Month: January 2005

  • Not everyone wants to live in Branson’s Briar Patch



    Editors Note: Branson is trying to involuntarily annex land to its north. This cartoon represents the cartoonists opinion on the topic.

  • Four Chaplains Sunday ceremony January 30, 2005

    Inspired by the heroic deed of the four chaplains recognized by Four Chaplains Sunday, the Branson Veterans Task Force marks the anniversary of their sacrifice each year with a special service and this year the ceremony will be held Jan. 30 at 1:30 p.m. at the College of the Ozarks Williams Memorial Chapel.

    "Chaplain Ron Underwood from Whiteman Air Force Base is our special speaker. The ceremony is open to the public and is especially important during this time when American soldiers are serving around the world," said Dr. Dale Smith, chairman of the board of the Branson Veterans Task Force.

    The four chaplains, Chaplains George L. Fox (Methodist), Alexander D. Goode (Jewish), Clark V. Poling (Reformed Church), and John P. Washington (Catholic), are credited with saving more than 200 lives when they gave up their life jackets and their lives when the United States Army Transport (USAT) Dorchester was sunk by a German submarine on Feb. 3, 1943 only 15 miles from its destination in Greenland. The four calmly issued life-belts to American servicemen aboard the troop transport after it was torpedoed. When the supply of life preservers was exhausted, the four chaplains removed their own life belts and gave them to four soldiers. They then stood on the sinking ship, arms around one another’s shoulders and their heads bowed in prayer.

    The Branson Veterans Task Force works to promote an environment of patriotic pride and dignity to recognize and honor our Nation’s veterans and their families. This is just one of the many happenings the non-profit groups sponsors, the largest of which is Veterans Homecoming held during Veterans Week in November. For more information contact: Branson Veterans Task Force Inc., 138 Pointe Royale Drive Suite 0 (The Helms Building), Branson, MO 65615 or call 417-337-VETS.

  • Two veterans observances this weekend

    Vietnam Peace Accord ceremony January 28, 4 Chaplains Sunday ceremony January 29


    Branson Veterans Task Force will recognize the Vietnam Peace Accord and Four Chaplains Sunday in two separate ceremonies this weekend.



    On Saturday, Jan. 28, the annual ceremony for the Vietnam Peace Accord will be held at 11 a.m. at Golden Corral, 3551 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, Branson. The event will be held outdoors, weather permitting, according to Tom Goldsworthy, vice chairman of the board of directors of the Branson Veterans Task Force.



    Goldsworthy is serving as the speaker. The ceremony will include the toll of the bell and posting of the Colors. A special invitation is issued to the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Chapter 913 of Branson to attend.



    “Branson Veterans Task Force annually sponsors a moving ceremony which marks the day in 1973 when America’s longest and most controversial war came to an end,” said Goldsworthy. “The headlines of that day called Vietnam America’s longest war. The accord was signed in Paris at two separate signing ceremonies. Branson Veterans Task Force is big on events and big on making veterans feel appreciated and welcomed. All are welcome to attend this ceremony. Admission to the ceremony is free.”



    Inspired by the heroic deed of the four chaplains recognized by Four Chaplains Sunday, the Branson Veterans Task Force marks the anniversary of their sacrifice each year with a special service. This year the ceremony will be held Sunday, Jan. 29, at 1:30 p.m. at the College of the Ozarks Williams Memorial Chapel.



    “The ceremony is open to the public and is especially important during this time when American soldiers are serving around the world,” said Dr. Dale Smith, chairman of the board of the Branson Veterans Task Force.



    The four chaplains, Chaplains George L. Fox (Methodist), Alexander D. Goode (Jewish), Clark V. Poling (Reformed Church), and John P. Washington (Catholic), are credited with saving more than 200 lives when they gave up their life jackets and their lives when the United States Army Transport (USAT) Dorchester was sunk. A German submarine sank it on Feb. 3, 1943 only 15 miles from its destination in Greenland. The four calmly issued life-belts to American servicemen aboard the troop transport after it was torpedoed. When the supply of life preservers was exhausted, the four chaplains removed their own life belts and gave them to four soldiers. They then stood on the sinking ship, arms around one another’s shoulders and their heads bowed in prayer.



    The Branson Veterans Task Force works to promote an environment of patriotic pride and dignity to recognize and honor our Nation’s veterans and their families. This is just two of the many happenings the non-profit group sponsors, the largest of which is Veterans Homecoming held during Veterans Week in November. For more information contact: Branson Veterans Task Force Inc., 138 Pointe Royale Drive Suite 0 (The Helms Building), Branson, MO 65615 or call 417-337-VETS.


  • If there’s no “Merry Christmas” in Branson, Missouri now, then where and when?

    In the not too distant past the words “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” was the greeting of the Christmas season. It seems that everywhere one went, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, they were surrounded by the “reason for the season.” From storefronts, to interior store advertising, greetings coming from store clerks, and the playing of traditional Christmas carols, the words “Merry Christmas” and the spirit of “Christmas” just seemed to permeate the air.


    As did generations of Americans before him, the Ole Seagull actually learned the words to Christmas Carols like “Silent Night,” “Little Town of Bethlehem” and most of the old carols from a public school song book as he and his class mates prepared for the annual school Christmas Program.


    Isn’t it interesting that the first 180 years of our nation’s history illustrates exactly the opposite of what the federal courts, over the last 50 years or so, are telling us the First Amendment actually means.


    Even with that however, the Ole Seagull is not aware of any law or federal judicial decision prohibiting the use of the words “Merry Christmas.” Yet, in just a comparatively few years of our nation’s history, the very word “Christmas” is disappearing, not only from our nations schools but the very celebration of Christmas itself.


    “But Seagull, how can schools teach the meaning of a holiday named Christmas without teaching its history, origin, and traditions? Wouldn’t they have to mention the ‘C’ word?”


    “They can’t and they would have to.”


    In recent years, those who would take Christmas out of Christmas, for whatever reason, have developed a strategy of “political correctness” and “let’s not mention Christmas because it might offend someone.” The word they would substitute for Christmas is “holiday” and the phrase they would substitute for “Merry Christmas” is “Happy Holidays.”


