Camdenton High School Principal Tim Hadfield, who was introduced to Camdenton Optimist Club by Program Chairman Dale Wilkerson, told of the great progress in reaching academic goals by students and the challenges of seeking continued improvement in a difficult economic environment.

New mobile website focuses on pinpointing businesses by a Smartphone’s GPS.

HERE and NEAR is a navigational guide to Lake of the Ozarks giving tourists information and GPS coordinates on area businesses. With Smartphone’s becoming more and more popular there is a need for a Lake guide that tourists can carry with them.

HERE and NEAR is simple to use. Just launch the website, click on an area of interest, and be provided with categories of businesses to choose from such as lodging, entertainment, dining, shopping, etc. From the category listing, pick a business you would like to see and you are presented with detailed information. On the detail page, click a phone number to dial with your Smartphone, click a link to their website, or click their GPS coordinates to find your way there. That's it…simple as 1-2-3.

There is also a desktop version of the site that works much the same way. You are presented with three columns, the first column provides business names, the second column provides a map with markers, and the third column provides detailed information on the business. The desktop version allows tourists to make plans before they get to the Lake.

"I grew up at Lake of the Ozarks. Helping small and large businesses connect with customers gives me great satisfaction,” says Sam Olive, owner of HERE and NEAR, a service of the Olive Company. "Smartphone use is gathering steam, in the U.S., new research shows. Over 40 percent of Americans use their Smartphone’s to e-mail, surf the web, and text message according to research. That is up from 32 percent just a year ago. Smartphone sales have received a summer boost from recent introductions of Apple's (APPL) iPhone 4 from AT&T, Motorola's (MOT) Droid X on Verizon and Sprint's (S) HTC EVO,” says Olive.

Columbia College is pleased to announce that the Lake of the Ozark’s nursing program has received full approval from the Missouri State Board of Nursing. The approval showcases the outstanding growth the program has displayed since originating in 2005 and the commitment to the constant evolution of a top-quality curriculum.

“For five years, Columbia College and Lake Regional Health Systems have worked together to support and grow our nursing program. This full approval represents the success the program has had and the hard work of our faculty, staff and students,” Columbia College – Lake Ozark Director Dr. John Keeney said. “Our mission is to provide quality nurses for the lake area and wherever quality health care providers are needed.”

The program has produced over 165 nurses during its tenure, with 74 of those graduates going on to work at Lake Regional Health Systems with 65 alums still on staff today. The May 2010 nursing class consisted of 24 members, which represented 26 percent of all graduates in May, pointing to the growing popularity of the program.

“The program’s status change from initial to full approval from the State Board of nursing is a tremendous step in our long-range plans,” said Linda Claycomb, director of the nursing program. “We are constantly evaluating our faculty, staff, curriculum and outcomes in an effort to provide our students with the best education possible. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedicated team we have in place and the administrative support given to the nursing program.”

Columbia College, a private, nonprofit institution, was founded in Missouri in 1851 as Christian Female College, the first women’s college west of the Mississippi River to be chartered by a state legislature. The college changed its name to Columbia College in 1970 when it became coeducational.

The Lake Ozark campus was established in 1990. In 2004, a new 17,400-square-foot building was constructed, completed in spring 2005. The first classes held in the new facility began in June 2005.

Columbia College educates more than 28,000 students each year and has more than 64,000 alumni worldwide. For more information on the Lake Ozark campus, visit www.ccis.edu/lakeozark.

National Geographic's expedition in Mongolia is in search of the final resting place of Genghis Khan.
You can help the research by signing up to examine satellite imagery from the area, which will help the explorers pinpoint areas of interest in the vast steppes of Northern Asia.
http://exploration.nationalgeographic.com/mongolia/home

Guests Vote Baxter’s Top Restaurant at the Lake

Baxter’s Lakeside Grille has been recognized on OpenTable’s Diners’ Choice list for the month of June. Baxter’s earned the ranking from diners who booked a reservation at the restaurant through OpenTable.com. For the month of June, Baxter’s was the most booked restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks through OpenTable’s website. Guests replied that Baxter’s great outdoor dining, scenic view and vibrant bar scene made Baxter’s Lakeside Grille a desirable dining locale.

For more information on Baxter’s Lakeside Grille, call 573-365-2669 or please visit www.baxterslakesidegrille.com or Baxter’s Facebook page. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.opentable.com.

ABOUT BAXTER’S LAKESIDE GRILLE
Baxter’s Lakeside Grille, located on Bagnell Dam Boulevard, is an authentic American restaurant with great food, warm, personal service and an inviting, casual atmosphere. Baxter’s uses only the finest, freshest ingredients, coupled with personal service and warm, inviting surroundings. With indoor and outdoor seating and a private dining room, Baxter’s can accommodate most any group from an intimate dinner for two to a business or family party. For more information, please visit www.baxterslakesidegrille.com.