Branson Courier

Month: August 2008

  • Labor Day Weekend at The Branson Landing features great free shows

    It’s a labor of love this Labor Day weekend at Branson’s premiere shopping and dining destination, the Branson Landing. Established in 2006, the Branson Landing continues its commitment to the community as a philanthropic supporter of a variety of local, state, regional and national charities. The pending holiday weekend will be filled with a host of family-fun, fundraising events and activities slated to support the National Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) Annual Telethon.

    Unlike a typical fund-raising drive, the Branson Landing’s activities promise to offer unique opportunities for families and friends to support the MDA while being entertained, enjoying a host of activities and indulging in the area’s finest foods. “With three jam-packed days of events, concerts and specials, we are hoping that the community will come out and help us support the MDA’s efforts to eradicate neuromuscular diseases,” stated Tammy Scholten, Director of Marketing for the Landing. “There are more than one million Americans who suffer from one of the forty plus muscle wasting diseases, so chances are many of us know of someone who has been touched by this crippling illness, especially since the Ozarks MDA Chapter benefits more than 800 area families. Through the holiday weekend of events at the Branson Landing, we hope to provide a way for the local community and tourists to get involved,” concluded Scholten.

    The three-day fundraiser kicks off Friday, August 29th at 8PM with a FREE live concert by a highly energetic band, SEQUEL DOSE. A regional favorite, SEQUEL DOSE will take audiences on a two-hour journey through the jukebox favorites of classic rock and roll. Although the performance is free to everyone, the Branson Landing invites guests at all of the weekend’s concerts to “Take a Seat and Take A Stand Against Muscle Disease” by offering a special VIP seating section. There will be 200 chairs positioned at the fountains for stage level viewing of each concert. Participation is $5 per seat, per concert with 100% of the proceeds supporting the MDA.

    Daily activities throughout the weekend include food specials from such vendors as Famous Dave’s with a Town Square BBQ and Cotton Candy Kids, who will be donating a portion of their proceeds to the fund-raising efforts. Other weekend activities include huge inflatables provided by Monkey Moe’s. For a $1 donation, children can jump for Jerry’s Kids in Branson Landing’s Town Square. If you are looking for some adventure, take a sight-seeing cruise with Ride the Ducks or jump on board one of the Branson Landing Cruises.

    These locations, at the Branson Landing, will each be donating $1 per ticket sold on select days during the Labor Day weekend. In addition, the CBS television affiliate KOLR 10 will be on property, broadcasting select events on Sunday and Monday, for local viewers to enjoy.

    CHAIN REACTION, a five-member tribute band to Journey, will perform at Saturday’s 8PM concert. Referred to as one of the best tribute bands in the country, CHAIN REACTION will take audiences back with Journey hits like “Separate Ways”, “Don’t Stop Believing”, “Faithfully” and “Open Arms”.

    Sunday’s concert promises to deliver another night of outstanding music with TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT. Starting at 8PM, this group of eight talented musicians salute one of America’s all-time favorite bands, The Eagles, by bringing to life the 5 part harmonies The Eagles are famous for. TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT plays incredible chart topping hits such as “Desperado”, “Lying Eyes”, “Take It Easy” and “Hotel California”. You’ll want to “Take a Seat” for both of these great concerts.

    The festivities come to an exciting culmination on Labor Day with more live musical extravaganzas. The morning opens with a 10AM to 11:30 AM performance by area youth. This unique concert, sponsored by Branson Landing and Arvest Bank, showcases a group of talented youngsters performing in honor of Jerry’s Kids.

    Don’t miss the special performance by American Kids at 12:00 PM, followed by the inspirational lyrics of ROCKUMENTALLY, featuring Bucky Heard from 12:45 PM -1:15 PM. This group mixes rock, rhythm and blues and soul to teach children about the environment and learn about family values. It’s a wonderful opportunity for parents and grandparents to treat their kids to a fun filled concert that also teaches valuable life lessons.

    Guests can enjoy lunch at one of the eleven premiere restaurants and then return to Town Square for an amazing performance by the Premier Dance Academy at 2:00 PM.

    After a day of shopping, dining, activities and concerts, guests are invited to relax and enjoy the final Monday Night Movie under the stars in Town Square. Don’t miss the hilarious movie, R.V. starring Robin Williams at 9 PM in front of the Branson Landing Fountains.

    Join us at Branson Landing this Labor Day weekend for a fun-filled time in honor of Jerry’s Kids. For a complete listing of the Labor Day Lineup of Events benefiting MDA, visit www.bransonlanding.com.

  • Surely there’s no involuntary servitude in Branson, is there?