    A recent column appearing in the Dec. 24, 2004 Wall Street Journal contains an illustration of just how far the pendulum has swung. It pointed out that “the mayor of Somerville, Mass., apologized for mistakenly calling his December celebration a ‘Christmas party.’ He should have called it, he said, a ‘holiday party.’”


    “Boy Seagull, it’s a good thing that something like that can’t happen here in the land of “Ozark Mountain Christmas,” “Old Time Christmas,” and the “Adoration Parade.”


    “That might be the way we wish it were but is it the way it is?”


    The Dec. 24, 2004 edition of this paper contained a letter from a lady who, while eating in a local restaurant with her husband, received the greeting of “Happy Holidays,” from their server. It’s the same greeting that a lot of us, and, probably tens of thousands of visitors to Branson, received during Ozark Mountain Christmas. When her husband said, “I think you mean ‘Merry Christmas’” she quickly responded, “Oh, we can’t say that unless the customer does.” The Ole Seagull would echo the words that the writer of the letter used to describe the incident, “How sad.”


    “Now Seagull, you are not actually going to suggest that the Branson community, make a concerted effort to use the term ‘Merry Christmas’ rather than ‘Happy Holidays’ are you?”


    “Why not, isn’t ‘Merry Christmas’ more consistent with the promise of an Ozark Mountain Christmas, and our areas traditions and values?”


    Shouldn’t our community be committed enough to its values and its advertised promise of an Ozark Mountain Christmas to make a concerted effort to provide those who respond and come with more than the politically correct, “Happy Holidays?” At a minimum, if employees – particularly those involved with the marketing of our area and the meeting of the public- are going to be encouraged to give a greeting, why not encourage them to say “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays?”


    “What’s next Seagull putting up banners across Highways 76 and 65 saying “Merry Christmas,” putting verbiage in our “Ozark Mountain Christmas” advertising saying, “Visit Branson, Missouri, where Christmas is still Christmas, or a big banner across the front of City Hall saying “Merry Christmas?’”


    “Why not, is it Ozark Mountain Kwanzaa, Ozark Mountain Hanukah, or Ozark Mountain Holidays that we advertise and promise or is it an Ozark Mountain Christmas? Besides, isn’t Christmas the official government name of the holiday being celebrated?”


    Can anyone reasonably take offense if a community simply stands up and says, “We celebrate the holiday of Christmas, its promise and spirit and would love to have you come and share them with us?” If not in Branson, Missouri now, where and when?

  • Vietnam Peace Accord ceremony

    The annual ceremony for the Vietnam Peace Accord sponsored by the Branson Veterans Task Force has been expanded this year to include a dinner in addition to the ceremony at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27 at Golden Corral, 3551 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, Branson.



    Being presented in conjunction with the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Chapter 913 of Branson, part of the ceremony will include a special service award presented by the VVA and a guest speaker, Gary Linderer, author, Vietnam veteran and chairman and CEO of Operation Homecoming USA. Dr. Dale Smith, chairman of the board of the Branson Veterans Task Force, will emcee the event with color guard from the Branson High School ROTC, National Anthem sung by Jessica Ahrens and special music by Gene Dove of the Baldknobbers.



    “The Branson Veterans Task Force annually sponsors a moving ceremony which marks the day in 1973 when America’s longest and most controversial war came to an end,” said Smith. “The headlines of that day called Vietnam America’s longest war. Signed in Paris at two separate signing ceremonies, the accord was effective at 7 p.m. Eastern standard time on Jan. 27, 1973. Reports referred to the eerie silence under which the cease-fire agreement was signed ‘without a word or a gesture.’ The events that day were called a milestone in achieving peace.”



    “Branson Veterans Task Force is big on events and big on making veterans feel appreciated and welcomed. All are welcome to attend this ceremony. Admission to the ceremony is free and dinner is optional,” said Smith.



    Branson Veterans Task Force is a nine-year-old non-profit organization working to honor America’s brave soldiers and military personnel year round. The group is instrumental in providing festivities such as the nation’s largest Veterans Day celebration Veterans Homecoming, Independence Day celebrations, patriotic parades, Memorial Day ceremonies and more.



    For more information contact: Branson Veterans Task Force Inc., 138 Pointe Royale Drive Suite 0 (The Helms Building), Branson, MO 65615 or call 417-337-VETS.

  • Should this man be elected?

    During a political debate for national office, the Republican candidate said, “I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races. There is a physical difference between the two, which, in my judgment, will probably for ever forbid their living together upon the footing of perfect equality; and inasmuch as it becomes a necessity that there must be a difference, I am in favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position.”



    Indeed, as the press digs back into the candidates past they find another “skeleton,” his views on interracial marriage.In a speech given about a year earlier, the candidate had said, “There are white men enough to marry all the white women, and black men enough to marry all the black women; and so let them be married.”



    He went on to say that “separation of the races is the only perfect preventive of amalgamation.”The candidate further expounded on his method of separating the races, “colonization” and was quoted as saying, “Let us be brought to believe it is morally right, and, at the same time, favorable to, or, at least, not against, our interest, to transfer the African to his native clime, and we shall find a way to do it, however great the task may be.”



    In today’s environment, the media, particularly the material starved 24 hour news channels, would go into a “feeding frenzy” and bombard the public with their version of this story on a 24/7 basis.It doesn’t take a Solomon to figure out what would happen to this candidate.The candidate would be branded a “racist,” or worse, and would soon be an “ex candidate.”



    But, at that time, God blessed this Nation with the freedom from a media that could permeate the vast majority of America’s homes within hours with their carefully chosen 30 second “sound bites.” Sound bites designed to seemingly control public opinion rather than report the news. In that day and time, the media had to write a convincing story, one convincing enough so that enough of the American people read it, believed it, and cared enough about it “to pass it on.”



    The Ole Seagull wasn’t there.But, evidently a lot of Americans that were there believed that the country was facing bigger issues such as a possible civil war, and the growth of slavery because, in 1860, the candidate that uttered those words, Abraham Lincoln, went on to be elected the 16th President of the United States.



