Kyle Troutman

Kyle Troutman

Kyle Troutman: 2024 in review

I’ve been pondering this piece for a few days, and every time I do, I land at the same question — where do I even begin? To say this year has been a whirlwind is an understatement. We started 2024 with a gleam in our eyes, coming off our first year of ownership of the Democrat where we enjoyed incredible support and success.

$16K raised for Share Your Christmas

Jill LeCompte, left, accepts a check for $16,686.53 on behalf of Share Your Christmas, a service of the ozark Area Action Corporation’s Barry County Neighborhood Center. This year, Share your Christmas provided gifts to 100 families and 315 children. Joei Blankenship, right, and Will Finch, were named Miss and Mr. Merry Christmas at Cassville High School for raising the most donations to the cause.

Table Rock Lake Community Foundation continues SKITS support

Shell Knob in the Spotlight (SKITS) is proud to continue to provide Shell Knob and the surrounding area with high quality stage performances and fun entertainment since its first show, “A Hillbilly Christmas,” in 2013. While the audience gets to see the excitement on stage, and the actors open their hearts to dazzle them with their performance, there are other efforts and pouring out of hearts that make it possible to open those curtains, a press release said. SKITS is a non-profit organization and as such, relies partially on the benevolence of local donors and business sponsors, and the rest falls squarely to the support of several area grants. The Table Rock Lake Community Foundation (TRLCF) has been a huge supporter of SKITS and has partnered with the troupe for many years now, assisting with funding across several areas of the organization. The TRLCF has been integral in continuing to improve the level of production for SKITS shows, and this season in the storage of its stage and set pieces by providing the funds to purchase a shipping container. The TRLCF’s mission is “to enhance the quality of life in our region through resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration and public leadership.” “We strongly believe in what they are doing in our area and feel the impact of their contributions with every show we put on,” the SKITS press release said.