From Elisa Kunz at Ozark National Scenic Riverways — (JS note: they seem to have fared better than the Mark Twain or state parks. One advantage to being in a valley in a windstorm.)

Eminence, Missouri- Park staff at Ozark National Scenic Riverways have cleared hundreds of trees from park roads and opened pathways for people to travel in the Shannon, Dent, and Texas counties. (more…)

The National Park Service (NPS) – Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) announced that several projects were funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The funding spans all districts in the park and help with large maintenance projects. (more…)

Ozark National Scenic Riverways Superintendent Reed Detring with Mike Simpson, left, and James Hall , both of Springfield, receive a plaque engraved with the Park Service Mission and embedded with a commemorative National Park Service coin for the new cave exhibit at the Akers Contact Station. Hall designed and constructed the cave exhibit, with Simpson providing additional support and inspiration. James Hall is the owner of JH Creative Studios in Nixa and has designed exhibits for parks and museums across the country. Mike Simpson is a former employee of Ozark National Scenic Riverways and educator in the Springfield area. Both were volunteers on this project.

Jo Schaper

“Mommy, what’s that bug? Can I really touch a snake?”
This year, the Ozark Riverways are going all out to celebrate National Park Week (April 18-26) presenting Jr. Ranger Day at Round Spring campground, located between Salem and Eminence on Hwy. 19.
According to Bill O’Donnell – aka “Ranger Bill” – the activities at Round Spring April 25 from 9 a.m. to about 3 p.m. are designed to get kids from 6 to 16 excited about the outdoors. (more…)

Mother Nature has her own way of making us recognize her.  The dark long days of winter have given way to the longer springtime daylight.  Trees are budding, waiting until their right moment to pop their leaves to the world, waking up as the seasons change.  The flowers are starting to bloom.  Suddenly, it becomes a symphony of color in these hills; wildflowers, trees, and animals all greeting each after the quiet of winter. (more…)

– from NPS News Release, Mar 25, 2009
Our next round of General Managment Plan meetings will occur the week of June 22, 2009. The schedule is as follows:
Monday, June 22, 2009 5:00 PM-8:00 PM
Van Buren Community Center, Intersection of D Hwy and Business 60, Van Buren, MO 63965;

(more…)

For Traveler reader convenience, we’re posting a long, but clickable link to Ozark National Scenic Riverways General Management Plan progress. Riverways is not accepting comments at this time (3/09) but anticipates releasing GMP draft alternatives for public comment in late spring. We just thought you might like to see what has been done so far.
NPS Ozark Riverways GMP.

Park Ranger Bryan Culpepper (right) is shown here receiving the prestigious Freeman Tilden Award presented to him by Superintendent Reed Detring of Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Bryan Culpepper, park ranger at Ozark National Scenic Riverways, was awarded the Midwest Region Freeman Tilden Award for his continued contribution to Ozark Heritage Days and the National Park Service. The award recognizes outstanding (more…)

The annual meeting of Voice of the Ozarks will be Saturday evening, Jan. 31, 2009, at the old gymnasium in Eminence. Further details will be announced. (more…)