Force those blooms

Add color and fragrance to your home by tricking bulbs, spring-flowering trees and shrubs into thinking it's spring and blooming. The process is called forcing.

Charli Allee, Lake Area Master Gardener

"Kings" of the crowd

The musicians of the Blue Collar Kings say they cannot describe the "feel good" that comes from playing great music and watching the audience enjoy it.

Charis Patires

Lake-area icon closes its doors

A bumper sticker on the back of Mike Craig’s white SUV urges us to “Save A Chicken, Eat Catfish.” That encouragement is moot now that Mike and his wife Linda have closed the doors to one of the lake’s few remaining icons — the Happy Fisherman. It’s believed that only Bentley’s Restaurant on Bagnell Dam Blvd. is older — by one year.

Dan Field

2011: A Safer Year at Lake of the Ozarks

It was a safer year for boating on Lake of the Ozarks, according to year-end accident numbers released by the marine operations of the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Joyce L. Miller

Bonk Hard Chill is back

Brave the elements for an ultimate test of endurance and skill in the Bonk Hard Chill adventure race on Feb. 18 at Ha Ha Tonka State Park near Camdenton.

The "Golf Trail": Experience the Lake's Many Courses

You may have seen billboards promoting the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail as you travel to and from the Lake. A rebranding of golf at the Lake has added excitement and recognition for courses in the area. The Lake of the Ozarks Golf Council, an organization of 13 public golf courses and 11 partnering lodging entities, spearheads golf marketing.

The Pampering Chef: Chef Scott Cross Takes Good Care of His Porto Cima Clients

At the Porto Cima Club, all of the customers have been there before.

Susan Kirkpatrick

3 Favorite, Family-Friendly Golf Courses

Paul Leahy picks his favorite Lake-area golf courses for family fun.

Paul Leahy

Popped fresh daily

David and Amy Bird make some of the best popcorn in the business.

The Grocery Store Blues

Story compiled by Joyce L. Miller

Marine Winter Upgrades: Renew, improve and enjoy your boat again

Yes, it's that time of year again — time to do upgrades on your boat while you are not using it. That will give you more time on the water in 2012 and avoid that last-minute rush to get projects done before the “big weekend.”

Cicely R Wagner