Anita Campbell
County Reporter
Perfect weather brought thousands of people to the twin lake area during the three-day Memorial Day weekend.
Osage Bluff Marina manager Jason Reynolds reported a perfect beginning to the summer for the lake area.
“This was the best Memorial Day weekend ever,” said Reynolds. “The weather was perfect; the fish were biting and everyone seemed to be having a good time.”
Reynolds is beginning his forty-second year at his location on Truman Lake.
“We sold completely out of ice cream and life jackets,” said Reynolds.
Truman State Park Marina also reported a wonderful weekend.
“We had our busiest weekend this past weekend since we took over the business in 2018,” reported owner Lisa Gladson. “Our amazing staff worked so well together to make sure all our customers were taken care of.”
Gladson said that all the rentals were out the whole weekend and that all slips were full.
“We are starting our new dock project this next week,” said Gladson. “We have a waiting list of people who want to rent a slip so we are building more.”
Truman State Park Marina is open from 6:00AM until 6:30PM seven days a week until October 31.
“We didn’t have any complaints this weekend, everyone was happy to be here and were all having a great time,” said Gladson.
Truman State Park Marina offers a variety of services including: fishing boat and pontoon boat rentals, nightly and seasonal slips, fuel, bait and convenience store items.
Beth Drake at Beth’s Osage Mini-Mart reported a great weekend as well.
“We had a lot of traffic this weekend and I predict a very busy summer,” said Drake.
Osage Mini Mart sold 40,000 minnows over the Memorial Day weekend.
Beyonder Marine at Sterett Creek was packed with visitors over the three-day weekend according to manager Mandy Persinger.
“All our boat slips, motel rooms and campground sites were full,” said Persinger. “In fact, we only have a couple of seasonal slips left to rent and we are quickly filling up for the Fourth of July.”
The Drunken Minnow was busy all weekend with the staff working hard to keep up with food and drink orders. The Beyonder staff hopes to have a new restaurant in the Li'l Pappa Joe’s building by the Fourth of July.
Boomer the racoon is a new addition to the Beyonder Marine staff this summer as he makes his appearances every Saturday to the delight of all the youngsters.
They have also added a pickle ball court, basketball, sand volleyball, a gaga ball pit and a playground.
There is also additional golf cart parking as well as more golf cart rentals, both 4-seaters and 6-seaters.
“We were completely packed this weekend and we expect the same every weekend this summer,” said Persinger. “We have some amazing people working for us this summer and we want everyone to have a great time.”
Downtown, Mary Langewisch was extremely busy at Statuary Gardens.
“This had to be the biggest crowd we have ever had over a Memorial Day weekend,” said Langewisch.
“We had people coming in who had never been to Warsaw before and they were completely enthralled with our little town,” said Langewisch.
Langewisch commented that many of her customers had come to Warsaw just for the day, but reported they would be back.
Langewisch re-opened the ice cream parlor in the back of her store and said it was a huge hit.
In addition to her store on Main Street, Langewisch also has opened a garden store at 34479 Highway M, near Edwards.
“We have plants, garden décor, gardening supplies, wind chimes, gardening gloves and all kinds of outdoor decorations,” said Langewisch. “I wasn’t sure I could keep both businesses going but my customers encouraged me to continue with both so I am.”
Langewisch commented that she enjoyed getting to know her customers and she loves the community so she will continue with her businesses just as long as she can.
Ten people died in traffic crashes over the 2023 Memorial Day weekend counting period of 6:00PM, Friday, May 26, through 11:59PM, Monday, May 29, 2023.
Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers investigated the following over the 2023 Memorial Day holiday weekend:
Traffic Statistics
Crashes — 314
Injuries — 102
Fatalities — 10
DWI — 130
Drug Arrests — 14
Boating Statistics
Crashes — 6
Injuries — 3
Fatalities — 0
Drowning — 0
BWI — 7
Drug Arrests — 0
