The Ole Seagull

Christmas or otherwise the Branson Airport is a gift?

Branson, General / /

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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Christmas or otherwise the Branson Airport is a gift?Read More »

Christmas or otherwise the Branson Airport is a gift? Read More »

An Apology for Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

General, Government, Opinion / /

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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An Apology for Hiroshima and Nagasaki?Read More »

An Apology for Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Read More »

Taney County Assessor James Strahan and The Ole Seagull “trick-or-treating” together

Branson, Government, Opinion, Taney County / /

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.” …

Taney County Assessor James Strahan and The Ole Seagull “trick-or-treating” togetherRead More »

Taney County Assessor James Strahan and The Ole Seagull “trick-or-treating” together Read More »

Why are some Branson shows and attractions successful and other not?”

Branson, General, Opinion / /

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.” …

Why are some Branson shows and attractions successful and other not?”Read More »

Why are some Branson shows and attractions successful and other not?” Read More »

“Yes” means “No” and “No” means “Yes” or ” How much additional authority do you want to give the city of Branson to tax you and your property?”

Branson, Government, Opinion, Taney County / /

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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“Yes” means “No” and “No” means “Yes” or ” How much additional authority do you want to give the city of Branson to tax you and your property?”Read More »

“Yes” means “No” and “No” means “Yes” or ” How much additional authority do you want to give the city of Branson to tax you and your property?” Read More »

Which office should be dissolved “County Assessor” or “Planning and Zoning?”

General, Taney County / /

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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Which office should be dissolved “County Assessor” or “Planning and Zoning?”Read More »

Which office should be dissolved “County Assessor” or “Planning and Zoning?” Read More »

Physically battered woman suffers through City of Branson’s abuse!

Branson, General, Government, Opinion / /

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. …

Physically battered woman suffers through City of Branson’s abuse!Read More »

Physically battered woman suffers through City of Branson’s abuse! Read More »

Relieving the immediate hunger of a neglected Branson area child is just part of the process

General / /

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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Relieving the immediate hunger of a neglected Branson area child is just part of the processRead More »

Relieving the immediate hunger of a neglected Branson area child is just part of the process Read More »

Kid’s hunger trumps behavior of Taney County Commissioners as pathetic story of the week

Branson, Opinion, Taney County / /

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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Kid’s hunger trumps behavior of Taney County Commissioners as pathetic story of the weekRead More »

Kid’s hunger trumps behavior of Taney County Commissioners as pathetic story of the week Read More »

Is there “any love in the room” for splitting Taney County into two different counties?

Branson, Government, Opinion, Taney County / /

In a 2005 column entitled, “‘Free at last,’ a new Freeus County formed from the western portion of Taney County?” the Ole Seagull wrote, “Ok, let’s get to the nubbin of it, eastern and western Taney County live in two different worlds. An outsider watching what has been transpiring recently would sense the same thing that the Ole Seagull sensed when he moved to Taney County just about twenty years ago; that eastern Taney County and the Taney County Commissioners treat the economic generator of the vast majority of …

Is there “any love in the room” for splitting Taney County into two different counties?Read More »

Is there “any love in the room” for splitting Taney County into two different counties? Read More »