    History solemnly testifies as to how Lincoln, in spite of his personal views on interracial marriage, colonization, or the “political and social equality between the white and black races,” performed as to the major issues of succession, the war to preserve the Union, and slavery.In a letter to Horace Greely, in 1862, Lincoln said, “My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery.”Even his personal abhorrence of slavery did not take precedence over the bigger issue of saving the Union.While solving the bigger issue however, slavery was abolished and our nation paid a “bloody penance” for permitting the expansion of the slavery of blacks, from its origin and rampant practice by the black tribes in Africa, to our new nation.



    In selecting our nations leaders today would it not be wise to select leaders like Lincoln, who, on the whole, have the ability to handle the bigger issues facing our nation such as the economy, potential wars with Korea and Iraq, home land security, illegal immigration, civil rights and equality of opportunity for all Americans rather than just the few?Lincoln’s warning, “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” still resonates through the eons of time as does his blessing, “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom–and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

  • The Upper White River, the mother water of Branson’s Tri Lakes – Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo, and Bull Shoals Lake

    The Branson area is often referred to as the Tri Lakes Area because of its three lakes, Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo, and Bull Shoals Lake, But long before these lakes there was the river whose impoundment created them, the mighty White River. Flowing from its headwaters in the Boston Mountains of northwestern Arkansas to the Mississippi River, over 760 serpentine miles away, the White River is the mother water for the lakes that provide the myriad of the outdoor water recreational activities in the Branson area.





    In fact, it is the damming up, impoundment, of the White River, to form those and other lakes, that virtually changed what used to be the White River into the Upper White River, consisting of the White River headwaters and a series of lakes, including the Tri Lakes, that ends at the Bull Shoals Dam. Although maps still show the White River from Boston to Beaver Lake, for all practical purposes, when people are referring to the White River today they are referring to that portion of the White River starting at the tail waters of the Bull Shoals Dam.



    The actual headwater of the White River is located about 92 road miles southwest of Branson and just west of Boston, Arkansas. It begins as a small mountain stream that, strangely, flows to the northwest generally following Highway 16. For about 37 miles, between the State Highway 16 Bridge in Pettigrew, Arkansas to the State Highway 74 bridge just south east of Fayetteville, the White provides excellent paddling opportunities for canoes and kayaks.



    It is at this point that the White River encounters its first impoundment, the 395 acre Lake Sequoyah. Although in terms of flow, Lake Sequoyah is the first impoundment of the White River, in terms of time, it was the next to last. Completed in 1961, it is principal drinking-water reservoir for northwest Arkansas, and is presently owned and managed by the Department of Parks & Recreation of the City of Fayetteville, as a recreational fishing lake.



    After leaving Lake Sequoyah the White flows in a more northerly direction and flows into the 28,000 acre Beaver Lake located near Eureka Springs, AR. Completed in 1966, Beaver Lake provides a full range of water recreational and fishing activities. Its tailwater, as do the tailwaters of Table Rock and Bull Shoals Lakes provide excellent Rainbow and Brown Trout fishing. For all practical purposes, as the White flows into Beaver Lake it disappears under a series of four lakes and loses its practical identity as a river until it flows out under the Bull Shoals Dam.



    After its flow underneath Beaver Lake it begins a gradual flow to the north east as it forms the headwaters for the first of the Branson area’s “tri-lakes,” Table Rock Lake, a 51,000 acre plus impoundment with over 800 miles of shoreline. Completed in 1958, Table Rock Lake is the primary lake for the water recreational and fishing activities offered in the Branson area which includes just about every water recreational activity imaginable as well as some of the finest fresh water fishing available anywhere in the world. Especially neat is the fact that it is all within a “five minute drive” of all the other entertainment and activities that the Branson area has to offer.



    As the White flows through Table Rock Dam, located at White River Mile Marker 529 it provides the headwater for Lake Taneycomo and flows through it for another 22 miles to the Power Site Dam located near Forsyth, Missouri at the White River Mile Marker 507. White River Mile Markers start at the junction of the White Rive with the Mississippi and work up toward its headwater.



    Lake Taneycomo was created in 1913 when the White River was impounded by the completion of the “Power Site Dam” near Forsyth, Missouri. It was the first of what has become known as “the tri-lakes” and, unlike the Table Rock and Bull Shoals lakes and dams, which are owned by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Power Site Dam is privately owned by Empire Electric Company. Empire holds a license to continue operating the dam and its hydroelectric plant until 2022. Because of its cold water, particularly at its upper end, Lake Taneycomo’s primary water activity is boating and trout fishing although, the water warms up down stream and provides some excellent bass fishing not only on the main lake but back up its coves and creeks.



    Interestingly, it is as the White runs underneath Lake Taneycomo that it reaches it most northerly point of flow near Long Beach, Missouri. At this point it has flowed approximately 253 river miles and 100 road miles north of where it began in Boston, Arkansas and begins a gradual 507 river mile south easterly flow down to its eventual junction with the Mississippi River.



    As the White flows through the Power Site Dam it forms the headwaters for the third of the Branson areas “tri lakes,” Bull Shoals Lake. Formed by the completion of the Bull Shoals Dam at White River Mile Marker 419 in 1951, the 45, 000 thousand acre impoundment, with over 1050 miles of shoreline offers the same type of boating and fishing as does Table Rock Lake. Although one of the “tri Lakes,” Bull Shoals Lakes, probably because of the proximity of Table Rock Lake, has not played a particularly important part in the recent development of the Branson area and most visitors to the Branson area never see it although it is but 20 minutes away.


    As the White remerges from under the Bull Shoals Dam, it becomes the practical headwaters of what most people refer to today as the White River. It is the White River of history and trout legend, winding south east past its junction with the Norfork River, Cotter, Calico Rock, Bateville, and on to Newport, Arkansas where it makes a sharp turn south for to its juncture with the Mississippi River, at the White River National Wildlife Refuge, about 257 miles south of Newport.

  • Jan. 16 Bret Rader’s deep water fly fishing technique

    Editors General Comments: Jan 16 0530 4 Generator on, Taneycomo is at 711.1 and Table Rock is 918.5 With Table Rock about three feet over power pool the percentage bet is that they will continue to run the water heavy. Very little affects the fishing on LakeTaneycomo like the generation of power at the Table Rock Dam. Call 417-336-5083 for up to the moment information on generation and lake levels or click here.