    It must have been a dream because there can’t be involuntary servitude in Branson. Yet it seemed so real, this conversation the Ole Seagull had with a man who stopped him on the street and asked, “What are you going to do to stop indentured servitude labor in Branson?”

    In surprise the Ole Seagull responded, “What indentured servitude labor?” The man replied, “The kind where foreign workers are brought over under temporary Visas and forced to work under indentured servitude like conditions.”

    The man explained the labor shortage in Branson has caused a lot of Branson’s businesses, particularly seasonal businesses like motels, hotels, and restaurants to seek foreign workers on a temporary basis. Generally, the foreign workers come into the country for a specific period of time with a legally issued passport simply to work. They are not seeking to immigrate to this country and leave at the end of the prescribed time.

    Citing the H-2B Temporary Worker Program as an example, the Ole Seagull said, “That’s nothing new and it has been going on for years.” The man replied, “Exactly, that’s the problem.” Confused, the Ole Seagull asked, “What problem? The program has been in place for years and seems to work well.”

    Under the program businesses, after following a procedure showing local labor is not available to fill certain positions, go through the state and Home Land Security to try to get the jobs filled out of the 66,000 cap on the visas that are granted each year for the program. It’s like a lottery, a business can do everything right and still not get any workers because the cap has been reached.

    The Ole Seagull went on to explain, “Once a business does get an H-2B worker however, they can return under the H-2R Temporary Return Worker Program that permits workers who had previously come into the country under the H-2B to return in subsequent years. He also pointed out the workers were brought into the country under the sponsorship of individual businesses who, although they received remuneration for room and transportation, were individually responsible for the treatment of their H-2B workers. He also stressed this was the first he had heard the words “involuntary servitude” mentioned in connection with the program.

    The man shook his head sadly and said, “That was then, this is now.” He went on to explain that congress has let the H-2R Temporary Return Worker Program expire last fall. Local employers do not have access to any return workers under the program and can only get H-2 workers under the H-2B program and from the 66,000 positions authorized annually.

    He went on to say the failure to renew the H-2R program has generated intense competition for the 66,000 H-2B visas with most local employers losing out to huge agencies who bring the workers in under their sponsorship and “sublease” them to the local employers. Unlike in the past where the specific local employer sponsored their workers and was responsible for them, the specific employers must obtain the worker through an agency who actually has the control over the housing and other conditions of employment. There according to the man is the potential for involuntary servitude.

    The H-2B workers are contracted out to the local employers for say $11.00 per hour but paid by the agency. Although they are supposed to get a certain wage mandated by federal law for the position, according to the man, a lot of them are actually getting less than that rate because of housing and other charges they must pay. He went on to say the housing situation is disgraceful in some cases with the workers being charged more than the housing is worth and, in total, the whole situation amounts to involuntary servitude.

    The Ole Seagull asked, “Can I talk to one of the workers?” He said, “They are afraid to talk because of the fear they will lose their job with the agency.” Even as he was thinking, “Well then conditions can’t be that bad,” the door slammed upstairs and woke the Ole Seagull up from his nap. Wow, thank the Lord it was but a dream and nothing like that can happen in Branson.

  • Volunteer effort mitigates Lake Taneycomo pollution

    Raw untreated sewage has been running into Lake Taneycomo about five miles upstream from the city of Branson’s drinking water intake for months. The source of the sewage is an area of homes and businesses located off of Montgomery Drive. Montgomery Drive is located in Taney County outside the city limits of Branson and loops from the east side of State Highway 165 in the Skyview Drive area by Doc’s Sports Bar. Although located miles upstream from the city’s drinking water intake and outside the city limits of Branson, Branson Public Works Director Larry VanGilder said that any source of pollution to Lake Taneycomo above the water intake is of concern and must be addressed as soon as possible.

    A meeting involving local officials, representatives of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the state Attorney General’s Office (AGO) was held at the Dewey Short Visitor’s Center on August 21. It became apparent there have been other incidents involving the Montgomery sewage, DNR has been aware of the current Montgomery situation since November of 2007, the AOG has filed a law suit regarding the Montgomery pollution, and, even while the meeting was taking place, there was the ongoing threat of untreated sewage continuing to pollute Lake Taneycomo.

    While local officials all acknowledged the urgency and ongoing nature of the problem and expressed a willingness to work together to solve it as quickly as possible, it was obvious it would take some time to develop a plan and determine who would pay for what. Meanwhile, the pollution threat to Lake Taneycomo continued unabated.

