Hey! For those of you who've been to Branson, or who have generational connections to Garber, in northwestern Taney Co., I'm afraid I have some bad news to pass along. First of all..while the state government is planning to use funds from the Tobacco Settlement to pay for education in the next year--like many other states, MO is in trouble financially--Branson city officials are still planning to ask for permission to create a TIF District (Tax Increment Financing). They claim they cannot build the convention center on the Taneycomo Lakefront without it. In order to force the governor's hand, they have already bulldozed most of the buildings on the Lakefront, including the White River Hotel, the McQuerter house, and Sammy Lane. The buildings north of Mang Field have thus far not been destroyed--folks bought some of them at the auctions held last spring, sometimes for $30, and then did not move them, so costs are rising as the city has to get any asbestos out before they can be razed. (Aw, that hurts my feelings...) At the 29 Jul 2002 public meeting on this issue, the mayor, Lou Schaefer, claimed the White River Hotel would be saved. He also claimed last year that this was his last term as mayor. However, he is now one of 5 running for the office. I believe the majority of the others are against putting the convention center on the lakefront. Despite the public outcry, despite 4 previous feasibility reports that claimed it would be a mistake to put a convention center on the lakefront (the latest report, by a 5th company, claimed it is "do-able"), despite the glitches that keep slowing them down, the destruction of our past continues. It is my understanding that the city pool and Mang Field are both safe for the moment, as they must have a city pool, and no replacement has been built. Some folks believe a civic center for local use will be built down there, but I no longer believe the present administration has any use for doing something for the locals beyond what they have to provide. It is also my understanding that they are trying to buy land on the west side of the railroad tracks, to Sycamore Street, as they have been told the previous land purchases of 70+ acres will not be enough. I have managed to keep from looking east of the railroad tracks since they began destruction in the late fall. I don't think I could bear it. I have friends who are recording via video and film, and I'm glad for that, but I don't know how they stand it. It is beyond my belief that these places are gone, I guess, and some part of my mind protects my heart by stating, child-like, if "I don't look, it'll all be okay". I don't guess I thought "they" really would have the heartless nerve to just knock off these much-valued places without so much as a "by-your-leave." Next I suppose will be the "Historical Downtown Branson", with its faux-Victorian aura, up the hill from the river. Now. This next bit of news caught me and everyone else who cares about our past by surprise and shock and then...even more outrage. I'll send it in a different email. Vonda ListMom for MO-AR-WRV http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~moarwrv/