    Trophy Trout Area: Special Regulations apply to the Trophy Trout Area running from Table Rock Dam to the mouth of Fall Creek. Click here for an overview of these regulations.



    Fly Fishing and Spin Fishing By Chartered Waters Guide Service and Fly Shop Jan. 13Table Rock is rising again due to strong storms and flooding last night. It’s at 917.6 My little buddy has been in a fishing mood lately so we hit it again this evening for another hour or so and once again smoked em on shad and scuds. I have finally fine tuned my straight line nymphing/streamer technique finding just the right combination on line, grain and length of sink tip line where I was hooking up about as well as we do deep drifting with an indicator. What a blast! Like dry fly fishing..there’s something special about catching a trout with nothing on your line but a fly. … Using it today I trailed a black Nitro Scud behind a RealEyeAble Shad and as always…caught more on shad near the cable and more on the scud down stream from there. Marlin tried new shad patterns on the bottom catching back to back fish pushing 20″.



    Fly Fishing Only by River Run Outfitters Jan 5 Hate to say it, but you should have been here last week. Water was off last Tuesday morning until Friday. Friday they ran one generator, Saturday ran one generator, then two, same thing on Sunday. Had it off for a couple hours Monday morning, then cranked it up. Other than a few hours early yesterday (midnight to 6:00 a.m.) morning, they have been running 3-4 generators. With all the rain we are getting, expect this will be the trend for a while…..again. We had trips out last week and this past weekend. Fishing was wonderful. Fish were as excited as us about the water being off. They hit almost anything you threw. Folks catching fish on dries…crackle backs and elk hair caddis, tan or gray scuds, and with the water off, dark olive soft hackles. Saturday and Sunday, when they had one or even two generators going, we fished the red tungsten midge or Worm Brown San Juan worms and did well. If we could find some slack water we could get to in our boats, the sulphur or holographic green crackle backs and dark olive soft hackles were the ticket. Weather really cooperated. It was in the upper 60s and low 70s. We saw the Old Year out with a great day on the water fishing with friends as well as the New Year in on the water fishing with friends.



    Guide Bob Klein: Jan. 15- Bob Klein, of “Bob’s Guide Service” reported no change. Fishing excellent from the dam to Fall Creek with generation heavy – drifting egg flies or #5 silver flatfish or #5 floating Rapelas. From Fall Creek to Branson – nightcrawlers or bubblegum power eggs on a 1/4 oz. drift rig. From Branson to Rockaway Beach – drifting bubblegum power eggs. Fishing is excellent but a lot of small fish being caught. (Editors note: Bob does all of his fishing from a boat.) As always the following standard default techniques are producing fish:



    Water Off Conditions (not generating power from Table Rock Dam) – Air injected night crawlers or Orange and Chartreuse Power Eggs, with the Chartreuse on shank of hook and the Orange on tip. Fish them off the bottom with no heavier than 4 pound leader, size 8 or smaller hooks, and just enough split shot to cast. Place the shot so that the bait floats 12-18 inches off the bottom. Spin-A-Lures and Little Cleos have been working well.



    Water On Conditions – Orange and Chartreuse Power eggs with the Chartreuse on shank of hook and the Orange on tip, white Power Eggs, or inflated night crawlers bounced off the bottom using the standard “Lake Taneycomo Drift Rig.” which is readily available at all Marinas and most resorts on the Lake.



    Gary’s Comments – Have been out of town and haven’t fished since Jan. 2.



    Get Your Lake Taneycomo Questions Answered:Bob, Gary, Brett, and Stan will be monitoring the Outdoor Activities Forum on the Branson.Com Message Board . If you have any fishing questions on LakeTaneycomo just ask.Use the word “Taneycomo” in the Search Function and enter it in all your posts so they’ll show up.


  • Australians did not get $5 million and other Branson Landing Info


    On Jan. 2, as part of ongoing research on the Branson Landing Project and Convention Center, the Ole Seagull sent a list of four questions to City Administrator Terry Dody. On Jan. 10 Dody’s response was received. The questions and their responses, without comment, are set forth below.


    Question 1: Including the $5 million to the Australians, all legal, administration, land acquisition, consulting construction, lobbying, interest costs and any other cost directly related to the Branson Landing Project and
    Convention Center, how much has the city of Branson either spent or
    obligated itself for as of November 30, 2004?


    Response: It has been explained many times that the Australians were never paid $5 million. The Australians received $1.9 million for fees and expenses resulting from work they performed for the City at the City’s request.


    Additionally, when negotiations broke down with the Jacobsen Group, the Board of Aldermen elected to go ahead and purchase the lakefront property, even if nothing was ever going to be developed there.Consequently, the Board of Aldermen made a decision to expend $24,177,839 to purchase the land, demolish the buildings and site prep the ground knowing that they might not move forward with any development of the land.They felt it was in Branson’s best interest to own the lakefront into the future – even if it remained only as a park.


    The above is important because the cost to purchase and site prep the original land can arguably be excluded from the total cost of the current Branson Landing project.


    However, including the purchase and site prep of the original land, the total spent by the City as of November 30, 2004, is $52,527,101.This number includes everything: land, financing costs, permits, feasibility studies, legal fees, professional services, demolition, capitalized interest, lobbying, etc., etc., etc.


    Question 2: Of that amount how much is the city of Branson and its citizens not legally obligated to pay?


    Response: The city of Branson and its citizens are not legally obligated to pay any of the above stated amount.


    The following is the language from the Series 2003A and 2004A bond indentures.


    “The Series 2003A and 2004A bonds are not an indebtedness of the State of Missouri, the City nor any other political subdivision thereof within the meaning of any provision of the constitution or laws of the State of Missouri. The Bonds shall not constitute and indebtedness within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory debt limitation or restriction and are not payable in any manner by taxation.The issuance of the bonds shall not obligate the State, the City nor any other political subdivision to levy any form of taxation therefore or to make any appropriation for their payment in any year subsequent to a year in which the Financing Agreement is in effect.”


    Question 3: What is the distance from the retaining wall to the lakeside edge of the “Board walk?” What I am trying to determine is exactly how wide the “boardwalk” will be?


