What if a tornado were to hit Shadow Rock Park?

It's Memorial Weekend and both River Run and Shadow Rock Parks are filled to capacity with families out enjoying what had been a picture perfect and hot late spring outing. RV's of all shapes and sizes fill most of the camping sites with just a few tents scattered about here and there. The smell of barbeque fills the air as do the shouts of children who are having the time of their young lives.

'Suddenly, and seemingly without warning, the sky to the southwest turns an ominous dark as rain laden clouds race towards the Forsyth area in southwest Missouri. All day long, the National Weather Service had been advising listeners to be prepared to take precautions as a line of super cell thunderstorms had formed just across the Arkansas-Kansas border and which were now racing to the northeast at 60 mph!

In no time at all, shortly after 4PM, the first of a series of F1-F2 class tornadoes dips down and so begins a swath of destruction that will continue for miles and miles. A path that pointed straight like an arrow, to Shadow Rock park and families who only became aware that they were in jeopardy when the sirens began to go off...'

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Fortunately, that dialog is just a story and hopefully that theoretical storm passes by with everyone only a little wet for the experience. But, it did bring to my mind a question and that is what services are in place in the event of such a potential disaster? Are there safe havens for people to run to if a storm brews up with little warning? If so, where are they and how would information about them get disseminated?

Yes, I'm playing the devil advocate here, but like a lot of people I spend quite a bit of my time in either or both of these parks and confess to never having seen anything in writing that advises of what I could do in such a situation. Perhaps someone could enlighten me?

Want something tasty to eat? Visit the White River Grill!

Tucked away in the small, but scenic town of Rockaway Beach Missouri, is perhaps one of the most creative eateries I've encountered in many a year. Run by owner/cook Bill Kitchin, the White River Grill has to be experienced rather than merely described. That's because the food that's served up from a wide and varied menu is done to perfection each and every time. Testament to that fact is the picture (see below) I took of a breakfast I had there recently. It's called the 'Town Favorite' and it looked so good, I'd taken a bite out of one of the sausages before remembering to snap the shot! And speaking of food, Mr. Kitchin regularly posts some of his creations on his Face Book page for all to see (and hunger for). Make sure to 'friend' him so you too can keep abreast of his special offerings as they come up!

Located at 2683 State Highway 176 in Rockaway Beach, about halfway down the main drag, the restaurant is easy to find. And, I've always been treated well as this establishment which is not really surprising when you have servers like Rene giving some of the most courteous and prompt service to be found anywhere!

The establishment is open Tuesday through Sunday, the last time I checked. To be sure, you can call them at 417-561-1313 during regular business hours. The White River Grill has free Wifi, is kid friendly, does private parties and even has an outside deck for dining out on the nice days of the year. Make plans to stop there today! You won't be disappointed.

The Library Tax and why it did not pass!

Rather than go and try and point out all the reason’s that the proposed library tax to improve the library system in Taney County was a bad idea, I think I’ll focus on what I think the voters were feeling when they defeated it on the April the 2^nd General Municipal Election ballot that was recently tallied.

First off, I would agree with Josh Smith when he has stated that he is a big supporter of the library system (I believe him), but that he felt that any monies that were raised via a tax should come from within the city limits of Branson and Forsyth Missouri where the two libraries are located. He felt (and still feels, I think) that the large majority of people who regularly use these facilities also live within the two city limits. And that citizens, who live in the far eastern parts of the county, probably may have much less occasion to use either facility. Yet, if this levy was passed, they would be paying the same tax on a yearly basis  to support something that city dwellers would be getting more benefit from. That just doesn't sound right to my ears and perhaps that was the same feelings other voters had this time around.

For my part, I was also against a library tax being levied as part of my property tax bill. I felt it should be part of a more openly declared city sales tax should those living in either Branson or Forsyth so decide that’s how they want to spend their money. I want my property taxes only to be spent on vital infrastructural interests. I also object to what has been a constant stream of new tax bills with no cutting of any costs that I’m aware of! I’m fully aware that the manner in which monies that are collected, end up being spent in such convoluted and complex fashion, that even a the taxing authority can be hard pressed to say what is spent where. Where is the leadership that would begin the process of simplification? Will there ever come a day when Taney County will announce a savings of any kind? I’m not so sure that will happen in my lifetime.

In brief then, it was probably preordained that this particular issue would fail. It’s also likely that any future efforts will need to pass close muster before having much of a chance at passage. Clearly, the politicians relying on ‘state statistics’, as was done in this case did not cut the mustard. Real and honest effort needs to be expended, in the future, to back up any desire to levy more taxes.  The public needs and deserves easy to understand research and opinion polls that demonstrate to all involved that the ‘T’s’ were crossed and the ‘I’s’ dotted before another penny of hard-earned money is spent.

