Opinion

No madam chairwoman, it was not “erroneous” and is “significant”

General, Government, Marketing, Opinion / /

At the August 28 meeting of the Tourism Community Enhancement District Board (TCED) the Ole Seagull, followed up on his March 27 presentation to the TCED which showed that the Missouri Supreme Court, in the case of “Jefferson v. QuikTrip,” resolved that case using a logic and statutory construction that had not been previously addressed in any of the prior legal opinions to the TCED that the Ole Seagull had seen or was aware of. He believed it provided more than an adequate basis for effective legal or other action to be taken that could stem the TCED’s diversion of millions of dollars to the pay the city of Branson’s TIFs and the loss of the hundreds of millions of dollars in economic and marketing benefit to Branson area shows, attractions, lodging facilities and businesses those marketing dollars represent. …

No madam chairwoman, it was not “erroneous” and is “significant”Read More »

No madam chairwoman, it was not “erroneous” and is “significant” Read More »

2014 Columns on Branson TCED “Dicta” Fiasco and failure to take effective action to eliminate loss of Millions in Tourism Marketing Funds

Branson, Government, Opinion / /

1st Column – Published in Branson Daily Independent on Mar. 30, 2014

Is TCED Tourism Tax Board inaction costing Branson $1 Billion in marketing and economic benefits?

For what it matters, in his opinion, the TCED Tourism Tax Board’s proclivity of blithely taking millions of taxpayer dollars intended for Branson marketing and using them to pay the Branson Landing and Branson Hills TIFs has cost Branson area retail businesses, theatres, attractions, lodging establishments and restaurants about $88 million per year in lost marketing and economic benefits.* Over the last five years that’s …

2014 Columns on Branson TCED “Dicta” Fiasco and failure to take effective action to eliminate loss of Millions in Tourism Marketing FundsRead More »

2014 Columns on Branson TCED “Dicta” Fiasco and failure to take effective action to eliminate loss of Millions in Tourism Marketing Funds Read More »

Thanksgiving is all about to whom the “Thanks” is “given!”

Branson, Opinion / /

By GARY J. GROMAN
a.k.a. The Ole Seagull

This annual Thanksgiving reprint is a wish from the the Ole Seagull and the entire Groman family that you and yours will have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.

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. …

Thanksgiving is all about to whom the “Thanks” is “given!”Read More »

Thanksgiving is all about to whom the “Thanks” is “given!” Read More »

Memorial Day – Remembering those who risked it all for America

General, Opinion / /

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. What better way is there to honor and remember them than to honor and remember their living comrades, those men and women who have and are currently honorably serving in America’s Armed Forces.

Someone a lot wiser than an Ole Seagull said, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” Since the earliest days of our history, America’s Armed Forces and their families have assumed the risk and paid the price for the freedoms and privileges that we, as a Nation, all enjoy and sometimes take for granted. Memorial Day gives us a unique opportunity to not only honor the dead but to pause, honor and say “Thank You,” to those who have and are currently serving and their comrades who are Missing In Action. …

Memorial Day – Remembering those who risked it all for AmericaRead More »

Memorial Day – Remembering those who risked it all for America Read More »

Mothers Are God’s Special Gift

Branson, General, Opinion / /

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 an Ole Seagull, who believe that by age eight, or earlier, the mold of a person’s future has been cast and, to a very large extent, Mother’s form and shape that mold. …

Mothers Are God’s Special GiftRead More »

Mothers Are God’s Special Gift Read More »

Is there is a difference between journalistic integrity and a funnel cake?

Branson, General, Opinion / /

In a February 19th column entitled “Publisher responds to ‘attack’ on 3 citizens,” Michael Schuver, publisher of the Branson Tri-Lakes News, expressed his opinion on a column that the Ole Seagull had written. While an Ole Seagull appreciates Schuver’s right to express his opinion as to his characterization of the column as an “attack” he has a problem understanding a professional journalist making, in his opinion, untrue and misleading statements of alleged fact. …

Is there is a difference between journalistic integrity and a funnel cake?Read More »

Is there is a difference between journalistic integrity and a funnel cake? Read More »

Easter the gift of Christmas fulfilled, “He has risen!”

Branson, General, Opinion / /

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. …

Easter the gift of Christmas fulfilled, “He has risen!”Read More »

Easter the gift of Christmas fulfilled, “He has risen!” Read More »

12 Questions an Ole Seagull has been asked about Branson TCED Tax Vote on April 8

Branson, Opinion / /

1. Are you still voting “YES” on April 8 for the Branson TCED Tax?

RESPONSE: Absolutely! The Ole Seagull said “Yes” and why in his March 2nd column. Nothing has changed. …

12 Questions an Ole Seagull has been asked about Branson TCED Tax Vote on April 8Read More »

12 Questions an Ole Seagull has been asked about Branson TCED Tax Vote on April 8 Read More »

Does TCED and TIF Change the Difference Between “Before” and “After?”

Branson, Government, Marketing, Opinion / /

BRANSON, Mo., March 9, 2014 – In a September column the Ole Seagull suggested that, “As a condition precedent to the voters reauthorizing the TCED’s 1% Marketing Tax in April, one of two conditions should be met in order to prevent 50% of the taxes paid at ‘Branson Landing’ and ‘Branson Hills’ from being used to pay the city of Branson’s TIF debt instead of for marketing.” The alternative conditions were either the production of a Missouri Supreme Court Case saying that a new tax authorized by the voters after a TIF has already been put into effect automatically becomes part of the preexisting TIF or, alternatively, the TCED pledging to cease payment of any portion of the TCED taxes collected to the city of Branson for Branson’s TIFs until judicially directed otherwise. …

Does TCED and TIF Change the Difference Between “Before” and “After?”Read More »

Does TCED and TIF Change the Difference Between “Before” and “After?” Read More »

“Yes” for Branson TCED Tax extension on April 8 is a matter of “heart” for an Ole Seagull

Branson, Government, Marketing, Opinion / /

Those who are not interested in his rationale for voting “Yes” on April 8 Branson TCED Tax Extension should probably stop right here. …

“Yes” for Branson TCED Tax extension on April 8 is a matter of “heart” for an Ole SeagullRead More »

“Yes” for Branson TCED Tax extension on April 8 is a matter of “heart” for an Ole Seagull Read More »