How important are Mothers? Without them natural life as we know it could not even begin and the course of most people’s lives, after that beginning, is dramatically influenced by the person they call “Mom” or “Mother.” There are some, including the Ole Seagull, who believe that by the age of eight or earlier the mold of a person’s future has been cast and, to a very large extent, Mother’s form that mold.
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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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Dedication: As another school year winds to its close, 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. (more…)

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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This week, in the case of SNYDER v. PHELPS ET AL, the U.S. Supreme Court proved one thing once and for all, our Forefathers made one huge mistake and in making it might very well have sowed the seeds that bode the end of this great nation. As used in this opinion the term “Cretin” is defined as “A stupid, vulgar, or insensitive person” and the t (more…)

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…)

Tens of millions of Americans will watch the “Green Bay Packers” and “Pittsburgh Steelers” play in the Super Bowl today with millions cheering for one team or the other to win. However, if they were honest with themselves, “being truthful in what they say and do,” many would put a “steely” faced grin on their “packed” stuffed faces and realize that the game can only end one way. The same way our great Nation will end. (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…)

At the November 25th meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen (BOA), they voted to give the Branson Airport the Christmas gift that keeps giving. That would be paying hundreds of thousands of dollars on an alleged 2006 “contract” based on a “Pay for Performance Agreement (PfP).” The PfP was made by the “pre 2007 election city administrator and the loyal band of elected “munchkins,” whoops sorry forgot it was Christmas, “elves,” with the Branson Airport. (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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“Glory be another miracle!” Given the political pressure of the community and in spite of months of study, work and preparation, City staff has gone back into the allegedly “bare bones budget” they originally submitted and found a way to save about $295,000. Now, dear citizen, don’t get your hopes up thinking that money might be used to subsidize your water or sewer rates, buy needed equipment for the city or pay for any of the other operational aspects of the city etc. (more…)

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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In examining the opinion piece appearing in the October 23 edition of the Branson Tri-Lakes News by James Strahan, Taney County Assessor (Strahan) entitled, “Assessor’s office should remain” the Ole Seagull was reminded of an Abraham Lincoln quote. The quote says, “I believe it is an established maxim in morals that he who makes an assertion without knowing whether it is true or false, is guilty of falsehood; and the accidental truth of the assertion, does not justify or excuse him.” (more…)

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…)

Missouri voters going to the polls in the November election will have to vote “Yes” for “No” and “No for “Yes” on two important issues relating to their pocket books. Remember always the Ole Seagull’s warning, “We promise that if you vote for this we will do that.” “What the heck does that mean?” “By itself nothing, but when you add up the total number of times you have voted for ‘this’ and they actually did ‘that,’ or a variation involving less than what was promised the significance of the warning becomes clear.”
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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…)

An Ole Seagull’s prayer would be 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.”
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