    Response: The distance from the retaining wall to the lakeside edge of the boardwalk averages 50′ through the length of the project. At one point the closest distance is 30′ and the greatest is 120′. The boardwalk is generally 12′ wide with occasional widening to 16′.


    Question 4: Am I correct in my belief that for a substantial portion of the Board Walk, there will be, in one form or another, a cement retaining wall rising to heights of 10 feet or more, separating those on the “Boardwalk” from the businesses located above?


    Response: The concrete retaining wall is generally 10′ in height and will be faced (on the lake side) with material similar to what will be on the exterior of the retail buildings which will include awnings and other additions that will make the wall blend with the other exterior portions of the buildings. Stairs and elevators will be amply provided for access to and from the boardwalk and retail.

  • Fountains over people, isn’t the new Branson amazingly obvious?

    Now here’s an amazing factoid and a big surprise. First the amazing factoid, traffic on Business Highway 65, directly north of the Roark Creek Bridge, is going to be increased drastically and quickly when Branson Landing, Branson’s new $420 million plus master-planned shopping entertainment development, opens. This has the distinct potential to create traffic congestion in the area of the Skaggs Hospital, particularly near the access to its emergency room. Some might say that is not amazing it’s obvious. Let’s compromise and say that it is amazingly obvious.



    Now for the big surprise, in spite of being so amazingly obvious, as Branson Landing gets ever closer and closer to opening, it appears that there has been minimal effective action taken to insure that the increased traffic on Business Highway 65 does not adversely impact on the efficient access to the Skaggs Hospital Emergency Room, the areas only hospital emergency room. For those wondering how something that is so amazingly obvious could result in such a surprise an Ole Seagull would simply say, “Welcome to the new Branson, where everybody has a chance to be amazed and surprised by the amazingly obvious.”



    Let’s just hope that chance doesn’t come as either you or someone you love is trying to get to the emergency room at Skaggs and is delayed because the access to the road leading to it is blocked by Branson Landing traffic. Can anyone picture a situation where time could be of the essence in getting to the emergency room?



    Can any reasonable person envision a situation where those making a decision to place a huge concentration of traffic directly in a position that could impede the only access road to the areas only available emergency room could even think of doing so without having a suitable alternate in place prior to doing so? Well, welcome to the new Branson, where everybody has a chance to be amazed and surprised by the amazingly obvious.”



    The minutes of the regular meeting of the Taney County Commission, held on Dec. 12, 2005, state that “Bob Simmons addressed the Commission regarding a new Hospital road on behalf of Skaggs Hospital.” Simmons pointed out that the new road was needed “due to the estimated increase in traffic when Branson Landing is finished” and that “they should be seeing more concentrated traffic in the area, which could potentially cause difficulty getting emergency vehicles to Skaggs Hospital.”



    Now let’s see, how many years ago was it when the city’s traffic consultants made their determination relative to the widening of Business Highway 65 and the location of the roundabout impacting on the access to the Skaggs Emergency Room? Weren’t the people present assured that access to the hospital and particularly access to the emergency room had been addressed? Who was it from the hospital that spoke at the public meetings about the hospitals concerns regarding the potential impact of Branson Landing traffic on the access to the hospitals emergency room?



    What priority has the City of Branson given to solving the problem that they are creating for the advancement of the new Branson? Out of the hundreds of millions of dollars being spent on the Branson Landing Project, how much has the City of Branson allocated to ensure that its citizens, visitors, and others needing access to the areas only emergency room have safe and efficient access to that emergency room?



    Evidently not too much according to the comments made by Branson City Administrator Terry Dody, as reflected on the official minutes of the Dec. 12 meeting mentioned above. When asked by Taney County Commissioner Ron Herschend when the county could expect reimbursement for the approximately $2.3 million dollars that the city and hospital are trying to get the county to pay for the new road, Dody responded, “There is a list of prioritized projects including a master transportation plan and since this is not yet on the list, it would be 10 to 15 years before the city could reimburse the county.”



    Is it possible that more planning, funding, and priority has been given to Branson Landing’s fountain by those governing the City of Branson than to insuring that access to the areas only emergency room is maintained? Just how much is the City of Branson paying for the construction of the fountain at Branson Landing? How much will the city be paying each year for fountain maintenance?



    Especially, considering that the City of Branson has created the situation, is it unreasonable to expect it to give at least the same priority and funding as the fountain is getting from the city to help ensure that access to the areas only emergency room is maintained? To an Ole Seagull the answer is amazingly obvious.

  • A cartoon, a consent order, and a Branson Landing “Bingo”

    On Nov. 24, 2004, the Missouri Ethics Commission filed a “Consent Order” in the case of the “Missouri Ethics Commission v. Rick Huffman.” In the order Huffman stipulated that there was probable cause to determine that he had violated subsection 130.031.8 of the Missouri Revised Statutes during the “2003 municipal election cycle.”



    The “2003 municipal election cycle referred to, was the Branson municipal election for mayor and the board of aldermen. Specifically, the consent order states that he “published, circulated, or distributed printed matter relative to a candidate for public office but did not identify on the printed matter in a clear and conspicuous manner who paid for the printed matter with the words ‘Paid for by’ following the proper identification of who paid for the printed matter.”



    “Seagull, was that the cartoon that was anonymously mailed out to everyone just before the election that a lot of people believed would determine the fate of Branson Landing and the convention center?”



    “That’s the one.”



    The consent order states that “Rick Huffman agrees that he will comply with all relevant sections of” Missouri’s election laws. It further states that Huffman “agrees to pay a fee of one thousand dollars…..to the Missouri Ethics Commission.”



    “Hey Seagull isn’t Huffman one of the principals in the company that was hired by the city to develop Branson Landing


    and build the convention center?”



    “He sure is.”



    “How much money is involved in the Branson Landing project?”



    “The project is estimated to cost in excess of $300 million.”



    “Wow, then there’s a pretty good chance that he will get his one thousand dollars back and then some.”



    “Like, duh!”



    In the opinion of an Ole Seagull, the actions of the Missouri Ethics Commission, in this case, serve as the poster child for the impotency of Missouri’s election laws. If this is the extent of the deterrent value of Missouri’s laws to ensure fair elections why bother? From a pure business expense point of view and potential reward risk ratio etc., who wouldn’t risk a thousand to save or gain millions?



