Take On The Lake

Memorial Day Weekend, 1954 When a sudden storm struck a tour boat full of passengers in the middle of Lake of the Ozarks — two newlyweds vanished without a trace. In this special  Legends & Lore  episode of Take On The Lake, host Nathan Bechtold begins with the recollection of a recent unexpected storm on July 4th weekend that caught boaters unawares... and then dives into the story of the  Gr...

In this episode of Take on the Lake , host Nathan Bechtold sits down with Missouri State Representative Jeff Vernetti for a wide-ranging conversation that hits some of the biggest issues affecting the Lake right now. From predatory ADA lawsuits targeting local businesses , to illegal labor in construction , to the creation of open-container entertainment zones at the Lake —this was a legislative s...

The conversation around data centers at the Lake got heated fast. But behind the headlines, something bigger is happening. In this episode of Take On The Lake , I sit down with entrepreneur and local developer James Rericha. And midway through the episode James revealed something: he’s part of a team that's helping rewrite the code on how data centers are regulated in Camden County. James also was...

The conversation around data centers, opportunity zones, and large-scale development at the Lake has gotten loud—and fast. So we did what we do: invited the developer to come talk about it. In this episode, Blake Hodits walks through his proposed 2,000-acre master-planned community near Camdenton—what it is, what it isn’t, how it doesn't have to include a data center... and how all the pieces fit...

In this episode, I begin with an apology and clarification on a recent video that... well, just didn't land quite right. Then we jump into the questions people are asking about data centers, in the aftermath of a frenzied week in Camden County related to this topic. I lay out the background (what happened last week), and the biggest questions/concerns people have about them.

Where's the money? In this episode of Take On The Lake , Camden County Presiding Commissioner Ike Skelton joins me for a wide-ranging conversation on local government, state politics, and the decisions that impact taxpayers every day. We get into: Ameren’s reported $6 billion profit—and what that means for consumers How tax dollars are allocated (and where they sometimes don’t go) The realities of...

Halt! It's the speech police! The Missouri legislature just passed a bill that bans antisemitic speech in public schools and colleges/universities across the state. They keep forgetting Orwell's writings weren't supposed to be a playbook. Here's why the bill is awful, and how their justification for it makes zero sense. 

Most people at the Lake of the Ozarks have never heard of this place. But for the past 25 years Lighthouse Mission has helped more than 1,000 men transition out of prison, rebuild their lives, and rediscover purpose—and it’s happening right here in the Lake of the Ozarks community. In this episode, I sit down with Chris Sanders, the Program Director at Lighthouse Mission. Chris went to prison 7 ti...

What’s actually happening with the Osage Beach outlet mall redevelopment — and could Lake of the Ozarks outpace Branson? In this episode of Take on the Lake , I had  Osage Beach Mayor Michael Harmison in studio to talk about the biggest issues facing the city right now. We discuss the proposed mall redevelopment, how the city evaluates tax incentives, and why the project has become one of the most...

I've been wanting to interview Justin Wagner for a long time, and we finally got together. He's the powerhouse behind Waves and Wheels, Blue Wave Audio, and now Doug Wright Powerboats, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Justin shares his incredible journey from arriving at Lake of the Ozarks with just $300, a cat, and a pregnant wife to becoming a Lake of the Ozarks Shootout...

After a long winter's lull... we're relaunching with a new season! In this solo episode, I talk about the biggest stories to come across our LakeExpo news desk so far this year. And there's already a LOT! We'll dive into the Outlet Mall Rescue Plan, and unpack: • What developers have revealed so far (Bass Pro!) • How much they plan to spend  • What they're asking from the City of Osage Beach It's...

When Chris Edgar took office as Camden County Sheriff, he didn’t just inherit a badge — he inherited a mess. Welcome to Season 2 -- aka year two -- of Take On The Lake! We're starting this year off with a bang... specifically, hundreds of missing flashbangs. In his first year on the job, Edgar discovered missing flashbangs , non-functional AR-15s , weak ballistic vests , unsecured firearms, and IT...

Nathan, Tegan, Jill, and Robby go full holiday gremlin: favorite Christmas movies, worst Christmas movies, “this is not a Christmas movie” rulings, and a few rants. From Elf and Jim Carrey’s Grinch to Rudolph trauma, Hallmark “cheap love,” and subscription service rage—this one’s pure Christmas chaos.

