Longtime bookeeper rips off Andy Williams

The former bookkeeper for one of Branson’s most well-known entertainers, Andy Williams, was charged with stealing and forgery last week in Taney County.

Fifty-four-year-old Dawn Cleveringa, of Branson, has been charged with one felony count of stealing and one felony count of forgery according to court documents filed on Nov. 18 in Taney County.

According to court documents, Cleveringa appropriated currency from the Moon River Theatre, for the purposes of personal gain.

The report stated she drew excessive payroll and bonus payments, issued company checks to herself and payed her personal credit card debt by issuing checks to her credit card companies.

The total amount taken was $686,203.78.

Cleveringa was also charged with the class C felony crime of forgery by allegedly having the purpose to defraud the Moon River Theatre and Andy and Bobby Williams.

Cleveringa allegedly authenticated checks from the Moon River account at the Ozark Mountain Bank on at least four occasions. The four checks totaled $20,000 and all four were allegedly forged with Andy Williams’ or Bobby Williams’ signatures.

Cleveringa was arrested by the Branson Police Department on Nov. 18 and was later transferred to Taney County Jail where she is being held under a $40,000 bond.

Cleveringa was terminated by the management of Moon River Enterprises in April of this year, officials said.

Cleveringa could spend five years to 15 years in prison if convicted of stealing.

If convicted on the forgery charge, Cleveringa could face imprisonment in the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections for a term not less than two years and no more than seven years.

She could also face a fine of anywhere between $5,000 and $20,000.

No court date has been set.

COCAINES SURFACES IN TAYLOR SWIFT LAWSUIT!!!!

'Cocaine' Surfaces in Taylor Swift Lawsuit

"Cocaine" is never free ... neither is Taylor Swift, John Fogerty and the Harper Valley P.T.A. -- this according to the secret agents who claim they caught an Idaho sports bar playing music they hadn't paid for. 



BMI -- the enforcers of music royalties -- sent a spy to The Sports Cellar bar in Idaho to see if they were playing music they hadn't paid for the rights to use ... and according to court documents, this is what they heard:

-- Cocaine
-- Amarillo By Morning
-- Harper Valley P.T.A.
-- Long As I Can See the Light ... by John Fogerty
-- She Thinks My TRACTOR'S Sexy
-- Here Without You
-- Should've Said No .. by Taylor Swift
-- I Get It
-- Five Dollar Fine
-- Gotta Get Me Down Home

After the recon mission, BMI, Taylor Swift and several recording artists filed a lawsuit against the bar for copyright infringement.

So why would the secret agents for BMI target little podunk bars? Because they're sending a message to every small joint in the county -- Big Brother is always watching.

Taylor Swift sues a small bar over KARAOKE!

The BMI SCUM SUCKING BASTARDS (BMI and ASCAP) are still out there harassing small businesses to scrape a few more bucks for Mega Music Stars.  

When Garth Brooks does it, it's just expected.  But TAYLOR SWIFT???  How can my favorite pop singer be so "HEARTLESS?"

Many the local Branson show can tell the woeful tales of dealing with ASCAP and BMI and their treats of doomage and demands for tens of thousands of dollars just to play a live show.

Here's another story on the MUSIC NAZIs! (BMI and ASCAP)

Swift Sues Sports Bar After Sting Operation

Posted Nov 19th 2009 6:00AM by TMZ Staff

Taylor Swift wants justice -- after a sting operation in Idaho revealed that a little sports bar was totally cheating her out of ... a few dollars a month.

Swift has attached herself to a  copyright infringement lawsuit spearheaded by BMI -- the enforcer of music royalties.

According to a lawyer connected to the case, BMI deployed an "agent" to go on a recon mission at The Sports Cellar bar sometime last year, and the agent noticed the bar was playing music -- including Taylor's stuff -- that they hadn't paid for the right to play.

We're told they even used the allegedly stolen music for Karaoke!!!! Have they no shame?!

Swift and co. are suing for unspecified damages -- but compared to the millions she's raking in right now, this thing in Idaho is totally small potatoes.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/11/19/swift-sues-sports-bar-after-sting-operation-2/?icid=main|main|dl2|link1|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tmz.com%2F2009%2F11%2F19%2Fswift-sues-sports-bar-after-sting-operation-2%2F#ixzz0XLzExQEq

Although Homeless, The WARNOCKS are still singing!

Although currently homeless and living in their 1977 MCI Crusader converted Greyhound bus at a local campground, THE WARNOCK FAMILY is back performing with Andy Williams in his Christmas Show through December 7th.