    Someone much wiser than an Ole Seagull once said, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.” The sad thing is that, in terms of affecting the outcome of the election and the totality of the Branson Landing and the convention center, the printed matter that was distributed is “a very little thing” but the potential it bodes represents “much.”



    Could this case, and what it represents, cause a reasonable person to wonder if there were other laws that were stretched or broken to get the Branson Landing project off the ground? Does it give pause to wonder if there is the possibility that other laws, building codes, etc. could be compromised or violated as the project is being built?



    “Come on Seagull, we got the city enforcing their codes and ordinances, don’t we?”



    “Sure and we had the Missouri Ethics Commission enforcing the states election laws.



    “But, what they did was too little too late.”



    “Bingo!”

  • Branson Landing gears up with Corps 404 approval

    Branson obtains 404 approval


    By Chandra Huston, BDI Staff Writer



    It has taken three years and countless studies, but the city has finally obtained 404 application approval for Branson Landing from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.



    A common joke with city officials and Branson Landing representatives has been that the approval would come in two weeks. Months later, Corps of Engineers officials still held firm at two weeks, but the 404 approval never happened. Now two weeks has finally come for the city.



    Notification of the corp’s initial permit approval for the $300 million retail development on the Lake Taneycomo waterfront was received Dec. 20. The approval does include certain environmental conditions that the city must meet during Branson Landing’s construction. Those conditions include maintaining the water quality of Lake Taneycomo and preserving the wetlands of the lake and Roark Creek over which a bridge will be built.



    The project has seen some delays due to the lack of the 404 permit. Construction of a seawall along the lake and Roark Creek bridge could not begin until the 404 was issued.


    The Corps of Engineers asked the city to sign off on the conditions and mail the application back to Colonel Wally Walters, the corp’s district engineer in Little Rock, Ark. Dody said he signed the application and returned it by certified mail to Col. Walters, who signed the final approval on Dec. 23, 2004.



    Dody said the 404 process was right on schedule until this past October. “The process worked exactly like it was supposed to,” he said. “We understood from the beginning that it would be a long process due to the tremendous amount of information, plans, maps and documents the corps and other federal and state agencies had to review.”



    Dody said three events caused the 404 process to slowdown this past fall. The Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were using different high water marks for mapping. “There were about eight different measurement points established over the past 80 years and there is a variance of several inches between each marker,” he said. “Both agencies had to agree on one measurement point. That caused a delay in finalizing the engineering design for the seawall and boardwalk.”



    The close of the federal fiscal year on Sept. 30 also slowed things down because the corps had to focus on their own budgeting process.



    A new colonel also took over the controls at the Corps of Engineers offices in Little Rock and had to review the project before approving it.



    In November 2001, city officials selected the Corps of Engineers to coordinate the documents and studies required by federal and state agencies that determine water projects. The agencies include the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri Conservation Department and the State Historic Preservation Office as well as the federal Environmental Projection Agency, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and FEMA.



    The corps specifically examined aspects of the project related to the preservation of public waterways, including economics and aesthetics and the impact on wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife, flood plains, navigation, erosion, water quality and the general needs and welfare of the people.



    “We worked closely with the corps in providing every piece of information they requested,” Dody said. “The city even hired outside engineering firms who had special expertise in these types of environmental studies.”



    City Engineer David Miller said Branson Landing is being built to flood elevations recommended in the 2001 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Flood Study.



    Branson Mayor Lou Schaefer said he is glad to see Branson Landing progressing. “It’s definitely full steam ahead now for Branson Landing with the city successfully completing this 404 process,” he said. “All of the requirements that guarantee that the project will not adversely affect Lake Taneycomo have been compiled.”


  • Investigation reveals developer was behind 2003 election mailer

    An investigation by the Missouri Ethics Commission into campaign advertising for the April 8, 2003 Branson municipal election has resulted in a $1,000 fine for a Branson developer.



    The Missouri Ethics Commission, who closed the case Dec. 16, found that Rick Huffman of Branson “published, circulated or distributed printed matter relative to a candidate for public office but did not identify on that printed matter in a clear and conspicuous manner who paid for the printed matter with the words “paid for by” following the identification of who paid for the printed matter.”



    Commission Senior Field Investigator Michael Brooks visited Branson in the months following the election questioning business owners and other individuals about a mailer that was sent out to all registered voters by an organization known only as “Citizens for Truth.”



    The mailer personally attacked then mayoral candidate Ray Wilson and his committee. A cartoon depicting Wilson as being nothing more than a puppet was also featured on the piece. The printed material had no disclaimer on it noting who paid for the mailer.



    Missouri law states any campaign advertising must have the words “paid for by” followed by the name of the person, committee or corporation paying for the election material.


    Wilson, who took a position against Branson Landing, which Huffman and the City of Branson are developing, lost the election to incumbent Lou Schaefer.



    Wilson later died in 2003 of an apparent heart attack. Wilson’s son, Ryan, said his father would be relieved to know that the truth came out. “I am glad (the commission) found out who was responsible for the mailer,” he said. “I know dad would be happy too. It doesn’t matter if Huffman paid for it, drew it, thought of it or hired somebody, he is guilty of doing it and knew what was being sent out.



    “It’s a shame that Huffman is representing Branson through Branson Landing and did this childish act,” Ryan Wilson added. “It makes Branson look bad.”



    Huffman said he only paid for the printed material’s postage. “We were supporting Lou Schaefer in the election and we made a contribution to the campaign,” he said Thursday in a telephone interview.


    Huffman said he is under a confidentiality agreement with the Missouri Ethics Commission and can not name other people involved in the creation and distribution of the mailer.

  • Jan. 8 Be flexible- ESB Slip Float for Deep Water

    Editors General Comments: Jan 8 0600 4 Generator on, Taneycomo is at 711.1 and Table Rock is 918.3 With Table Rock about three feet over power pool the percentage bet is that they will continue to run the water heavy. Jan 2 0500– 1 Generator on, Taneycomo is at 703.6 (normal 701.5) and Table Rock is at 913.4. (Power Pool 915.0).Very little affects the fishing on LakeTaneycomo like the generation of power at the Table Rock Dam. Call 417-336-5083 for up to the moment information on generation and lake levels or click here.



