A March 14 radiothon hosted by several Zimmer Midwest Communications radio stations raised $32,296 for Honor Flight of the Ozarks, exceeding what the event raised in 2024.
The 12-hour radiothon was the fourth annual event Zimmer has hosted, with radio stations 98.7 The Dove, 101.3 Real Country, 93.3 and AM 560 KWTO, and 96.9 ESPN The Jock participating.
Honor Flight of the Ozarks board president Zachary McFarland said the additional funds are welcome as the costs of flying veterans to visit war memorials in Washington, D.C., “continue to increase each flight season.”
The first of three Honor Flight of the Ozarks trips is planned for May 28. Any veteran who served during World War II, Korea, the Vietnam era or the Gulf War, lives in southwest Missouri or northwest Arkansas and received an honorable discharge is eligible to go on an Honor Flight at no charge. For more information or to apply, go online to honorflightoftheozarks.org.
Branson School District kicked off “Bridging Worlds: A Bilingual Literacy Adventure,” a project aimed at overcoming language barriers while celebrating the diverse cultural background of district students, who speak a total of 31 languages.
The project received a $15,000 grant from Silver Dollar City Foundation and includes monthly bilingual programs at Library Center of the Ozarks, introduces dual-language books at school, provides classrooms with language-specific materials and culminates with a multicultural event on April 4.
In February, the district kicked off a monthly Spanish story time at Library Center of the Ozarks. April 4, the district will host Festival of Nations at Branson High School from 5-8 p.m., with bounce houses, food vendors, dancers, and an opportunity for families to showcase where they are from and their cultures. The event is free and open to the public.
Sport Clips Haircuts will open location March 27 in Republic’s Town Center Plaza shopping center, 545 E. Elm St. The new location will be the franchise’s eighth in the Greater Springfield area.
“Sport Clips’ offers our clients the expertise of professional stylists in a fun and exciting environment where they can enjoy watching sports on TV during their haircut,” said Andrea Roland, owner of the new Sport Clips. “Sport Clips has been an established hair care option for men and boys since 1993, and we’re excited to grow our presence in this market.”
First-time clients at the Republic Sport Clips will receive free “MVP upgrades” when purchasing a haircut, including a massaging shampoo, hot steamed towel, and neck and shoulder treatment. Hours of operation will be 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit https://sportclips.com/us-mo-republic-mo808.
Central Bank announced the addition of Regional Lending Manager Eric Gerke to its commercial lending team.
With 20 years of banking experience, Gerke joins the team to provide additional leadership and oversight of commercial lending efforts. As Senior Vice President, he will play a vital role in ensuring the growth and sustainability of commercial lending activities, establishing team goals and strategies that impact both short and long-term objectives, as well as managing a team of lenders and a personal loan portfolio of more complex commercial loan relationships.
Gerke holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Missouri State University and serves on various boards, including CASA, Habitat for Humanity and the Westside Optimist Club. For the past three years, Gerke has served the City of Republic as a city councilman and is the current mayor pro tem.
Central Trust Company, a division of The Central Trust Bank, announced the hiring of Ryan Hurn as Relationship Manager at the Central Trust location in Springfield.
A Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Consultant, Hurn has more than four years experience as a financial advisor and registered representative. He specializes in tailored financial planning and investment strategies.
A graduate of the University of North Texas, he is an active member of the Rotary Club and Leadership Springfield’s Signature Class 48, conducts financial literacy seminars and was recognized as a 2024 Springfield Business Journal Men of the Year honoree. Before entering finance, Hurn had a 20-year career as a professional musician, performing with renowned artists and contributing to the Emmy-winning special, You Should Dream.
Least Of These, Inc., a food pantry serving Christian County, announced the resignation of Executive Director Kristy Carter, who led the organization the past 10 years. Under her leadership, the food pantry expanded its reach, strengthened its community partnerships and provided essential food assistance to countless individuals and families throughout Christian County.
“We are deeply grateful for Kristy’s dedication to the people of Christian County and her commitment to ensuring no one in our community goes hungry,” said Mike Osborn, past board president. “Her leadership has made a lasting impact and, while we will miss her guidance, we are excited to build upon the strong foundation currently in place.”
Michele Pierce has been appointed the transitional administrator and point of contact for Least Of These, while continuing her role as director of client services, the board said in a release.
