The "Lily of the Valleys" has risen!

To Christians, Christmas is both a commemoration and celebration of the fact that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” If however, that first Christmas was all there was, there would be little reason for anyone to believe in Jesus and the promise of eternal life would be lost to all. But that’s not all there was. (more…)

Somehow it just seems so fitting that the start of Branson’s 100th year and Centennial Celebration coincides with Palm Sunday and the spirit of what it represents. During its first year in existence the city of Branson had a fire with the potential to wipe it out and during the last year of its first century it experienced a tornado with the potential to wipe it out. Yet, as we celebrate the 100th birthday of the city we love and that many of us call home, Branson’s light burns brightly as a beacon of unique family entertainment for millions of visitors annually, natural beauty, fun, patriotism, and a place where the spirit of the One who rode a donkey into Jerusalem those thousands of years ago is honored.

Halleluiah and Happy Birthday Branson, Happy Birthday!

It seemed surreal, almost as if the Ole Seagull wasn’t actually in the crowded room in Branson filled with some of Branson’s biggest power brokers and a sprinkling of others. Although, it was as if they didn’t even notice him, he was surprised he was there because lowly Seagulls are not normally invited to the meetings where the “Condors roost” unless they want something from them. (more…)

The short and quick of it is, “That’s the indication.” Normally one establishes a precedent that starts them on a gradual slide down the “slippery slope.” A discussion at the November 22 meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen about that precedent happening using City Tourism Tax marketing funds to pay off airport bond indebtedness under an agreement with the Branson Airport didn’t stop there however. The statements of two aldermen, Mike Booth and Rick Todd, made during the meeting indicate, at least to an Ole (more…)

With as little effort as Branson’s leadership, including elected, appointed, businesses and organizations within the community are putting into promoting America’s traditional Christmas is it inappropriate to suggest that it would be more honest and less deceitful to change the name of “Ozark Mountain Christmas” to “Ozark Mountain Holiday?” Were it not for most of Branson’s shows; Silver Dollar City; the Adoration Parade, which was a Branson tradition well before Ozark Mountain Christmas came into being and a few of its other attractions and businesses actual promoting and celebrating “Christmas,” Ozark Mountain Christmas would be nothing, but the same generic politically correct “Holiday” people can get anywhere else. (more…)

At the outset the Ole Seagull would thank all who wished him well in his retirement. In fact, he is as retired as he will ever be in this world. Thanks to a combination of his own personal failings and circumstances beyond his control, more than likely that retirement will, until he can physically and mentally do so no longer, always involve an active work component. In that regard, he is truly blessed because he is not only able to work, but has the wonderful opportunity of telling Branson’s story and giving people information that will, hopefully, encourage them to factor Branson into their travel decisions and help them plan for and have a great experience when they come to Branson.

His column, on the other hand, has never been a factor in the fiscal aspects of his retirement plan. To him, although he’s sure there are others who see it differently, it has always been a labor of “love” and community service designed to do one thing, give people an opinion that, whether they agreed with it or not, would at least encourage them to think about the column’s topic and what if any further research, action, or involvement on their part was appropriate. (more…)

When a resident of Branson goes into the Wal-Mart Super Center in Branson Hills they are paying a one percent retail sales tax to be used for marketing. Considering just the retail marketing tax, that’s $1010.00 for $1,000 in taxable purchases. When a resident of Kimberling City or Branson West goes into the Wal-Mart Super Center in Branson West and buys the same $1,000 in purchases their total is only $1000.00 dollars because they have no marketing tax.
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Seagull, “In your opinion, what would have the most impact on the total number of visitors coming to Branson in the future, the closing of all its live theatres or a combination of the closing of its RecPlex, city funded outdoor sports venues and Branson Landing?” “That’s easy, the closing of Branson’s live theatres.” (more…)

On July 13, in a thread in the Ole Seagull’s Forum at www. 1Branson.com Forums (www.1branson.com/forum/) poster BMOMAN said, “Recently there was an article in the NewsLeader that said Branson’s sales tax was down 20% for April and May. I spoke with members of the city and chamber commerce about that alarming number and found out a couple of unusual things. Restaurants and hotels were actually up. The state park had there [their] highest grossing 4th of July EVER!! but when asked how come the number was done [down] they regrettably said it was the theatres that were bringing those numbers down. Whats your thoughts?”

