Branson News Guide

by Sean Murray, Branson.com

The American Automobile Association’s Media Site for Retail Gasoline Prices reports that Missouri is currently offering the nation’s lowest gasoline prices. The Missouri average price is $3.045 per gallon of regular gasoline compared to the national average of $3.26 per gallon.

Michael J. Right, Vice President, Public Affairs for the Missouri AAA (which covers Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, southern Illinois, and eastern Kansas) tells the Branson Tourism Center that the Show-Me State will continue to sit at or near the top of nation’s ‘best prices’ list because of the state’s excellent distribution system, lower than average fuel taxes and an aggressive competitive stance taken by Missouri retailers.

In addition, Lianne Milton, owner of the Branson Tourism Center, a full-service agency specializing in discounted vacation travel planning to the Branson area says, “To thank our customers for their support, we’re addressing their worries about rising gas prices by providing a 20-cents-per-gallon discount on gasoline and diesel fuel.”

All customers who purchase show and attractions tickets or lodging through the Branson Tourism Center, and who travel to Branson from 100 miles away or more, are eligible to receive a gasoline discount coupon for up to 20 gallons of gas at the Branson 1st Stop Travel-Plex, conveniently located adjacent to the Tourism Center.

Visit BransonTourismCenter.com for more information about the program.

by Steve Grant, KY3 News

POWERSITE, Mo. — The big tourist attraction in the Branson area right now is watching the power of water. Record rains that drenched the Ozarks are racing into reservoirs on the White River that were finished 50 years ago to control massive flooding.

Frothy and muddy floodwaters from a 36-hour monsoon are running over the top of Powersite Dam near Forsyth. The 85-year-old generating plant is running at capacity and withstanding torrents of run-off.

Upstream, Branson isn’t higher but is drier. It wasn’t always this way.

In 1913, 1927 and after World War 2, days of downpours would almost wash downtown Branson off the map.

Holding back certain devastation for half a century now is Table Rock Dam.

At the current flow, in the time it takes to say “Table Rock Dam in Branson,” half a million gallons of water have rushed past the floodgates and through the generating turbines at the dam. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says this may go on for several weeks.

But back turn back the clock, and Branson Landing’s stores, restaurants, hotels, excursion train and the new convention center would be swamped.

Branson Landing management says the downpour was a good test of its design. Its lakefront service roads and partly covered parking lot were drying out in the afternoon sun.

When lakes rise, so does hydroelectric power generation. It’s about a third of the cost of producing power from coal-fired plants.

Officials say Table Rock rose eight feet between Tuesday evening and Wednesday evening, and is letting out as much water as it can without flooding people living along Lake Taneycomo. The floodgates are also open at Beaver Dam, releasing water that Table Rock is receiving.

Source: KY3 News