Shell Knob banquet goers dine under the stars
Who’s the real dummy here? Pictured above: Branson ventriloquist Jim Barber and his dummy Seville both shocked and amused the audience with their specially designed costume that makes it seem as though Barber is being worked by his own puppet.
March 6, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
On the night of Saturday, March 2, the Shell Knob Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual chamber banquet to celebrate area businesses. It was a memorable evening full of laughs and heartfelt moments.
The theme of the evening was “Shell Knob Under the Stars”. To accomplish this, the room was decorated with black cloth adorning the sliding glass doors on their side of the building. Colorless decorative lights were hung across the cloth, creating a feeling of being under a starry sky.
Dinner began at 6 p.m. As each table dismissed to gather their food, the hungry eyes fell upon those returning with plates stacked high with chicken marsala and roast beef. The affair was catered by Area 71, a Shell Knob restaurant famous for their burgers and desserts.
After dessert was served, chamber president Sheri Gale addressed the crowd to announce the beginning of the Chamber’s awards.
Twilia Harrison, chamber executive director, took the stage to announce the winner of the first award, the community service award. The award was meant to honor the member of the community that did the most to volunteer on behalf of the chamber.
She was joined by local resident and frequent chamber volunteer Chloe Gibbons, whom she joked asked her every year if she could know the winners of the award in advance. Much to Chloe’s surprise, what began as a guest-announcing role soon turned to cheers as Harrison announced that it was Gibbons who had won the award.
According to Harrison, Gibbons won the award due to her outstanding track record of volunteering to work with the chamber at local events as well as her work with other groups within the community.
Gibbons’ has also done extensive work outside of the chamber. She has volunteered at 38 of the last 39 Homer Sloan and Buddy Bass Tournaments as well as with a local dance group called the Table Rockettes.
Harrison explained that Gibbons’ list of volunteer work with the chamber is extensive. Gibbons’ volunteer work with the chamber has included: Shell Knob’s annual home and business dinner; the annual Shakin’ in the Shell festival; and the Shell Knob boat show.
“She’s just a wonderful lady,” said Harrison. “She’ll be the first one to walk in the door when she volunteers to work an event. She’ll be there the whole time. She’ll come and do everything and work a full day.”
Gibbons’ is a long time resident of Shell Knob and has been an active part of the community for most of her residency.
“Has lived here for 41 years,” said Harrison. “At one point, she and her husband owned and operated a resort in Shell Knob. She taught at the Shell knob elementary school for 25 years. She was in on the ground floor of the Rattler. She still works there delivering the paper.”
The year’s new award, Chamber Champion, was intended to recognize individuals who go above and beyond to volunteer to increase the visibility of the chamber. The award went to Tom Koob, a Shell Knob resident who has worked with chamber off and on for several years.
“That was to highlight people behind the scenes that you don’t see as much, but that are important to the chamber nonetheless. Tom exemplifies that in a lot of ways,” said Harrison.
Koob is an author and a local historian with Table Rock Lake. According to Harrison, Koob frequently uses his skill as a professional writer to assist the chamber with their editorial and advertising needs.
“Tom helps with articles, the vacation relocation guide, he’s always there to help you write something or edit something that you have,” said Harrison “There’s a ton of stuff that he does.”
Harrison explained that Koob was also instrumental in the creation of a Chamber Fundraising effort called Shell Knopoly, a board game based on the classic Monopoly game but with Shell Knob-themed landmarks.
“This has taken a year to put this thing together,” explained Harrison. “He took that project on and it took him a year. He got all of his people together and organized and ran that. When this game comes out in April or May, everyone’s going to see the work that he put in to it.”
The final award of the evening was the business award, an award that was meant to celebrate the year’s best chamber-backed business owner. It was awarded to Rachel Morris, owner of Jug N’ Plug, a liquor store in Shell Knob.
“She bought an existing business and got it up and running, she provides jobs for the area, she’s got a good, solid business going. They’re always open, they’re always there when they need to be.
“As a person, in running that business, she has a heart for the community,” said Harrison. “Not just with the chamber. There isn’t anyone, not a single organization that walks through that door needing help with something that she doesn’t donate to or buy something for.”
The evening was brought to a close with the performance of ventriloquist Jim Barber and his dummy Seville. Barber astonished the crowd by appearing on stage in a costume that made it appear as though his real head was on a dummy body, while the dummy appeared to be the size of a full-sized human, working Barber.
According to Harrison, the banquet accomplished its one and only goal: the evening was a celebration of the businesses and people that make Shell Knob not only a great place to vacation and see the lake, but a great place to live.