    Trophy Trout Area: Special Regulations apply to the Trophy Trout Area running from Table Rock Dam to the mouth of Fall Creek. Click here for an overview of these regulations.



    Gary’s CommentsJan 2 Fished Mac and Bill Walden for about an hour before the rain started. Just kind of drift down from the 21 mile marker on the channel side with indicators set at about 4-5 feet. Had the best luck on the the River Run Peach Furbug and we ended up with about 15-20 fish total. The water was going down and the rain was starting up again when we stopped. January 1, 2005– What a great way to start the New Year, fishing in about 70 degree weather and catching about 15 fish in a little under an hour. No big one but lots of fun. Fished between 1200-1300, with one generator going and a lake level of about 704. Same technique as on December 31 but also used the Red Tungsten Bead Head Midge, size 16 hook from Gary’s Big Four, changed the depth of the indicator to about five feet, and fished from the non channel side toward the middle. December 31– Horns were blowing as I started fishing at Lookout Hole. Didn’t use anything but the River Run Peach Furbug from Gary’s Big Four, fished under a size 1 ESB slip float (indicator), at a depth of 4 1/2 feet with 6x Orvis tippet. The float was shot with 1.6 grams of shot, 1.2 grams about 4 1/2 feet up from the lure on the main line, and the jig at about .4 grams . Fished from a boat about a cast out from the channel side from Lookout Hole toward Fall Creek. Caught about 13 fish in less than 40 minutes. I was too lazy to adjust to the changing current conditions and hoped that the lower water I was drifting into would take care of it. Should have adjusted depth and shot placement because, except for one fish, the last 20 minutes (hour total) were wasted. A guy and his son were drifting right behind me and he had been catching them on a red scud and his son on a “brown jig.”



    Fly Fishing Only by River Run Outfitters Jan 5 Hate to say it, but you should have been here last week. Water was off last Tuesday morning until Friday. Friday they ran one generator, Saturday ran one generator, then two, same thing on Sunday. Had it off for a couple hours Monday morning, then cranked it up. Other than a few hours early yesterday (midnight to 6:00 a.m.) morning, they have been running 3-4 generators. With all the rain we are getting, expect this will be the trend for a while…..again. We had trips out last week and this past weekend. Fishing was wonderful. Fish were as excited as us about the water being off. They hit almost anything you threw. Folks catching fish on dries…crackle backs and elk hair caddis, tan or gray scuds, and with the water off, dark olive soft hackles. Saturday and Sunday, when they had one or even two generators going, we fished the red tungsten midge or Worm Brown San Juan worms and did well. If we could find some slack water we could get to in our boats, the sulphur or holographic green crackle backs and dark olive soft hackles were the ticket. Weather really cooperated. It was in the upper 60s and low 70s. We saw the Old Year out with a great day on the water fishing with friends as well as the New Year in on the water fishing with friends.Dec 28– Of course, since the water was off yesterday and we are now so close to the good fishing area, Stan headed for the water to see what they were hitting on. His findings, olive zebra midge, size 18 and the size 18 dark olive soft hackle. The fish were so happy the water was off, they were popping up everywhere taking midge emergers. He is on the water today with clients and at 10:00 a.m. or so, they had already boated 20 plus fish on the dark olive soft hackle. They are fishing it with a #6 shot about 12 inches or more up from the fly and presenting it with the accelerated downstream presentation. Cast cross current, let a loop form in your line. Strip occasionally, but the fish are picking it up on the drift. You’ll generally see your fly line, where it touches the water, move before you feel the strike. One of our customers came in yesterday morning and he had caught and released two Browns around 22 inches that he had caught on scuds across from the Rocking Chair area.
    December 16 – Have not had any boats on the water this past week. Do know that some folks are catching fish from boats with high water. Main thing is to use enough weight to get your fly down to the fish. Not many people fishing the chute area by the hatchery. Think it’s too cold?! Stan has run up there a few days and caught some. Small egg patterns, micro San Juan worm in hot pink, tan scud-size 16 are a few of the patterns he has caught fish with. Lake still has not turned over and think the oxygen level is down. This colder weather should help. (Editor’s note: Was in the shop on Decemeber 18 and Stan said he had discovered that the Big Ugly, a big dry fly was working in the chutes for him.). Also please note that River Run outfitters has moved from its downtown location
    to a location closer to the dam on State Highway 65. The best “dam fly shop” in Branson will be located at 2626 State Highway 165 conveniently located just north of the Dam and hatchery).Coming from the north on 165 it is just south of the Welk Theatre on the right hand side of the road.



    Fly Fishing and Spin Fishing By Chartered Waters Guide Service and Fly Shop December 31The fishing was pretty good early and just got better as the day progressed with a few fly changes along the way. Early a #16 coral Soft Shelled Scud and a #14 pink of the same was solid. I had various midge patterns above these flies early on with very little success so I went to using two scud patterns mid day till the end and our hookups increased. After that 12:00 noon time frame where the pink/coral seems to slow, the #14 black UV Soft Shelled Scud, #14 wine/ginger SG-Bug and #16 and #14 ginger Soft Shelled Scud picked things up nicely. Even better though was #14 UV XGrey Soft Shelled Scud. A little twist on some existing patterns and it was really good to finish the day. We had many triples today and countless doubles and these boys kept me pretty busy. As always we broke off some big fish and our biggest to net was this 19 ” rainbow Russ nabbed on the #14 UV XGrey Soft Shelled Scud. I’m sure these guys broke the 100 fish mark today and man…what a day to be outside, 72 degrees with mild wind on New Years Eve day. December 30th…A pretty tough bite for us today. (Editors Note: Yeh sure, only caught 25-30 fish!)… day started slower than it ended. Super quick and subtle bites were the order of the day and everyone had a tough time connecting. #18 XGrey Bit Scuds were the best producers with some decent action on black Crown Zebras, regular black Zebras and black UV Smidges in a #22. It was really calm early … around mid day the wind just got brutal. The best action was the shallow side of channels with the most active fish again in water no deeper than 2 feet. I could see a lot of fish swirling around our top (midge) fly with real quick takes then drops. … We probably only brought 25 – 30 fish to the net. You just had to be really quick with the hookset and even really quick wasn’t quick enough at times.December 21 – All 3 anglers caught a lot of fish today. Nothing really big, though we snapped off 3 -4 really big fish we never got a good look at. We always get a few of those a trip and with a little luck we get a few of them in. This group was pretty fun and had a good time together hooking up all day long. The day started pretty nice but a cold front was moving in and the end of the afternoon got colder and windy. A slight change in flies kept the bite pretty hot as the fish moved off black UV Scuds and really liked a #14 wine and ginger SG-Bug as well as a gray #12 UV BitShell Scud. The purple Nitros stayed pretty good all day long.” Editors Note: Brett was fishing from a boat with four generators going using a fly rod and his flat lineing technique for using heavy weight and “pegged indicators with leaders up to 16 feet.