The Warnocks moved to Branson from Cody, Wyoming approximately six years ago and have been grinding out shows wherever they can here in Branson and on the road.  Landing a spot with Andy Williams is their dream come true.  They recently toured to England with Williams for a performance at The Royal Albert Hall in London, and will tour again  in December to California, ending a 10 day Christmas road show on December 23rd and 24th in the main show room at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Not bad work when you can get it.

The Local "Stars" turn out for the Christmas Parade this Saturday.

Here's a blurb from a press release from the local Branson publicity minions...
(Try not to laugh when you read the "102 Million Households" line!  That's almost as many households as GENE WILLIAMS says he has! (Inside joke, sorry.)

Triple platinum recording country artist Neal McCoy is among the host of celebrities in the Third Annual Holiday Promenade of Stars set to roll at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, on Highway 76 in Branson, Missouri.

McCoy joins Andy Williams, Tony Orlando, Cathy Rigby, Debby Boone, the Lennon Sisters, and Jimmy Osmond who will not only be in the parade but also take the stage in front of the TitanicMuseum for a parade route performance.

Williams is serving as grand marshal and Osmond and Boone are serving as hosts for the television special being made during the 1.4 mile-long parade that ushers in the Christmas season in the entertainment tourist town. The parade route begins at White Water and ends at the Grand Village.

Along with Williams, Osmond, Boone, the Lennons, Orlando and Rigby as Peter Pan are Johnny Lonestar, Penny Gilley, Jeff Brandt, Clay Cooper, the Haygoods, Todd Oliver and Irving, and Jim Barber and Seville who will also be performing on stage. Also taking a turn are the Knudsen Brothers, also known as SIX; Showstoppers! from the Showboat Branson Belle; the "Spirit of Christmas" dancers; and the cast of "A Dickens' Christmas Carol" from Silver Dollar City. The Baldknobbers, Blues Brothers from "Legends in Concert," and the Branson High School Cheerleaders are also scheduled for stage appearances.

The television broadcast schedule is for Thanksgiving and Christmas day to an estimated 102 million plus households across the nation. In the Springfield/Branson area the parade special will be televised on KSFX Ozarks FOX. In Branson on the Vacation Channel it will be aired six times: Thanksgiving Day at 8 a.m., Nov. 27 at 8 p.m., Nov. 28 at 8 p.m., Nov. 29 at 8 a.m., Nov. 30 at 8 p.m., and Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. National broadcasts are on RFD TV and Retro Television Network (RTN). RFD TV is carried on several satellite and cable providers including over 625 independent cable operators to 42 million households and RTN is seen in 17 of the top 25 markets to more than 60 million households on nearly 100 stations in cities such as Pittsburg, Atlanta, Seattle, Orlando, St. Louis and Boston, according to Nielsen ratings.

Mickey Gilley Recovering From Life-Threatening Accident

Mickey Gilley, whose country hits include 'Stand By Me,' featured in the iconic 1980 film 'Urban Cowboy,' continues to recover from serious injury to his neck and spinal cord suffered this past July.

Mickey, 73, was helping a friend move a 40-pound piece of furniture when he backed out through the threshold of a door and fell backwards, leaving him temporarily paralyzed from the neck down.

"When I got to ICU, when I woke up, I was still paralyzed, but then things began to slowly start to come back," Mickey tells us via phone. "My arms started back first, and then my right leg, and now I've got [movement] in both legs and both arms. The only thing that's giving me a problem now is my hands, but the doctor seems to think that when the swelling completely goes down in the spinal cord, that my hands should come back. It was very scary because I panicked when I woke up and couldn't move."

Mickey, who scored five ACM awards in 1976, including Entertainer of the Year, is now in physical therapy four days a week, concentrating on trying to walk again.

"I've walked a little bit with some help. They put me on a little four-wheel dolly, and I walked 454 feet. Then one day I walked 300 feet. Then they put me on a [machine which] helps you walk. It helps your legs up, and they put a certain amount of weight down on you on a treadmill -- about half of what your weight is and you walk on that. I've done that a couple of times. But you're strapped in and they hold you up when you're walking."

Mickey remains uncertain when he may return to perform at his Mickey Gilley Theater in Branson, Mo. "I don't know whether I'll get back this year at all because I'm not able to walk yet. But, hopefully, I'll get back next year. I've got my restaurant there. Hopefully I'll be working next year. I'm planning on it anyway."

While Mickey's spirit and attitude remain positive, he would welcome prayers that he'll soon fully recover, especially in his hands so he can play the piano and perform again.