“That’s what sets us apart. We’re full of businesses and people like that,” said Harrison. “We’re really lucky for that.”
Vinnie Roberts
On the night of Saturday, March 2, the Shell Knob Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual chamber banquet to celebrate area businesses. It was a memorable evening full of laughs and heartfelt moments.
The theme of the evening was “Shell Knob Under the Stars”. To accomplish this, the room was decorated with black cloth adorning the sliding glass doors on their side of the building. Colorless decorative lights were hung across the cloth, creating a feeling of being under a starry sky.
Dinner began at 6 p.m. As each table dismissed to gather their food, the hungry eyes fell upon those returning with plates stacked high with chicken marsala and roast beef. The affair was catered by Area 71, a Shell Knob restaurant famous for their burgers and desserts.
After dessert was served, chamber president Sheri Gale addressed the crowd to announce the beginning of the Chamber’s awards.
Twilia Harrison, chamber executive director, took the stage to announce the winner of the first award, the community service award. The award was meant to honor the member of the community that did the most to volunteer on behalf of the chamber.
She was joined by local resident and frequent chamber volunteer Chloe Gibbons, whom she joked asked her every year if she could know the winners of the award in advance. Much to Chloe’s surprise, what began as a guest-announcing role soon turned to cheers as Harrison announced that it was Gibbons who had won the award.
According to Harrison, Gibbons won the award due to her outstanding track record of volunteering to work with the chamber at local events as well as her work with other groups within the community.
Gibbons’ has also done extensive work outside of the chamber. She has volunteered at 38 of the last 39 Homer Sloan and Buddy Bass Tournaments as well as with a local dance group called the Table Rockettes.
Harrison explained that Gibbons’ list of volunteer work with the chamber is extensive. Gibbons’ volunteer work with the chamber has included: Shell Knob’s annual home and business dinner; the annual Shakin’ in the Shell festival; and the Shell Knob boat show.
“She’s just a wonderful lady,” said Harrison. “She’ll be the first one to walk in the door when she volunteers to work an event. She’ll be there the whole time. She’ll come and do everything and work a full day.”
Gibbons’ is a long time resident of Shell Knob and has been an active part of the community for most of her residency.
“Has lived here for 41 years,” said Harrison. “At one point, she and her husband owned and operated a resort in Shell Knob. She taught at the Shell knob elementary school for 25 years. She was in on the ground floor of the Rattler. She still works there delivering the paper.”
The year’s new award, Chamber Champion, was intended to recognize individuals who go above and beyond to volunteer to increase the visibility of the chamber. The award went to Tom Koob, a Shell Knob resident who has worked with chamber off and on for several years.
“That was to highlight people behind the scenes that you don’t see as much, but that are important to the chamber nonetheless. Tom exemplifies that in a lot of ways,” said Harrison.
Koob is an author and a local historian with Table Rock Lake. According to Harrison, Koob frequently uses his skill as a professional writer to assist the chamber with their editorial and advertising needs.
“Tom helps with articles, the vacation relocation guide, he’s always there to help you write something or edit something that you have,” said Harrison “There’s a ton of stuff that he does.”
Harrison explained that Koob was also instrumental in the creation of a Chamber Fundraising effort called Shell Knopoly, a board game based on the classic Monopoly game but with Shell Knob-themed landmarks.
“This has taken a year to put this thing together,” explained Harrison. “He took that project on and it took him a year. He got all of his people together and organized and ran that. When this game comes out in April or May, everyone’s going to see the work that he put in to it.”
The final award of the evening was the business award, an award that was meant to celebrate the year’s best chamber-backed business owner. It was awarded to Rachel Morris, owner of Jug N’ Plug, a liquor store in Shell Knob.
“She bought an existing business and got it up and running, she provides jobs for the area, she’s got a good, solid business going. They’re always open, they’re always there when they need to be.
“As a person, in running that business, she has a heart for the community,” said Harrison. “Not just with the chamber. There isn’t anyone, not a single organization that walks through that door needing help with something that she doesn’t donate to or buy something for.”
The evening was brought to a close with the performance of ventriloquist Jim Barber and his dummy Seville. Barber astonished the crowd by appearing on stage in a costume that made it appear as though his real head was on a dummy body, while the dummy appeared to be the size of a full-sized human, working Barber.
According to Harrison, the banquet accomplished its one and only goal: the evening was a celebration of the businesses and people that make Shell Knob not only a great place to vacation and see the lake, but a great place to live.
“That’s what sets us apart. We’re full of businesses and people like that,” said Harrison. “We’re really lucky for that.”