    After the meeting, three of the men present at the meeting Fred Stewart, Drain Doctor of SW Missouri, Inc., Tim Smith, S & S Pumping Service, and Ted Wilczynski, TCM Environmental Inc., realized the financial process, constraints and other procedures governmental entities must abide by would delay an immediate solution to the problem. Wilczynski said the sewage on the ground, the health threat to those living in the area, along with the continuing threat of pollution to Lake Taneycomo led them to decide to voluntarily take a proactive approach, at their own cost, to mitigate and temporarily control the Montgomery sewage situation.

    After coordinating with local officials, the three men with work crews and equipment commenced work on the Montgomery site the morning of August 22. Stewart said a major part of the problem was the sewage was never getting to the treatment plant because of sagging and blockage problems on the main line. This caused raw untreated sewage to bubble up through the cleanouts, and literally go down along the ground and into the water way.”

    Stewart said Drain Doctor had cleaned the blockage out of the main line, made some minor repairs, and added caps to the cleanouts and the repairs should be adequate to get the sewage to the treatment plant on a temporary basis while a long term solution is being worked out.

    Simultaneously, Smith and the personnel of S & S Pumping Service were pumping the overflow sewage already on the ground into their tank trucks and treating the area to help mitigate the effects of the pollution. The treatment plant is another matter however.

    The temporary fix is to get it into a condition where, at a minimum, the sewage from the main line into the plant will flow through the plant into holding tanks which will be pumped out about every two days into a tank truck which will then pump it down a manhole into the city of Branson’s sewer system for processing. Stewart said, subject to evaluation by Wilczynski there is a slim possibility that the plant could be brought on line on a temporary basis. Repair work on the plant had not gotten to the point where Wilczynski could make that determination.

    On the afternoon of August 22, Taney County Commissioner, Chuck Pennell commended the three companies for their effort in mitigating the current pollution emergency and said the probable long term solution is to pump the Montgomery sewage up into the city of Branson’s sewer system. He said Great River Engineering is already studying and working on plans to resolve the situation and a final decision and financing will be discussed at a later date based on their recommendations.

    VanGilder expressed the willingness of the city of Branson to help resolve the situation as quickly and efficiently as possible and has given temporary approval for the pumping of the Montgomery sewage into the City of Branson’s system. Both Pennell and VanGilder acknowledged any permanent solution involving the Montgomery sewage going into the city of Branson’s sewer system would more than likely involve an intergovernmental agreement between the two entities.

    Reprinted with permission of the Tri-Lakes Tribune, a free newspaper published and distributed three times weekly, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Please call 417-336-NEWS (6397) for classified and display advertising opportunities.

  • Tragic traffic incident claims life of Hollister Park Director

    The city of Hollister lost a friend and valued employee and its park system lost its director, champion, and a primary force behind it planning and expansion. At approximately 12:06 a.m. August 18, Chad Fuqua, Director of Hollister’s Park Department, was killed in a tragic traffic incident on Business Highway 65 near the Spirit Shop in Hollister.

    According to the report of the incident, prepared by the Missouri Highway Patrol, Fuqua, 40, was traveling east bound on Business Highway 65 on a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle when a 2007 Hummer, operated by Chadwick B. Carter, 27, of Forsyth made a U-Turn into the path of Fuqua’s motorcycle striking it. Fuqua was ejected from the motorcycle and was pronounced dead a short time later at Skaggs Community Health Center.

    On the afternoon of August 18, Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell charged Carter with one felony count of Involuntary Manslaughter. Although the investigation is ongoing, preliminary indications are that Carter had been drinking prior to the incident.

    The employees of the city of Hollister as well as others are attempting to deal with the void left by the sudden loss of their fellow employee and friend. A grieving Rick Ziegenfuss, Hollister City Administrator, in describing Fuqua said, “Chad was a man of few words” who let his works and deeds speak for him and he will be sorely missed.

    In addition to helping plan, build, and maintain Hollister’s growing park system, Fuqua was actively involved in participating in the various programs and activities in which the department was involved. From the set up and firing of the Fourth of July fireworks, to the children’s Halloween celebration to Founders Day and everything in between Fuqua was there and actively participated. Yet there is one thing, to this reporter, that stands out and, in his heart and mind, helps explain just why Fuqua will be so sorely missed.

    At the recent dedication of Hollister’s new Town Hall Park just a few weeks ago, Park Board Chairman, Tom Linkous singled out and recognized Fuqua for his untiring efforts in making the park a reality. Yet, in his typical “few words style,” rather than bask in a well deserved moment of glory, Chad chose to recognize the contribution of others in making the park a reality and give special recognition to one of his fellow employees in the Hollister Park Department for their contribution and efforts, Mike Alves. Such was the graciousness and humbleness of this dedicated public servant, friend, and son.