An Ole Seagull’s thought is, “That’s not only nuts, it’s stupid and inaccurate.” Given that scenario, how could shows alone possibly reduce Branson’s overall “sales tax” revenues by anywhere near 20%? However, in the opinion of an Ole Seagull, that’s not surprising coming from BMOMAN and those of his ilk who, to an Ole Seagull, seem hell bent on depreciating the economic value and relevance of Branson’s live shows to Branson, currently and in the future. (more…)

When the initial announcement about the plans for the proposed NASCAR Racetrack south of Hollister and Branson was made it reminded the Ole Seagull of Abraham Lincoln’s statement when he said, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” Not knowing much about NASCAR, but having a curiosity as to why it would even consider coming to Branson I talked with friends who are real NASCAR fans.
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What a difference a couple of months makes. Most of the questions an Ole Seagull gets about Lake Taneycomo these days is about how low it is and why is it that way. Less than a couple of months ago it was about how high the water in Lake Taneycomo was getting and why they weren’t getting the water out of Table Rock Lake quicker.
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An Ole Seagull would answer that question by saying, “The same thing that helped bring Andy, Mickey, Jim et al. to Branson originally. Individually, each of them is an irreplaceable entertainment treasure, but from a Branson shows perspective they are simply a part of the total diverse and exciting entertainment experience that Branson provides every day. The day before they retire as well as the day after they retire, Branson entertainers will be doing the same thing they were doing that attracted the millions of people to Branson that played a role in attracting Andy, Mickey, Jim et al to Branson in the first place, providing a great entertainment experience for each guest they entertain.”
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In terms of the ticking time bomb that hangs over the Branson area, not only in terms of those who will be directly impacted by any more “high water,” but by those businesses that are effected adversely, even by the perception of Branson being flooded, let’s hope that three years from now, the words written by the Ole Seagull in 2008 won’t still apply. In 2008 he wrote: (more…)

Noah might have seen more rain quicker than the Branson area did Easter Weekend and into the first part of Easter Week, but the Ole Seagull hasn’t. If that rainfall wasn’t what some people refer to as an “Act of God” then nothing is. There wasn’t anything anyone on this earth could have done to prevent the comparatively minimal flooding that resulted in the low-lying areas below Table Rock Dam on Lake Taneycomo and its tributaries from that rain and the record releases of water from Table Rock Dam it caused, but “Branson” was never flooded.
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America is full of liberal arts colleges, some good and some bad, some, if not most very liberal and some conservative, but there is only one that has the perseverance to persistently embrace the character and values that make Branson and the Ozarks so special. That college, has both the heart of a leader and of a servant and has at all times been a beacon for quality education, character development, a strong work ethic, the American spirit and values and faith in God. That college is the College of the Ozarks (C of O).

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Different individuals could complete that sentence in a variety of ways most of which would not be timely or efficient in terms of solving the problem which is, in an Ole Seagull’s mind, “Making sure our ‘children’ and their teachers have physical facilities that will enhance the educational process not detract from it.” It’s obvious that it takes more physical facilitie (more…)

One of the most honest statements the Ole Seagull has every heard, and one every business should be committed to is, “You have to spend money to make money.” You can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket; have a successful business if you do not invest in the product that the business is providing, the people providing it and its marketing or be successful in most other financial endeavors without spending money.
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The Ole Seagull has received a number of questions since he apologized to the airport and the board of Aldermen in a recent column entitled “An Ole Seagull apologizes – there really is only one honorable way. For what it matters and to the best of his recollection here are the questions and his responses:

QUESTION: Legalese aside, doesn’t honor demand that the city pay the Branson Airport $8.24 per passenger every time they fly into the airport for the next 20 something years? (more…)

As a columnist, a goal is to start the year with a column that has the potential for the most impact on our community during 2011. In an Ole Seagull’s opinion first place in that category would have to go to “First PLACE!” and encouraging our community to continue working together to make positive character traits part of what our children and grandchildren experience every day, at home, in school, and in the community. First PLACE! is a community commitment by our schools, area businesses, individuals parents, relatives, the College of the Ozarks and others to “foster a community where character is highly valued and intentionally taught.”

“Oh come on Seagull, you have to be kidding. With all that’s going on down at city hall and out at the county, the Branson Airport debacle and law suits on Branson Landing, et (more…)

The biggest question the Ole Seagull has been asked in the last week concerns the relationship between the city gifting the airport tens of millions of dollars under the unconscionable Pay for Performance Agreement that the current board has “laundered and the raising of the water and sewer rates for Branson voters. Actually, it’s pretty simple, Branson only has so much revenue coming in to operate the city with.

Whatever is paid from that revenue for specifically designated extraordinary costs is obviously not available for other purposes such as the operational costs of running the ci (more…)