MIAMI, FL – February 19, 2025 – Anna Glennon, the jet ski world champion turned electric powerboat racing sensation, continues to carve out an impressive career in the UIM E1 World Championship, the pioneering all-electric boat racing series. As one half of the dynamic duo piloting Team Miami, owned by Latin music icon Marc Anthony, Glennon has solidified her status as a standout talent in this groundbreaking motorsport.

Glennon’s journey to E1 began on the waters of Lake of the Ozarks, where she grew up under the influence of her father, a master mechanic. From a young age, she was immersed in the world of speedboats, motorcycles, and jet skis, sparking a passion that would lead her to become an eight-time U.S. and Canadian national jet ski champion. Her transition to E1 racing came through the series’ Pilot Academy, a program designed to scout and train new talent for its futuristic RaceBird boats. “Competing in the RaceBird is more like flying than driving – it’s an unreal experience,” Glennon remarked in an interview with The Gentleman Racer last year, highlighting the unique thrill of the electric hydrofoil crafts that lift off the water at high speeds.

Since joining Team Miami alongside Swedish pilot Erik Stark, a six-time powerboat world champion, Glennon has been instrumental in the team’s rise to prominence. The duo’s complementary skills—Stark’s precision and Glennon’s fearless agility—propelled Team Miami to their first victory of the 2024 season at the E1 Puerto Banús GP in Marbella, Spain, on June 2. Battling choppy waters and fierce competition, Glennon and Stark showcased exceptional control, securing the win and vaulting Team Miami to the top of the championship standings at that point.

Team Miami’s success has continued to build momentum throughout the inaugural season, with Glennon’s contributions drawing praise for their consistency and flair. Currently leading the pack after several races, the team is gearing up for the highly anticipated E1 Miami GP, scheduled for November 2025 at Miami Marine Stadium. The event, a partnership between E1 and Anthony’s Magnus company, promises to bring electric motorsport to the forefront of Miami’s sporting scene, complete with fan festivals and sustainability initiatives—causes Glennon passionately supports.

What sets Glennon apart in E1 is not just her skill but her role in breaking barriers. As part of the series’ commitment to gender inclusivity, each team fields one male and one female pilot, a format unique among major motorsports. Glennon, who has faced physical challenges in the male-dominated world of racing due to her smaller stature—she’s often weighed under 100 lbs during her career—sees this as both a challenge and an advantage. “There have been challenges, but also advantages,” she told The Gentleman Racer. “In racing itself, my biggest challenge has been physical, but it’s taught me how to harmonize with the machine.”

As the 2024 season nears its climax, with the championship finale still pending, Glennon’s focus remains on adding an E1 title to her already illustrious resume. Her journey from jet ski prodigy to electric boat racing star underscores her adaptability and determination, qualities that have made her a fan favorite and a key figure in E1’s mission to revolutionize motorsport. With the 2025 season on the horizon—kicking off in Qatar, as announced last October—Glennon is poised to further cement her legacy in this sustainable, high-octane sport.

For now, all eyes are on Glennon and Team Miami as they prepare to race on home waters later this year, aiming to bring the championship trophy to Miami and solidify Anna Glennon’s place among racing’s elite.

Updates to this story have been updated in green.

Osage Beach, MO – February 18, 2025 – The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, one of the nation’s most celebrated powerboat racing events, has stirred controversy with its announced relocation from its long-standing venue at Captain Ron’s Bar & Grill in Sunrise Beach to a new site in Osage Beach for the 2025 season. However, an investigation into the event’s permitting status reveals that the move may be premature—or even stalled—as no regatta permit has been secured for the proposed dates of August 23-24, 2025. Adding fuel to the fire, the weekend in question is already packed with fishing tournaments, including a prominent event hosted by Bass World Sports out of Public Beach #2, raising questions about the Shootout board’s planning and transparency.

The Shootout, now in its 37th year, has been a cornerstone of the Lake of the Ozarks community, drawing thousands of spectators and racers annually while raising significant funds for local charities and first responders. For over a decade, Captain Ron’s has served as the event’s home, hosting the high-octane races on a three-quarter-mile course near the 34.5-mile marker. But in October 2024, the Shootout’s board of directors, led by President Mark Maasen, announced a bold shift to Dog Days Bar & Grill and the soon-to-be-completed Oasis at Lakeport in Osage Beach, roughly 15 nautical miles downstream. The stated goals were to enhance safety, boost charitable fundraising, and improve the experience for racers and attendees, citing the new location’s proximity to Lake Regional Hospital and additional amenities.