    Reprinted with permission of the Tri-Lakes Tribune, a free newspaper published and distributed three times weekly, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Please call 417-336-NEWS (6397) for classified and display advertising opportunities.

  • Silver Dollar City’s “192 Tops Spun Simultaneously” – new Guinness Book of World Record?

    250 Pariticipants at Silver Dollar City attempt to
    break the world record.

    At exactly 2:00, August 16, the gun went off and 250 spinners took aim, with Silver Dollar City seeking to be home of The Guinness Book of World Records: Most Tops Spun Simultaneously. While the number of participants exceeded the requested 200, only 192 of the tops continued spinning for the required ten seconds.

    Silver Dollar City will still be submitting the results. “Today’s event could be named the world record, as we were seeking to create this category. However Guinness had set the bar, that in order to make the book, we needed 200 to establish this as an official world record,” said event creator and spinning expert, Silver Dollar City’s Roy Campbell.

    “We’ll be back next year with a even bigger and better event!” said Campbell. “People had a great time learning and then joining the team.” Campbell says the craft of making and spinning tops has been around for hundreds of years, which fits perfectly with Silver Dollar City’s 1880s theme. “Interestingly, in this day and age of video games and digital toys, we saw so many people loving the old fashioned fun. There is no better place than Silver Dollar City to set this world record – watch us next year!”

  • City financial challenges exasperated by Branson Landing TIF ?

    The city of Branson is currently undergoing some budgeting challenges. One of the primary sources of revenue for the city is its retail sales tax. A dollar of city retail sales tax revenue generated in Branson Landing is a dollar of sales tax revenue in terms of pretty reports and colored graphs. It is included in the actual report of sales tax receipts received whether, as last year, records were broken or this year, where things are flat.

    Sounds good so far except for one little thing, well maybe it’s not such a little thing after all. For all practical purposes, not one dollar of that retail sales tax revenue can be used by the city to meet its financial challenges or used for anything except to pay off the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) bonds used to finance the Branson Landing Project. Not one dollar will be spent to build or repair a road, pay the cost of any salaries or raises for city employees, give citizens relief on their tax bills, build new water and sewer plants, maintain the level of the city’s park and recreation programs or for any other operational expenses the city may have.

    Some might say, “But Seagull, you’re wrong because the TIF is only 50 percent of the city’s retail sales tax. That leaves 50 percent of the sales tax receipts to be used by the city to meet its operational needs and provide services for its citizens.” The reality of the situation is the previous administration obligated 100 percent of the city’s retail sales tax revenues from the Branson Landing Project to pay off the TIF Bonds.

    Oh, and it gets better, the city can’t even use a dollar of the city retail sales tax revenues collected at Branson Landing to pay the hundreds of thousands of dollars in Branson Landing operational and maintenance costs for the fountain and other areas the city is obligated to pay under its contracts with Branson Landing. The question might come up, “Why did they do something appearing to be that stupid?”

    When analyzing the situation the words of Forest Gump come to mind, “Stupid is as stupid does.” Some, including the Ole Seagull, believe it was done so that State Tax Increment Financing (STIF) could be obtained from the state of Missouri and without the STIF there would have been no convention center.

    A few readers might ask, “Is that the convention center forecast to lose over $1 million dollars per normal year of operation? The convention center running a commercial laundry for the primary benefit of two hotels the city doesn’t own? The convention center that didn’t open until after Branson Landing had already opened and proved itself a great success without it? That’s the one!

    A few might ask, “Can the revenue from the city’s retail sales tax collected in Branson Landing be used to pay off the yearly operational deficit of the convention center and, if not, where does the money to do so come from? No, it must be used to pay off the TIF bonds. The revenues for the operational deficit at the convention center comes from the same place the hundreds of thousands of dollars in Branson Landing operational and maintenance costs for the fountain and other areas comes from, other tax sources and fees etc. charged by the city of Branson to its citizens, businesses and guests.

    The city’s current financial reports show that while the collection of the city sales tax is trending up in Branson Landing and Branson Hills they are starting to trend down in the other retail areas of the city. Should those trends continue it will exasperate Branson’s current financial challenges and Branson’s financial caution light might just change to “Red.”

  • Special Prosecutor indicates Pennel’s actions “a good heart” not nepotism

    Nepotism is more than hanging someone on a cross for having a good heart. At an August 13 meeting in the Taney County Commission Office, the “special prosecutor” assigned to investigate charges of nepotism against Presiding Commission Chuck Pennel said, “All I could find was the appearance of an impropriety and not an impropriety itself.” He went on to state, based on his investigation of the charges, nepotism had not taken place and he would not be taking any actions to have Pennel removed from office.