My take on the library tax levy vote!

“Taney County is the only first-class county in Missouri without a countywide library district.”

My response to the above statement is, ‘So what’? And, just how will additional funds, aimed at two private libraries in Forsyth and Branson (sorry Rockaway – you got lost somehow in the shuffle), create a ‘countywide’ impact. Will they be used to purchase bookmobiles? I’m confused on that point.

Yet, apparently, this is pretty much the sole reason that voters will be asked whether they want to shell out 15 cents for every $100 in accessed property valuation when the so-call ‘library tax levy’ comes up for vote on April the 2^nd.

Would someone be so kind as to point me in the direction of where I can find a study done by the Taney County Commissioners that shows something a little more substantive than the apparent opinions of two of its members, notably Danny Strahan and Ron Houseman? Was there even a simple poll done, early on, to see how us resident voters felt about the issue? (I never saw one, but perhaps I overslept the day it came out).

While I am a big fan of libraries in general and want to support them, I’m not such a big fan of the current government that surrounds and funds them. And, I’m definitely not in favor of supplying the funds using the property tax assessments as the sole carrying vehicle. If this issue is important enough to a majority of the residents, let’s propose it is as a separate tax altogether. Or, would that be too tough?

Taney County Library tax vote on April 2!

As my readers may or may not know, on April 2^nd 2013 as part of the General Municipal Election, voter’s will be asked to vote yea or nay on a new tax that would allow for the upgrade of two private libraries located in Branson and Forsyth. The tax would be a levy added to property tax assessments and would amount to 15 cents for every $100 of assessed valuation.

As you might guess, some citizens are not particularly happy with what they feel is yet another tax hike with no visible cuts to act as a counterweight. Others, like this individual, bring up the question of trust of the political process overall:

‘Tax & Spend = Failed Promises Most taxpayer’s in Taney County have never taken the time to check up on the political subdivisions that collect taxes in this county. What really goes on at their board meetings? What happens when you request public records? How much do they spend on employee’s salaries? Do the boards actually follow the state law they were formed under?

Unfortunately, most citizens can’t answer these simple questions. On the other hand, there is a small group of citizen’s working hard to keep watch over how tax dollars are spent by the ever-growing list of political subdivisions in Taney County. How much is enough? Will the citizens of Taney County on April 2nd accept more of the same old rhetoric and live with more taxes, resulting in more failed promises from yet another political board? I believe there are some facts that taxpayers deserve to know about the individuals managing their tax dollars. These facts just start to tell the story of waste, and over taxation that the citizens of Taney County have experienced for years. The health department is funded through a 14¢ per $100 of assessed evaluation on property tax. They currently spend 1.5 million dollars a year on just the top 15 highest paid employees. The developmentally disabled board collects 8.9¢ per $100 of assessed evaluation on property tax. However, they recently spent $650,000 on a church building that is over 15 years old. The senior board receives their money through 5¢ per $100 of assessed evaluation on property tax; in spite of this the board has yet to provide meals on wheels to all seniors in need, even with a surplus of tax money. The Branson School district collects $4.02/$100 of assessed evaluation on property tax. They spend over 1.2 million dollars a year on the top 15 highest paid employees. The board also doesn’t allow public comment at their monthly board meetings, and they attempt to restrict access to public records. The Taney County Ambulance District is funded from a sales tax collected in Taney County.

Approximately 70% of their yearly budget consists of payroll and benefits. According to the director there isn’t an ambulance station East of the Kissee Mills junction because quote, “It just isn’t profitable”, yet those living in Eastern Taney County have paid the tax for years. The proposed Library District and its board continue to promise countless things to the voters, like a book delivery service, a coffee shop, public meeting space and computer access. These promises are part of the same similar rhetoric used by other groups who have proposed taxes in the past. I encourage more citizens to ask tough questions, attend board meetings, and request public records. Ask yourself one important question on April 2nd: Can the people of Taney County bare the burden of more taxes and failed promises?’

While I have been a long time supporter of the library in Forsyth and would like to see it prosper, I also feel this individual brings up some valid points. I would also encourage every citizen to get involved in this debate. After all it is your money they’re talking about.

Taney Services Weather Page

I’ve recently launched a web site (www.taneyservices.com) that has weather as a primary focus. While it’s intended to cover the Taney County Missouri area, there are elements that might be of interest for people living in other parts of the US.

Poker Run scheduled for April 7 2013