One Year of KTLO’s Retracing our Roots

Our Roots Run a Year Deep: Anniversary Special – Part 1

Welcome to a very special edition of 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨 with Sammy Raycraft and Vincent Anderson, and today we’re celebrating a milestone together. One year ago, we set out on this journey to uncover the stories, the people, and the heritage that make the Ozarks what they are.

Over the past twelve months, we’ve walked the trails of history, dug into forgotten corners, listened to voices long gone, and honored the memories that still shape our lives today.

As we began last year, our theme was Water, specifically, the White River Valley.

This past year, we dove into what makes the Ozarks special, focusing on the Twin Lakes region. We started with some of the pioneers of fishing tourism, beginning with Elmo Hurst of Cotter. Elmo launched a fishing guide service back when the White River was still a warm-water fishing haven. With Hurst’s Fishing Guide Service, he drew in clients from far and wide, including Nashville stars such as Tennessee Ernie Ford. Ford’s visits brought regional and national attention, and soon executives from major companies like the Ford Motor Company were casting their lines in our waters.

As the decades rolled on, the landscape changed with the building of Norfork Dam and Bull Shoals Dam, which created a cold-water environment for rainbow and brown trout. Other pioneers rose to prominence as well, like Sam Welch, who produced weekly and biweekly newsletters on Norfork Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, the White River, Crooked Creek, and even the Buffalo River.

Then came a new wave of guides and innovators, including G.O. Tilley and Forrest Wood. By the early 1950s, Missouri native and world-class fisherman Harold Ensley was filming float trips in full color on 16mm film, capturing the White River, Norfork, and Bull Shoals in ways the world had never seen.

And of course, we cannot forget the resort owners, home builders, and realtors who helped shape the region’s tourism, pioneers like G.O. Tilley, Bob “Bottles” Ketchum, Sr., H.E. Letter, and the Blackburn family.

Alongside them were local movers and shakers such as the Baker family of Mountain Home. One of their buildings, still standing today, now houses Rapp’s Barren Brewing, our sponsor. But not all stories end on a cheerful note. Even good friends can fall into bitter disputes. In 1907, Austin Baker and his friend Doctor Noe clashed on the Mountain Home square, and in a moment of rage, Austin shot and killed him. The following year, Austin himself was mortally wounded in an explosion at his own business; it was a grim reminder that history is made of both triumphs and tragedies. And yes, that story unfolded in the very same building still standing downtown.

These are just a few of the stories we’ve explored together this past year. Many more excerpts will be shared in today’s broadcast as we retrace some of the most memorable paths of our first season.

Above all, we want to thank you, our loyal audience, for listening, sharing, and helping preserve the heritage that deserves to be remembered. This journey is about all of us, and it’s your support that keeps these stories alive. One year behind us, and many more to come, our roots now run a year deep.

A big thank you to our friends at Rapp’s Barren Brewing Company. Their ongoing support is what helps 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨 echo through the hills with the true stories of the Ozarks, stories you won’t find in your average history book. It’s partnerships like theirs that keep our heritage alive and well, one story at a time.

Next time you’re in downtown Mountain Home, stop by Rapp’s and thank Russell Tucker and his incredible team. They’re helping to preserve local history with heart and hometown pride.

Sip. Savor. Sojourn.

𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