The June 2, 2003, “Ozarks Business” column entitled, “Branson needed its againners for better deals,” written by Springfield News Leader Columnist Paul Flemming, was about “againners” and “visionaries.”The column appears to be based on the unsubstantiated opinions of long time Branson insider, Smith Brookhart, who obviously considers himself a “visionary.”
The column starts with the banality, “The Branson againners lose, and the visionaries are victorious anew, without an ‘I told you so’ yet.”Brookhart later states, “There are seven critical junctures we’ve had since 1970.”In referring “to such fights as construction of the Ozark Mountain High Road,” Brookhart opines, “In every case there’s been a group of people four-square against it and they’ve never won.”
It seems like there’s only two dogs in this fight, the “good guys,” the “visionaries” who are opposed by, the “bad guys,” the “againners.”More telling however, is the elitist arrogance of the statements and the cute subtlety of their attempted intimidation.One might even get the impression an “againner” will never be invited to learn the “secret handshake.”
Interestingly enough, one of the two illustrations used to show Brookhart’s “visionary” idea of victory is the High Road. At first blush one wonders if the word “visionary” is being confused with “hallucination?”Hum, maybe not.A “visionary” is defined as, “one who is given to impractical or speculative ideas.” Sure sounds like the High Road. And it gets even more “visionary.”His second illustration was the Branson Landing and Convention Center.If nothing else, he sure is consistent.
Exactly what victory is the High Road?How does it help alleviate the alleged economic emergency the “visionaries” touted as the justification for its building?Oh well, its $100 million dollar plus cost does add new “visionary” meaning to the term, “Look for the ‘silver’ lining.”
In May of 1996, the Ole Seagull wrote about ‘Position Paper/Highway 765,’ dated
Among other things, the paper supported giving the priority to the building of the High Road and “the concept of transfer of Highway and Transportation Department construction funds from the planned use of four-laning of Highway 65.”In true “visionary” fashion, in what could be the understatement of the decade, the paper later said, “we are supportive, in the long run, of four-laning Highway 65.”
The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission held their meeting in Branson on
One of the very few that did not stand up, a lowly Ole Seagull, addressed the Commission shortly thereafter. He asked them not to build an economic road while people were bleeding and dying on roads that were not safe.He also presented the Commission with documentation, from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, showing that during the years 1992-1995, the number of accidents, between the Christian/Greene County line to Taney County at the interchange of Missouri Highway 248, had gone up 73% as compared to the years 1988-1991.
History testifies that the “againners” didn’t win the battle that day but, it also shows why the battles must be fought.Soon, Mr. Brookhart, and the rest of the “High Road visionaries,” will celebrate their $100 million dollar plus “victory” as the High Road opens.This while the city of Hollister and Taney County are trying to get another $500,000 to come up with their half of the $19 million dollars it is going to cost to four-lane Highway 65 south through Hollister.
Now here’s a true “visionary” idea from an “againner.”How about all you “High Road visionaries,” donating just a small portion of the $50 million plus dollars you didn’t have to contribute for the High Road, only about $500,000 or so, to help your community with the four-laning of Highway 65 south of Branson.A project that can help save lives, increase the traveling safety of our citizens, as well as benefiting the entire area economically.
