An Ole Seagull would apologize to Mr. Steve Peet of the Branson Airport and simply say, ” I am sorry. In terms of the Supplemental Agreement, you were right sir and I was wrong.” To the Branson Board of Aldermen (Board) an Ole Seagull would say, “He was wrong when he expressed his opinion relative to what he believed you intended to do when you approved the Supplemental Agreement, pertaining to the potential payment of $2 million a year to the Branson Airport under the Original 2006 Pay for Performance Agreement (Original Agreement), in the summer of 2010. For that he is sorry. At the end of the day, he missed something he wished he didn’t and for that he apologizes to his readers. (more…)

The “Grinch” never came any closer to stealing the true meaning of Christmas than has trying to be “politically correct.” In recent years there has been a strong move to change the traditional Christmas greeting of “Merry Christmas” to the “politically correct” terminology of “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings.”
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Common sense tells an Ole Seagull that something celebrated as “Thanksgiving Day” should be a day of “giving thanks.”  Generally speaking, who among us says “thank you” to “no one?” When thanks is given it is for something and is “given” to the person or entity believed to have provided that something.
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As the Ole Seagull said in a previous column, “The issue is not about the Branson Airport whether its good or bad, should have been build or not etc. It’s about a Pay for Performance contract (PfP) that has the potential to cost the taxpayers of the city of Branson up to $2 million dollars per year for 30 years.” He went on to point out that in his opinion it is so one-sided and unconscionable on its face that most objective people looking at it would say, “Wow, what a gift for the airport, how can I get the same type of deal simply for running my business?”

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Dedication: The republication of this evolving tribute is respectfully dedicated to America’s veterans and active duty military and their families with thanks and gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

It is a sad fact of life that the politicians, and those in power, start wars and that the people of the nations involved bleed, die, suffer, and otherwise pay the price of war. Even in today’s world of terrorist attacks, as the people of countries or ideologies make war on each other they fall into two general categories, “Military” and “Civilian.” The Military or the fighters, generally kill each other and the civilians they believe are making war on them the old fashioned way, directly, with bullets, bombs, suicide or otherwise, terrorism, planes, etc. History testifies to the fact that they, and the civilians their actions impact on, are generally the first to bleed, suffer, and die.

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Although it’s more involved than this, the Ole Seagull’s initial answer to the question “Why are some shows and attractions successful and others not?” is at least simple. That answer would be, “Successful shows and attractions have enough paying customers purchasing tickets to their shows or attractions so that they can pay their bills, keep operating and make a profit consistently.” (more…)

A recent headline in this paper blared out “Assessor calls for vote to dissolve P & Z department.” The first paragraph of the article stated “Taney County Assessor James Strahan called on the county commission to place an initiative on the ballot to dissolve the county’s Planning and Zoning Department but before the day was out a disgruntled county resident agreed to take up the cause.” It also stated, “Strahan, whose family owns a large farm, doesn’t like the way the government handles regulations on farmers. He said there should be no intervention when it comes to farm land.”
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It was, at the same time, one of the most courageous things the Ole Seagull has ever seen and one of the saddest. It was courageous, as a trembling, terrified recovering victim of intense physical abuse entered the Branson Municipal Court and defended herself against a different kind of abuse, the city’s abusive use of “a corrupt practice or custom.” It was sad because she was put in the position to have to defend herself in the first place. (more…)

Last week’s column entitled, “Kid’s hunger trumps behavior of Taney County Commissioners…” started with an Ole Seagull’s prayer that “if you remember nothing else from this column that you would ask yourself what you would do if you were the teacher in the following scenario. It’s Monday morning, you look up from your desk into the distressed eyes of one of your first grade students who says, ‘My mommy forgot to cook for us this weekend.’” That prayer remains the same except to say, if you want to contribute to the Gift of Hope’s “Back Pack Club,” or want additional information, please contact Meghan Connell, the director of the Gift of Hope at 417.546.8062 or through their website www.GiftofHopeInc.org/.
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August 21 was just another Saturday night in Branson with people attending shows, going to attractions and sharing in the fun and excitement that Branson has to offer. “Whoa, now Seagull, wasn’t Saturday night, August 21,2010, special because ‘Nelly’ did a concert in Branson?” (more…)

In the opinion of an Ole Seagull, those working in Branson’s many retail shops, restaurants, hotels and lodging establishments should do only one thing when someone comes into their place of employment to steal either money or merchandise. That one thing is to do is absolutely nothing that will place yourself between them and what they want, nothing, zero, nada!

The objective from the employee’s perspective should be their personal safety. Give the “bad guys” exactly what they want with as little interaction with them as possible. Do or say nothing that could aggravate or upset them or keep them from leaving the establishment as soon as possible. (more…)

An Old Seagull takes pleasure in answering this question that just “came to him” this week:

“Dear Seagull,

I am eight years old and when I told my friends we were going to Branson for a vacation they said that their parents said that Branson’s family spirit is dying. My daddy says, ‘If you see it in the Ole Seagull’s column, you might disagree with it, but it’s his best shot.’ Please tell me the truth, is Branson’s family spirit dying and will it be there when I get there? (more…)

The term “Just ain’t right” is used to describe some of the hysterical humorous actions of a character played by one of Branson’s funniest men, Jarrett Dougherty, in the popular Branson show “Pierce Arrow.” Those words came to mind as the Ole Seagull reviewed the appeal of the City of Branson’s denial of a Special Event Permit Application for a “Nelly Concert” sponsored by “Paul Dunn” at the “Grand Palace (Rear Parking Lot).”

In the city’s denial of the application they said, “The City of Branson has concerns regarding the effect of a large concert in this area” because of, among other things, “the (more…)

Branson is called “The live music show capital of the world” because of the diversity and quality of its live music shows. The announcement from Las Vegas on July 4 that the Grammy winning Hip-Hop singer “Nelly” will be performing a concert in Branson as part of the re-opening of the Grand Place in Branson on Aug. 21 adds a new genre of music to that diversity and provides more entertainment choices for Branson’s visitors.
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On March 3, 1836, Colonel William Barret Travis, the Commander of the Alamo, wrote to Texas Governor Smith, “…victory will cost the enemy so dear, that it will be worse for him than defeat.” In the early predawn hours of Sunday, March 6, 1836, after 12 days of almost constant bombardment and siege, the soldiers of Mexican General Santa Anna, numbering in the thousands, made their final assault on the Alamo, overwhelming and killing everyone of its 189 defenders. (more…)

The simple answer is, “The taxpaying citizen and businesses of Branson hereinafter called DDO for “the Doodooed on,” are paying for each.” How is it possible that the DDO got (more…)

She probably didn’t suspect that the journey she was on would end with her death as she felt the vibration of the truck’s wheels rolling underneath the cab floor where she lay with her chin propped up on an empty Dr. Pepper can, but she certainly had to sense that something (more…)

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is meeting in Oklahoma City. On Monday, June 14 they will be voting on their Resolution 41 opposing Arizona’s Illegal Alien Law SB 1070. (more…)

The purpose of the original Memorial Day was to honor those who died in the Civil War. Its purpose today has evolved into remembering and honoring all who have died in the service of our country. (more…)

America is being invaded by illegal aliens who are not only violating the laws of this country upon illegal entry and otherwise after entering the country, but believe their desire for what they want gives them the right to do whatever they want to get it. (more…)