    The charge of nepotism against Pennel was alleged by Bob Schanz in March of this year. Because of relationships and to avoid any appearance of impropriety county officials asked Christian County Prosecutor Ron Cleek to act as a “special prosecutor.” Cleek outlined the steps he took which included, among other things, interviewing county personnel working at the animal shelter, as well as Chuck Pennel and Renee Pennel and reviewing pertinent documentation.

    He found that Renee Pennel had often worked with Chuck Pennel during the weekends and off hours in assisting sick and injured animals. He found the work was performed voluntarily, without pay and not by virtue of any appointment to public office or other county employment created by Chuck Pennel using his position as presiding county commissioner. Cleek said, “I don’t think that Mrs. Pennel should be hung out on a cross, so to speak, because of a good heart.”

    In the specific case Cross determined that Renee Pennel, who operates a dog kennel, had voluntarily, in her own vehicle, at the request of Chuck Pennel, taken a distressed animal they believed had the extremely infectious disease “Parvo,” to an emergency veterinary clinic in Springfield. It was determined the dog had Parvo and Renee Pennel used her own personal credit card to pay the $112.00 for the dogs examination and euthanasia.

    Cleek determined at the time of the payment Renee Pennel did not know whether or not she would receive reimbursement from the county for the expense. Discussion at the meeting indicates that Chuck Pennel submitted a claim for reimbursement and that such reimbursement was probably made.

    He cited the applicable provision in Article VII Section 6 of the Missouri Constitution which states, any, “public officer or employee in this state who by virtue of his office or employment names or appoints to public office any relative within the fourth degree, by consanguinity or affinity, shall thereby forfeit his office or employment.” In expressing the crux of what is necessary for nepotism Cleek said what would be necessary is a situation where Pennel had used his office [position] “to provide a place or location or provide a job for someone else, in this case his wife. I don’t think he did that.”

    Cleek went on to say, “You could read into it that nepotism occurred.” He went on to say nothing that was done by Mrs. Pennel or the Presiding Commissioner [Pennel] was done to benefit her in any way.” After expressing his opinion the situation should have been handled the way it is currently being handled, with paid county employees on call 24/7 for animal emergencies, and stating his belief that his investigation “went the extra mile” to find out what happened Cleek said, “I don’t believe there’s nepotism there.”

    Bob Schanz, who had presented the initial charges of nepotism in March, appeared to be dissatisfied with Cleek’s decision particularly his interviewing of the Pennels. He said, “I feel that you went to the fox to ask the fox if it ate the chickens.” Cleek disagreed.

    One lady in the audience asked if there was any way his decision could be appealed. While Cleek was attempting to answer she interrupted and said, “You are the judge, jury, and executioner.” While Cleek was attempting to continue his response her cell phone rang loudly. She answered and commenced a conversation in the middle of his response.

    At that point Western District Commissioner Ron Herschend said, “I think that’s true in any case going in front of a prosecutor.” He pointed out normally it’s within the prerogative of the prosecutor whether or not a case goes to trial, not the judge or anyone else. Cleek agreed indicating even under the lower standard of proof in the civil Quo Warranto case, “a simple preponderance of evidence” as opposed to the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard required for criminal cases, there was not enough evidence to prove nepotism if the issue went to trial. He said, “Quite honestly, I don’t think I would win.”

    Reprinted with permission of the Tri-Lakes Tribune, a free newspaper published and distributed three times weekly, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Please call 417-336-NEWS (6397) for classified and display advertising opportunities.

  • Pointe Royale golf course excepted from city’s tree removal regulations

    The Branson Board of Aldermen discovered that not all golf courses in Branson are exempt from Branson’s tree removal regulations, just the Pointe Royale Course. The question came up at the boards August 5 work session when Alderman Stephen Marshall, who is a resident of Pointe Royale, mentioned he had learned that large trees were being removed from the Point Royale Golf Course as part of its renovation.

    Marshall expressed his understanding that golf courses were exempt from the city’s tree removal ordinances and asked Branson’s Director of Planning and Development, Don Stephens, if that was correct. Stephens replied, “There’s a Pointe Royale exemption.” Marshall followed up by asking, “Just for that golf course?” Stephens replied, “Yes.”

    Marshall pointed out that they have taken down a lot of trees. Alderwoman Sandra Williams asked for verification tthere was an exemption in Ponte Royale that let them cut down trees down without complying with applicable city requirements. Stephens verified the exemption stating it required coordination with his office.