    Guide Bob Klein: January 6- Bob Klein, of “Bob’s Guide Service” reported fishing excellent from the dam to Fall Creek with generation heavy – drifting egg flies or #5 silver flatfish or #5 floating Rapelas. From Fall Creek to Branson – nightcrawlers or bubblegum power eggs on a 1/4 oz. drift rig. From Branson to Rockaway Beach – drifting bubblegum power eggs. Fishing is excellent but a lot of small fish being caught. (Editors note: Bob does all of his fishing from a boat.) As always the following standard default techniques are producing fish:



    Water Off Conditions (not generating power from Table Rock Dam) – Air injected night crawlers or Orange and Chartreuse Power Eggs, with the Chartreuse on shank of hook and the Orange on tip. Fish them off the bottom with no heavier than 4 pound leader, size 8 or smaller hooks, and just enough split shot to cast. Place the shot so that the bait floats 12-18 inches off the bottom. Spin-A-Lures and Little Cleos have been working well.



    Water On Conditions – Orange and Chartreuse Power eggs with the Chartreuse on shank of hook and the Orange on tip, white Power Eggs, or inflated night crawlers bounced off the bottom using the standard “Lake Taneycomo Drift Rig.” which is readily available at all Marinas and most resorts on the Lake.



    Get Your Lake Taneycomo Questions Answered:Bob, Gary, Brett, and Stan will be monitoring the Outdoor Activities Forum on the Branson.Com Message Board . If you have any fishing questions on LakeTaneycomo just ask.Use the word “Taneycomo” in the Search Function and enter it in all your posts so they’ll show up.


  • Keeping “Christmas” in “Chirstmas” Presentation to the Small Business Development Advisory Council of the BLACC

    Although there are efforts at every level to remove all vestiges of Christ, God, and Christianity from public life no where has the movement been more obvious or successful than in removing Christ and the very Christmas Story from the public celebration of Christmas. Currently the emphasis seems to be on removing the very word “Christmas” from “Christmas.”



    To me the reason is obvious, “One cannot even say the word “Christmas” without mentioning “Christ.” To completely get “Christ” out of “Christmas” the name of the very holiday that is being celebrated must be changed.



    In recent years, those who would take “Christmas” out of “Christmas,” for whatever reason have developed a strategy of “political correctness” and “let’s not mention Christmas because it might offend someone.” The word they would substitute for “Christmas” is “holiday” and the phrase they would substitute for “Merry Christmas” is “Happy Holidays.”



    A recent column appearing in the Dec. 24, 2004 Wall Street Journal contained an illustration of just how far the pendulum has swung. It pointed out that “the mayor of Somerville, Mass., apologized for mistakenly calling his December celebration a “Christmas party. He should have called it, he said, a “holiday party.”



    Now there would be those that would say that something like that can’t happen here in the land of “Ozark Mountain Christmas,” “Old Time Christmas,” and the “Adoration Parade.”



    “That might be the way we wish it were but is it the way it is?”



    The Dec. 24, 2004 edition of the Branson Daily Independent contained a letter from a lady who, while eating in a local restaurant with her husband, received the greeting of “Happy Holidays,” from their server. It’s the same greeting that a lot of us, and, probably tens of thousands of visitors to Branson, received during “Ozark Mountain Christmas.” When her husband said, “I think you mean ‘Merry Christmas’” she quickly responded, “Oh, we can’t say that unless the customer does.” I would echo the words that the writer of the letter used to describe the incident, “How sad.”



    In my mind, the name “Ozarks Mountain Christmas” creates a different expectation than would “Ozarks “Mountain Hanukah,” “Ozark Mountain Kwanzaa,” or “Ozark Mountain Holidays.” If we are going to tell our employees what greeting to give doesn’t it make more sense to encourage those celebrating “Ozark Mountain Christmas” to say “Merry Christmas” than “Happy Holidays” if for no other reason than it is consistent with the theme and promise of “Ozark Mountain Christmas?” When one adds the “values” that people identify with the Branson Brand and the “faith” of the “Branson Promise” the use of the term “Merry Christmas” becomes even more appropriate.



    On Jan. 26, I am going to make a presentation to the Chambers Board of Directors asking them to specifically, “Establish a policy of trying to keep “Christmas” in “Christmas” by, at a minimum, encouraging the use of the term “Merry Christmas” in lieu of “Happy Holidays” in connection with the Chambers involvement with “Ozark Mountain Christmas” and in other situations where it is the intent of the Chamber to specifically express “Christmas” wishes or greetings to those celebrating the holiday of “Christmas.”




    If the council deems that this issue is under our purview, and I believe it is, because of not only the message of Christmas, but the fact that “Ozarks Mountain Christmas” is of critical importance to the small businesses this council serves, I would request that this council send a recommendation to the Board reading as follows:



    “The Small Business Development Advisory Council supports the position that the Board establish a policy of trying to keep “Christmas” in “Christmas” by, at a minimum, encouraging the use of the term “Merry Christmas” in lieu of “Happy Holidays” in connection with the Chambers involvement with “Ozark Mountain Christmas” and in other situations where it is the intent of the Chamber to specifically express “Christmas” wishes or greetings to those celebrating the holiday of “Christmas.”