November 07, 2009

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Best of 417 2008—People

To find out how to contact each and every one of these winners, check out our Best of 417 Resource Guide

Best Local Radio Duo
Kevin Howard and Liz Delany, Alice 95.5
Zany describes this morning show (which has been a reader favorite for six years). Kevin and Liz bring you a mix of music, celebrity news, regular news and witty, witty banter. Listen at 7:20 a.m. on February 5 for our own Dori Allen Grinder to make a guest appearance on the show.
Runners-up: J. Fotsch & Dawn McClain, Woody P. Snow & Cindy Rippe

Best (Solo Male) Local Musician
Art Bentley, Springfield
Bob Anderson, Branson
Girls we know have giant crushes on Mr. Bentley and have been known to name their dogs after him, not entirely because of his guitar-chops and mellow vocals. Did you know he was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, raised in West Plains, now lives outside Springfield and constantly plays venues such as Ebbets Field and Springfield Brewing Co.? He’s also known to make appearances in Kansas City and Wichita, Kansas. In Branson, don’t miss Bob Anderson. Anderson, practically dubbed a national treasure of singing impressionism by People, plays Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theatre, where he does a Rat Pack act that is Dean Martin–endorsed. Far from schtick, it’s a set of chops that Anderson started developing in his twenties, when he was championed by Nancy Sinatra and Merv Griffin.
Runners-up: Mark Chapman, Lyal Strickland

Best Local (Original) Music Band
Big Smith, Springfield
Paul Revere and the Raiders, Branson
Undisputed kings. Words can’t do justice to Big Smith’s proudly twanging hillbilly roots music, although plenty of ink has been spilled in describing the sound, from the London Times (they play festivals in Europe from time to time) to the Chicago Reader. The band went through a change of bass players this past year, but we’ve heard no complaints since. Hear them at the Snorty Horse and other local venues. Paul Revere and the Raiders were hugely popular beginning in the mid-’60s, and some of their hits were later covered by punk and New Wave artists. Paul Revere and sundry Raiders now tour around the country, but we’re lucky to have them in Branson this coming year for seven show dates in Spring and Summer.
Runners-up: E Wag 3, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Best Local (Cover) Music Band
M-Dock Band
If you’re putting on a charity gala in 417-land, chances are you’re putting in a call to M-Dock. The band plays a Boomer-friendly list of classic-rock covers that brings partygoers to the dance floor. M-Dock even played at Firefall for many years.
Runners-up: Open Fire, The Dropouts, Sting Ray Anderson at Club 57

Best Local Female TV News Personality
Lisa Rose, KY3
Springfield-based TV news went through a number of changes during the past year, as KYTV essentially acquired KSPR, sending some key talent and newsroom managers to the rebranded station. Through it all, Lisa Rose was (and is) a KY3 constant, reporting and anchoring the news weeknights at 6 and 10 p.m. Why do people like her so? “She’s so warm and personable,” sums up one of our editors. “It’s like listening to your young, cool aunt give the news.” Rose also reports on medical news for the station.
Runners-up: Maria Neider (KY3), Joy Robertson (KOLR 10)

Best Local (Solo Female) Musician
Candy Coburn (Springfield)
McKenna Medley (Branson)
You may know that Coburn played the party celebrating the 5th anniversary of Whitaker Publishing last year; her indie country-rock style is upbeat, fun but far from sugary. If you haven’t heard her latest album, “REV IT UP,” do so. In Branson, McKenna Medley—daughter of Righteous Brother Bill Medley—has headlined in Las Vegas and has been performing at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theatre. If you’ve heard her voice, you know she has much more power and sophistication than the average 20-year-old singer. In fact, she got her start in ’94, at the age of 6.
Runners-up: Tiffany Christopher, Kristi Meredith

Best Local Male TV News Personality
Steve Grant
Steve Grant had a big year in 2007. After two decades on KY3’s morning show desk, he moved from Ozarks Today to anchoring the noon and 6 p.m. news broadcasts along with Maria Neider (12 p.m.) and Lisa Rose (6 p.m.). Little-known facts about Grant: He met Pope John Paul II and reported from New York, post-9/11... among many other dispatches from far... and near, like his dispatches from Marshfield during the January 7–8 tornadoes. He’s a classic broadcast newser.
Runners-up: Joe Daues (KSPR), Ethan Forhetz (KY3)

Best Place to Get The Scoop
Bar Area, Tong’s Thai Cuisine
If you want a real echo of what’s keeping 417-land’s power elite chattering, head to Tong’s Thai Cuisine. Owner Tong Trithara pretty much knows what’s up, from big business to the press. Whether he’ll talk… now, that’s another matter entirely. EDITORS’ PICK

Best TV Meteorologist
Brandon Beck
KY3 sweeps the TV categories as readers chose broadcast meteorologist Brandon Beck, who gives the forecast weekdays during the station’s morning and noon news programs. Beck pairs folksy, straightforward delivery with some fun extras. Check KY3’s website for his explanation of why The Old Farmer’s Almanac is no good for predicting ice storms.
Runners-up: Ron Hearst, Ted Keller

Best Radio News Team
KTTS
It’s nine (count ‘em, nine) on-air journalists that make the difference here. KTTS was perhaps the first news center of any kind in southwest Missouri to operate 24 hours a day. Our favorite aspect of KTTS? Traffic reporter Jason Rima’s Go-Patrol updates weekday mornings.

Best Restaurant Server
Chadwick Calkins, Nearly Famous Deli
Sadly (for us), Chadwick’s last day at Nearly Famous was in late December. “I quit to fully pursue my new career in cosmetology,” he says. Here are a couple of the ladies on our staff holding forth about Chadwick’s server greatness: “Delightful. He’s so adorable, cute and nice. He’s super-sweet and non-saccharin. We just felt like Chadwick wanted to take care of us.”
Runners-up: James Martin, Tuscan Grill; Ashley Swihart, Fire & Ice; Stacy Durst at Springfield Brewing Company

Best Bartender
Jeff Busby Icon Nightclub
The man can make everything from the prettiest of girly-drinks to lines of shots for the guys... all while doing it with speed and efficiency at Springfield’s hottest nightclub for the under-30 set.
Runners-up: Luke Mayo, The Boogie; Barry Kackley, Bijan’s Sea & Grille; Jeff Buettgenbach, Cartoons; Kyle Ziercher, Gallery Bistro