    Williams asked, “Why did we make that agreement?” Stephens replied it was an amendment to the existing Planned Development ordinance for Pointe Royale that was done two or three years ago. The records of the city of Branson indicate that Ordinance No. 2007-020, “an ordinance approving a Planned Development amendment to the Pointe Royale Land Use Regulations PD-2000-002 pertaining to golf course tree clearing regulations for properties located at 142 Clubhouse Dr. Branson, Missouri” was passed on a first reading February 26, 2007 by a 5-0 vote with one alderman absent. The ordinance received its second and final approval as part of the Consent Agenda on March 12 by a 5-0 vote with one alderman absent.

    At the time the ordinance was approved, two board members were residents of Pointe Royale. Information, believed reliable, indicates neither recused themselves from voting on the issue. One voted on the February 26 vote giving initial approval to the ordinance, with the other being absent, and the other voted on the March 12 vote, giving final approval to the ordinance, with the other being absent.

    Section 1.165 of Ordinance 2007-20 entitled “Golf Course Tree Clearing Regulations” states, “Due to the unique nature of tree location on golf courses, tree removal on the Pointe Royale Golf Course shall not be required to follow the tree removal procedures under Section 66-219 of the Branson Municipal Code.” It goes on to state that instead, they must submit a tree removal application prior to removal and a site plan showing both existing trees and trees designated for removal.

    On August 7, the city of Branson’s Forester, Tara Norback, verified that the Pointe Royale Golf Course was in compliance with all the provisions of the ordinance. She also verified the Pointe Royale Golf Course was the only golf course in Branson having such an exemption.

    Reprinted with permission of the Tri-Lakes Tribune, a free newspaper published and distributed three times weekly, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Please call 417-336-NEWS (6397) for classified and display advertising opportunities.

  • America’s “nobleness” and hope – Her Teachers!

    Dedication: As another school years begins this column, with minor editorial changes, is republished and respectfully dedicated to our to our areas Teachers as a thank you, an encouragement, and a goal. May it remind us all of how valuable our Teachers are to our children, community and the future of our nation.

    In terms of a “profession,” America’s future does not lie in the hands of Presidents, politicians, lawyers, doctors, accountants, and other leaders. Her future lies in the hands of the professionals who will be teaching those who will become the future Presidents, politicians, lawyers, doctors, accountants and other leaders, America’s Teachers.

    A “Teacher” is “one who teaches,” a professional who has accepted the awesome challenge and responsibility of helping to prepare our children and grandchildren to fully realize their individual potential, create the desire to fulfill it, and equip them with the skills necessary to achieve it. It can truly be said that America’s destiny and future depends upon the realization and fulfillment of that potential.

    Oh sure, there are those, professing to be teachers, who do the minimum and simply go through the motions. They could be characterized as those who perform the mechanical function of providing instruction from prepared lesson plans without a personal commitment to their students or accepting the responsibility and accountability for their results. They are teachers in title only.

    The true “Teacher” has a personal commitment to their students. A commitment to not only teaching the necessary information and skills their students will need, but to make learning an experience they will want to continue for the rest of their lives. They fully realize and appreciate that “how” they do what they do is as important as “what” they do and dedicate their professional lives to equipping, helping, and motivating their students to recognize and reach their full potential.

    To a large extent true “Teaching” is an art form. It requires the same type of dedication, commitment, and skill that a painter would use on a great canvas, a music composer on an opus, a lawyer on a jury, or an entertainer on an audience. What makes the successful musician, singer, comedian, painter, or author? Is it the mere application of “the mechanics” of what they are doing or their ability to communicate and relate what they are doing to their audience?

    Even as the success of an artist is directly linked to their ability to relate what they are doing to their audience so too is the success of a Teacher, only more so. Although the professional entertainer wants and desires to reach every member of their audience, they can still be very successful if they reach a substantial majority of their audience.

    A Teacher however, does not have that luxury. For them, success and failure is measured in the eyes, minds, and hearts of each individual student. The Master Teacher said it best. “If any man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?” He was not willing to lose even one.

    The Teacher’s heart and spirit transcends mere “mechanics and basics” and goes to the concern and commitment of dedicating themselves to their students and their individual ability to effectively apply what is being taught. It is a task that, in a lot of cases, is made more difficult by influences outside of the Teacher’s direct control such as the physical or mental challenges of individual students, school funding issues, child abuse, and dysfunctional families to mention a few. Fortunately, for America and Her children, in spite of these additional challenges, there are those who feel a calling to become, in the truest sense of the word, “Teachers.”

    Where then is the nobleness of Teaching? It is obvious that it is not based on factors such wealth, title, or power and yet, it is nobleness in the truest sense of the word. Nobleness based on the character, honor, generosity, dedication and commitment of those who are true Teachers and the quest they have chosen, preparing our children for the rest of their tomorrows. There’s not much that is more noble or important than that, not much at all.

