Sparta High School student with retired Navy family members; and Jackson, a Forsyth High School student and grandson of a Vietnam veteran.

Guardiola and Loveland attended the recent VOTO membership meeting, where members had the opportunity to recognize the two scholarship recipients in person. Hembree and Jackson were unable to attend.

“Best of luck to these two young ladies as they step out and into their higher education,” McAllister said. “They go with the well wishes of the Veterans of the Ozarks membership. The same goes for our other two recipients, Zachery Hembree and Conner Jackson, who were unable to attend. Good luck to you all.”