Author Archives: Gary Groman aka The Ole Seagull

All those interested in participating in or getting additional information on Branson’s first “Hand in Hand Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients” event, to be held on April 24-25, are invited to attend a press conference/meeting at the Hamner Barber Theatre at 2:00 p.m. on March 3. Continue reading →

…viable connections with same day service on both the outbound and return flights for Milwaukee, Baltimore, New York City, Minneapolis, Boston, Orlando, and Atlanta,” the same cannot be said for the connections to the west. Continue reading →

Until now, no major Branson business has specialized in combining all that Branson has to offer, in one place, to specifically help people plan their own personal special event in Branson. That has changed. Branson Tourism Center has established a
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An article published at news.branson.com entitled, “Branson’s Hot Winter Fun back on track after major ice storm,” describes that Branson, Missouri is basically ready to continue to do what it does best, entertain its guests. What’s amazing is that it is taking place in spite of just having gone through one of the worst winter storms Branson has seen in decades. Continue reading →

Information on AFCO’s web site, regarding its involvement with the Branson Airport, states “In its role as developer, AFCO is responsible for overseeing the design and construction of the project” and that “AFCO has a minority ownership and sits on the board of Branson Airport LLC.”
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The front end, lobby area, of the Grand Palace suffered extensive water damage sometime prior to the arrival of the Branson Fire Department at 10:45 on Dec. 23. According to Branson Fire Department Division Chief Ted Martin, the department responded because, “Someone had called and said there was water pouring Continue reading →

Copeland said, “GIS is a system of hardware and software used for storage, retrieval, mapping, and analysis of geographic data.” He went on to note that in general terms, although most end users, see the data reflected graphically as maps, graphs, diagrams, etc., it is important to realize that everything being seen graphically is Continue reading →

At 9:57 a.m. a new era in Branson’s history began as an AirTran Airways Boeing 717 touched down on the runway and became the first aircraft to officially land at the Branson Airport. Continue reading →

While discussing the most recent marketing report from the Branson Lakes/Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), it was pointed out that Branson’s sales tax revenues were down sharply for the month of October. Continue reading →

Although there will be no buy-ins, custom card guards will be sold for varying amounts and, because those purchasing the card guards were considered “preferred customers,” they would be given preferred seating at all tournaments. The prizes to be awarded at each tournament would be determined… Continue reading →

Drivers going to and from the Hollister Highway 65 Interchange and the South Town Mall area from the east of Highway 65 will soon have a more efficient way to get there. The North Birch Street extension is currently being paved and, weather permitting is just a few weeks away from being opened to the public. Continue reading →

Rockaway Beach didn’t get casino gambling but it just might be getting No Limit Texas Hold’em poker. …Twin Lakes Card Club is expanding its operation from Arkansas into Missouri and would be offering “No Limit Texas Hold’em Skill Tournaments in Rockaway Beach staarting Dec. 4.

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Depending on location, up to six inches of rain and winds gusting over 64 miles per hour hit as the major remnants of the Hurricane Ike passed through the Branson Hollister area between the hours of Continue reading →

A primary issue relates to the allocation of expenses between the city owned Convention Center and two private hotels, the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.
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The city of Branson is moving ahead with the planning and actions necessary to implement its new liquor control ordinances (LCOs). At the Nov. 20 work session meeting of the city of Branson’s Board of Aldermen, city Finance Director Lori Helle, gave the board a status report on the process thus far. Continue reading →

Relatively speaking, if the attendance of parents at the most recent parent teacher conferences for grades K through 8 in the Branson School District, was a batting average, the Branson Schools and the parents of the students in grades K through the Junior High would be in the Hall of Fame with an average of “940.” Continue reading →

…the bureau will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 20 and 21, for transition to another operator and will reopen, in the same location, on Monday Nov. 24. Continue reading →

Once placed on the ballot it is up to the patrons of the school district as to whether or not the Hollister School District becomes part of the OTC District. Regardless of the outcome, the Hollister School District has no further active roll in the process Continue reading →

Subsection 3.3 of the lease states “This Lease shall terminate in the event that OMB fails to exercise its option to renew during the then current Initial Term or Term.
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“Branson’s loss is Hollister’s gain that’s for sure,” said Larry VanGilder, the city of Branson’s Public Works Director. The “loss” he was referring to was Debbie Redford, the city’s long time Environmental Specialist, who will be leaving her position to accept the position of “Public Relations Coordinator and Grant Writer” in the Hollister School District effective Jan. 5, 2009. Continue reading →

In a town where there were all sorts of Veteran’s ceremonies and remembrances this week, one of the most special took place at the November Citizenship Character Assembly of the Branson Junior High School on Nov. 10 Continue reading →

Recently it was noted that not all businesses collecting and paying the retail tourism tax to the city of Branson and the Branson Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District (TCED) are listed on the website billing itself as the “Official Website of Branson, Missouri, www.explorebranson.com (website). Continue reading →

Branson Airport, LLC, the owners of Branson Airport, have asked Taney County for over $400,000 to assist in marketing Branson along the routes its carrier or carriers will be flying.
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…whether the street commonly called Forsythe “Street” would be changed to Forsythe “Boulevard.” It was no issue until street signs designating the realigned street as “Forsythe Boulevard” showed up when the road was reopened.

As a result of the public concern raised City Engineer David Miller went back and researched the name when Forsythe was originally accepted into the city. His research revealed the proper name was “Forsythe Street” not “Boulevard.” Continue reading →

And the Survey said, “If there was low cost air service available to Branson from a given area, more people would chose to come to Branson from that area than would otherwise come.” Jeff Bourk, Executive Director, Branson Airport, LLC, said, “That’s basically the pitch, it’s that simple.”
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What the ads don’t say is that if passed it will create a virtual casino gambling monopoly for the 13 Missouri communities where casino gambling is currently authorized by drastically increasing the odds against Branson, and other communities which do not currently having casino gambling, from ever getting it.
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The 2009 Budget and the completion of the Fall Creek Road extension will be major topics of discussion at the Oct. 28 meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen. Both have been major items of discussion and consideration as the budget process has developed. Continue reading →

The Pay for Performance Agreement Branson has with the Branson Airport LLC (BA) at Branson Creek requires the city of Branson to pay up to $2 million dollars a year for the next 30 years to BA for a potential total $60 million. Continue reading →

Thanks to the efforts of a lot of people, Branson and Hollister area children have a number of opportunities for a safe Halloween alternative to the traditional door to door trick or treating. From trick or treats to a haunted forest and hayrides, area children can have a “Boo of fun” and get lots of treats, all safely and for free.
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If the budget process is any indication, the “system breakdown” relating to Branson’s financial caution light, as explained by City Administrator Dean Kruithof at a meeting on Sep. 7, appears to be well along the way to repair. Continue reading →

Even as the band completed their last marching maneuver and exited the field as the last notes they played faded away over the darkening Ozark hills, those watching knew they had just seen something special. The rest was up to the judges.

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…Capital Improvement Committee received information about the city’s bond rating, bonding capacity, debt obligations, and other information that could impact on the city’s ability to finance needed capital improvement projects now and in the future. The city’s bond consultants told the committee the city’s bond rating was “good for a city of this size.”
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