If you’ve lived at or visited Lake of the Ozarks for even five minutes, you’ve eaten at — or boated to —  something George Tucker built. Paradise, Tucker’s Shuckers, Frankie & Louie’s, Neon Taco, Malted Monkey… the list goes on. So how does a guy go from buying a worn-out lake bar in 2007 as a new college grad, to becoming one of the Lake's most prolific restauranteurs who is now developing on...

We go full-send in this episode on hunting. Brady Ford and I talk deer season, big bucks, and the big question a lot of Missouri hunters are asking: Is Missouri Conservation actually helping… or just getting in the way? Guest: Brady Ford — managing broker for the Matt Ford Real Estate Team and a hardcore hunter who’s guided trips for elk, antelope, bear, whitetail and more from Missouri to Idaho t...

Hot take: local generosity eats national dysfunction for lunch. Shana Aubuschon has seen a lot during her time at Share the Harvest Food Pantry. From elderly folks on a fixed income who only take the canned goods (they leave the fresh veggies for the younger families) to food bank hoppers, they serve 600 families every month, right here in Camden County. Shana took a moment away from a busy time a...

State Rep. Jeff Vernetti (Camden County) is back — and this one gets spicy . We talk about the stadium subsidy bill (and why he voted no on the Chiefs & Royals stadiums ), a huge step toward commercial air service at Lake of the Ozarks , and a push to make it harder to rewrite Missouri’s constitution . Plus: ADA lawsuit shakedowns, senior pension reform, and fixing the state’s mental-health ba...

Tucked deep in the history of Lake of the Ozarks is one family name that helped build the place — literally and culturally. Emily (Blair) Mensendiek is part of that legacy: her family started Blair Cedar, Ozarkland, and Blair’s Landing — some of the most iconic local businesses at the Lake. Now, she’s turned her energy toward something new: the arts. From orchestral performances to kids’ theater,...

Tucked into a little light-industrial corner of the city of Eldon, just a stone's throw from Lake of the Ozarks, is a wildly niche business with a high-profile, international customer base. It's called Argosy: they make super-high-end, custom shelving and workstations specifically for audio recording studios. And it's all made right here at the Lake. Here's one testimonial: "Argosy is the Rolls Ro...

Lighthouse for the Blind – St. Louis is a nonprofit manufacturer employing 200+ blind and visually impaired workers. They make Falcon boat horns (yep, the handheld ones you’re legally required to carry on your boat), Dust-Off “canned air,” vinyl/gelcoat repair patches, screen cleaners, emergency kits, and more—right here in Missouri. We talk mission, products boaters actually use, how they train b...

The Lake's outdoor scene is getting a major upgrade with a new project being spearheaded by the Community Foundation of the Lake. The Magic Dragon Trail System is under construction, and it'll result in 70 miles of trails at the Lake that could some day connect with Missouri's famous Katy Trail. Behind it all is the Community Foundation of the Lake (CFL). For this episode, CFL President Stacy Pyrt...

Charlie Kirk and Bill Federer were friends. Charlie would often text him scriptures of encouragement. Bill recently joined Turning Point USA’s education initiative, at Charlie’s behest. In the wake of Charlie’s death, Bill joined me to remember this giant of a man. In this episode, we talk about Charlie’s life, their friendship, and what hope remains for a country roiled with the effects of an ide...

Citizens Against Domestic Violence Director Sheree Keely would love if the organization she runs didn't have to exist. But it does. CADV serves hundreds of people every year in the Lake area who are victims of domestic violence. In this sobering interview, Sheree and Michelle Cook talk about the reality and pervasiveness of domestic violence in our community... and how it hides in plain sight. We...

Chris Wilson has traveled the country as a "Fixer." Auto dealerships would bring him in to help turn things around: from culture problems to messy financials, Chris has seen a lot [pun intended]. Now a partner at Van Chevy/Cadillac/Subaru in KC, Chris brought his unique experience to Lake of the Ozarks when he discovered it thanks to "that video" in 2020 (you know the one). He's joined the Shootou...

It's arguably the most well-known name in all of American medicine: Mayo Clinic. When you can't figure out what's wrong with you and you've exhausted all your local doctors, you end up going to Mayo. Now, Mayo is coming to the Lake of the Ozarks. In a dramatic announcement last month, Lake Regional Health System announced they would be joining the exclusive Mayo Clinic Care Network. That means whe...