  • Level of Branson’s Taneycomo to be Lowered

    Empire District Electric Company, with the cooperation of the Missouri Department of Conservation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Southwest Power Administration, and others, are preparing to replace the flashboards at the Ozark Beach (Powersite) Dam. Flashboards are boards projecting above the crest of a dam to increase the water elevation or depth of the water. The flashboards were removed from the Ozark Beach Dam during heavy rainfall in March.
    In order to accomplish this work, the level of Lake Taneycomo will be slowly lowered to approximately the 696.5-foot elevation at the dam. This process will begin the evening of Saturday, August 16, 2008. It will remain at the 696.5 level until afternoon on Monday, August 18, 2008. However, if work at the dam is completed sooner, the lake level may return to normal sooner. The timing for this work is very weather sensitive and may be adjusted.

    The normal operating elevation at the dam varies from 698.0 to 704.0 feet. During the time work is being completed, Table Rock releases will be diminished. In the event of heavy rains, the work at Ozark Beach could possibly be delayed and rescheduled for a later date. Once the work is completed, the Table Rock U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be alerted that they may resume normal operations.

    The temporarily lowered lake level will offer an opportunity for others to complete dock and boat ramp maintenance.

  • Branson blasts onto Dean’s List

    The Dean’s List is a good thing for a college student to be on. As it was presented at the Branson Board of Alderman’s Work Session on Aug. 5, the “Dean’s List” could also be a good thing for Branson, its elected officials, staff, businesses, and citizens.

    In presenting the “Dean’s List” to the board for the first time during his administrators report at the work session, Branson City Administrator Dean Kruithof said the list, lightheartedly being called “Dean’s List,” evolved from a request by Alderman Bob McDowell at the recent board retreat.

    Kruithof said the request was for something like a “hot list,” an all inclusive list that would list the major projects, issues, and other things the city is working on. It was to provide a convenient tool to be used for both knowing what those items are and to follow-up and monitor the progress of those items. He said the items on the list will be incorporated into his administrator’s reports along with other items.

    An examination of the first Dean’s List indicates that the items will become more expansive as they proceed from their initiation to completion. The very first item on the list was entitled “Blasting Regulations.” The only entry for the item was “When blasting for developments in the city, can companies create a more slopping perimeter rather than a straight cliff wall as in TanStone?”

    The second item entitled “Landscaping Hwy 65 and 248 and Hwy 65 and 76 entrances to Branson” was more expansive and illustrates how helpful the list can be to monitor progress and follow up on items. The item involves exploring “the probability [possibility] of using a public-private partnership to create and maintain a more attractive appearance on Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) land surrounding entrances to Branson from Highway 65.”

    The entries on Dean’s List for this item provide a timeline starting with the presentation of the idea by Judy Hartley at the boards July 22 work session and ending with an August 4 meeting between Hartley and city staff. At that meeting it was decided that the priority will be given to the Highway 65 and Highway 76 interchange and they would like to use a three-pronged approach to mowing and landscaping that area involving MoDOT, city, and volunteer efforts and resources.

    Other items making Dean’s List include the selection of a Finance Director with interviews for the position beginning the week of Aug. 15, the city budget for 2009 which is currently under development, the proposed revision to the Liquor Ordinances and the fact that the attorney who developed them will be at the Aug. 11 board meeting, customer service improvements in the City’s Planning/Development Department and sewer and water rates and hookup policies.

    Reprinted with permission of the Tri-Lakes Tribune, a free newspaper published and distributed three times weekly, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Please call 417-336-NEWS (6397) for classified and display advertising opportunities.

  • Dutton’s hold benefit for CAM

    The current state of the economy has significantly increased demands on the local food pantry for Taney County residents operated by Christian Action Ministries (CAM). Branson’s entertainment family, the Duttons, hopes to help "beef up" the CAM food pantry with a benefit performance at 8 PM on Saturday, August 9th.

    According to Ben Dutton, a member of the CAM Board of Directors, "Everyone in our family feels a strong responsibility to help the less fortunate in the world, but particularly within our own community. For over two decades, CAM has provided the backstop to hunger in Taney County with their food pantry. It is our duty and our privilege to help them with their efforts through this benefit performance."

    This is also a great opportunity for local residents to see the Duttons’ all-new 2008 production that has been playing to rave reviews. Tickets for this benefit performance at the Dutton Theater on Highway 76 will be available for $5, with all proceeds going to CAM.