Yet, beneath the optimistic press releases, cracks in the plan have emerged. A review of Missouri’s regatta permit records, managed by state safety officials, shows no approval in place for the Shootout at the proposed Osage Beach site for August 23-24. According to sources familiar with the process, securing a regatta permit for an event of this magnitude requires months of coordination with the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Water Patrol Division, local fire districts, and other stakeholders—a timeline the Shootout board appears to have underestimated. “The logistics of moving an event this size aren’t trivial,” said a former lake event organizer, speaking anonymously. “You don’t just announce a new course and assume the permits will fall into place.”

Compounding the issue, the chosen weekend is already a hotbed of activity on the lake. Multiple fishing tournaments are slated to take place, including the Bass World Sports Summer Classic, a well-known amateur bass fishing competition launching from Public Beach #2 at Lake of the Ozarks State Park in Osage Beach. Scheduled for August 23-24, the tournament expects over 200 anglers and dozens of boats, with weigh-ins and festivities drawing crowds to the Grand Glaize Arm—the very area where the Shootout hopes to race. Other smaller fishing events are also permitted across the lake that weekend, suggesting a crowded waterway and potential conflicts over space and safety.

The decision to relocate has been further muddied by internal upheaval within the Shootout organization. Sources close to the event report that the board’s move to Osage Beach came on the heels of a retirement letter from Ron Duggan, the longtime owner of Captain Ron’s and a key figure in the Shootout’s history. Duggan, who successfully bid to host the event in 2008 after it moved from its original Osage Beach location at Shooters 21, 2024 Ron was the heart of the Shootout for years,” said a local business owner who has sponsored the event. “He fought to keep it at Captain Ron’s, but the new board wanted a fresh start—whether it was practical or not.”

In their October announcement, they highlighted the Osage Beach site’s advantages: a course nestled along the scenic shores of Lake of the Ozarks State Park, just south of the Grand Glaize Bridge, and access to Dog Days’ docks and the forthcoming Oasis resort’s infrastructure.

As the clock ticks toward August, the Shootout’s fate hangs in the balance. Will the board secure a permit and resolve conflicts with the fishing tournaments? Or will this high-profile relocation become a cautionary tale of overreach? For now, the Lake of the Ozarks community watches—and waits—as the ripples of this decision spread across the water.

Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.

Shawn Kober Looks back in the files to find this classic from nearly 15 years ago…….

In the latest weekly crime summary released by the Osage Beach Police Department, covering the period from February 03 to February 09, 2025, a significant arrest was made highlighting the city’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.

On February 5, 2025, 43-year-old Michael L. Hartwell from Kaiser, MO, was arrested on serious charges including Trafficking Drugs or Attempt in the 1st Degree, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Operating a Motor Vehicle on a Highway without a Valid License. This arrest underscores the police department’s commitment to ensuring public safety and tackling drug-related offenses within the community.

The weekly summary also detailed the department’s response to a variety of incidents, ranging from emergency 911 calls to traffic enforcement. Here’s a breakdown of the calls responded to over the week:

• 911 Calls: 1
• Abandoned Vehicle: 1
• Accidents: 10
• Alarms: 4
• Ambulance Calls: 32
• Animal Control: 3
• Building/Area Checks: 54
• Check the Welfare: 1
• Citizen Assist: 9
• Disturbances: 7
• Fire: 35
• Follow Up: 14
• Fraud: 3
• Harassment: 2
• Keep the Peace: 2
• Motorist Assist: 2
• Other Agency Assist: 12
• Pedestrian Check: 6
• Special Detail: 3
• Stealing: 2
• Suspicious Activity: 2
• Tornado Test: 1
• Towed Vehicle: 1

Traffic-related incidents included:

• Traffic Enforcement: 1
• Traffic Hazard: 5
• Traffic Stops: 29
• Trespassing: 4

Administrative Lieutenant Michael O’Day emphasized the importance of community vigilance and cooperation in maintaining the safety of Osage Beach. “By staying informed and engaging with our community, we can all contribute to a safer environment. We encourage everyone to sign up for city alerts to never miss critical information,” O’Day stated.

For those interested in staying updated with city news and safety alerts, visit the Osage Beach city website at www.osagebeach.org and sign up for notifications under the “Notify Me Sign Up” section.

This summary reflects the ongoing work of the Osage Beach Police Department in ensuring the community remains a safe place to live, work, and visit.