    Under the pressure of growing demand, CAM is currently raising funds for normal food pantry operations, as well as a building fund for a larger capacity facility. All of the ticket proceeds will go towards the operational and inventory needs of the food pantry. Larry Johnson, Chairman of the CAM Board, explains, "Our primary focus is on the continued funding of the food pantry. However, during the intermission, we will also unveil our fundraising efforts for the purchase of a 7,500 square foot building on Highway 76 East."

    Additionally, all attendees will be presented with a bright yellow Dutton pennant for their vehicles. By displaying the flag during the summer months, local residents are eligible for over $10,000 in prizes being awarded during the Dutton "Flag Tag" promotion which runs through August.

    At a random time each day the Dutton Prize Patrol is sent to a computer-selected location to find one lucky person displaying a Dutton flag on their vehicle. The Prize Patrol then awards a surprise gift. Thanks to local businesses, typical daily prizes include cash, dinners for two, savings bonds, gas cards, show tickets and more. Each month a grand prizewinner is selected from the daily winners for a vacation trip for two, including airfare and accommodations, to a surprise resort location.
    For more information or to reserve seats, contact the Dutton Family Theater at (417) 332-2772, stop by the box office at 3454 West Highway 76 or visit the Dutton website at www.theduttons.com.

  • 45 pages of new liquor ordinances to solve what problems?

    In a recent column entitled “Branson Liquor Czar to hunt mice with elephant gun?” the Ole Seagull wrote, “It’s not a matter of whether or not Branson can or should enact new Liquor Control Ordinances (LCOs), it can and should; it’s a matter of scope and efficiency.” The challenge is to limit and channel the scope of any new LCOs to that necessary for the efficient resolution of the problems that need to be addressed.

    The column shared the Ole Seagull’s recollection of the major publically stated problems involving the sale and serving of intoxicating liquor in the Branson area. They were, in the relative order he first became aware of them, limiting the number of package sales licenses issued by the city, the encroachment of the serving of alcohol into Branson’s traditional family friendly theatres and entertainment venues, the consumption of intoxicating liquor in areas open to the public that are away from the premises licensed to serve or sell them, and underage drinking.

    Could there be other problems? Probably so, but how much more effective and efficient would it have been if, in presenting the new ordinance to the community and board of aldermen for approval, the Branson Liquor Task Force Committee (Committee) had presented a prioritized list of the problems the new LCOs were intended to solve accompanied by the specific portion of the new LCOs intended to resolve the specific problem.

    As an example, let’s assume, based on the incident that provided the most recent motivation to amend Branson’s LCO’s, the number one problem had been determined to be the consumption of alcoholic beverages in areas open to the public away from the premises licensed to serve or sell them. The list would have had that problem listed with one or more proposed solutions one of which might have been a one paragraph fix added to Section 10-3 of the city’s current LCOs.

    Each problem could have been handled in a similar manner. Instead, what does the public and the board of aldermen get? A 45 plus page document to wade through and decipher, with no table of contents or index. To an Ole Seagull the document itself has itself become the center of focus rather than defining and prioritizing the actual problems the community has with intoxicating liquor and coming up with solutions responsive to those problems.

    Another of the publically stated problems is underage drinking. Sections 10-2 and 10-8 of the City’s current LCOs appear to address that problem and not only currently prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquor to minors but prohibit minors from falsely representing that they are over the age of 21. Could not a little tweaking of the existing LCOs have solved any underage issues remaining? To the extent laws will solve the underage drinking problem Branson already had the laws, it just wasn’t enforcing them. Why change something that hasn’t even been enforced.

    The encroachment of the serving of alcohol into Branson’s traditional family friendly theatres and entertainment venues was more a political than legal issue. Although pointed out as a potential problem years ago, there was no effective opposition to the transition, the issue is not addressed either in the city’s current LCOs or the proposed LCOs and is for all practical purposes a non issue.

    The issue of the number of package sales licenses issued by the city is, in the opinion of an Ole Seagull, also a political question rather than one of safety or morals. If something is unsafe or immoral it’s just as unsafe or immoral if that thing is permitted in establishments 100 feet apart or 2,500 feet apart. The current issue is addressed in the City’s current LCOs starting in Sections 10-31 and 10-38 and in Section 10-2 and Article IX of the proposed LCOs.

    At the end of the day, as the Ole Seagull compares what is already in the city’s current LCOs to the publically expressed problems involving the consumption of intoxicating liquor and the document that was presented he wonders why whatever changes are necessary can’t be done within the City’s existing LCOs? That wonderment would be less if there was a list containing the intoxicating liquor problems within the community the Committee had defined prior to writing its 45 page “treatise.”

    Reprinted with permission of the Tri-Lakes Tribune, a free newspaper published and distributed three times weekly, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Please call 417-336-NEWS (6397) for classified and display advertising opportunities.