Latest News Releases from the City of Branson http://www.bransonmo.gov/feed.xml The Branson Public Works Department will be conducting its annual spring cleanup April 12-16 to help residents properly dispose of large unwanted items at no cost. This is a semi-annual event which is part of an ongoing effort to keep Branson beautiful. The cleanup service is available for individual residents of Branson but not for businesses or commercial entities. This provides residents the opportunity to get rid of those large unwanted and difficult to manage items like old appliances, furniture and mattresses which are not picked up by residential trash haulers. http://www.bransonmo.gov/news/newspdfs/Spring_cleanup_2010.pdf http://www.bransonmo.gov/feedattachments/springcleanupmap.jpg Click here to see a map of the city's three aldermanic wards and the dates of the pickups in each ward. Training required for businesses that sell liquor. The city of Branson Finance Department will be holding a “Responsible Liquor Selling” training session Thursday, April 1 for servers, cashiers and bartenders. This training is required of all businesses selling liquor in the city of Branson or businesses that are in the process of obtaining a liquor license. The session begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers of Branson City Hall, 110 West Maddux. http://www.bransonmo.gov/news/newspdfs/Liquor_training_3-4-.pdf An enjoyable way for pet owners to get exercise for both themselves and their animals is to walk through one of Branson’s 15 convenient parks. However, there are ordinances that require pets to be on leashes at all times in parks and on public property. The city has posted signs in all parks stating that pets must be a leash, and the signs reference the ordinance that prohibits pets from running at large. http://www.bransonmo.gov/news/newspdfs/Pets_on_Leash.pdf The city of Branson has been notified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that it has opened three spill gates at Table Rock Dam this morning. This notification is routine procedure regarding the Corp’s monitoring of the White River system. According to Stan Jones with the Corps of Engineers, a turbine has been taken off-line for maintenance and in order to remain at the current release volume, the Corps needs to open the spill gates to compensate. Jones did not know at this time how long the turbine would be down for the maintenance. http://www.bransonmo.gov/news/newspdfs/Corps_release_3-10.pdf The Branson/Taney County Underage Drinking Prevention Coalition and the Community Partnership will be conducting a Town Hall Meeting on underage drinking prevention on Tuesday, March 30, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Branson City Hall. According to Kara Miller with the Taney County Health Department and organizer of the Underage Drinking Prevention Coalition, a panel of local experts will be attending to discuss underage drinking and answer questions. http://www.bransonmo.gov/news/newspdfs/Underage_drinking.pdf You Drink & Drive. You Lose. The Branson Police Department recently focused extra enforcement efforts on impaired driving laws March 12 – 14, 2010. During the effort, law enforcement officers issued a total of (104) citations that includes (14 ) speeding tickets, (3) driving while intoxicated, (16) stop sign violations, (18 ) safety belt, (27 ) uninsured motorist violations, (26) other violations and arrested (11) people on outstanding warrants as a result of the crackdown. http://www.bransonmo.gov/news/newspdfs/marchdwipost.pdf City Hall, utilities and RecPlex to realize energy savings. The city of Branson will share in a $175,000 federal grant received by Taney County intended to reduce the energy use and costs of cities and counties. Branson will receive $119,000 of the grant with $59,000 coming in the form of grant funding, and the balance being paid off with in-kind labor for installation, equipment and projected energy savings. With this grant, the city is focusing on upgrading the fluorescent light fixtures in City Hall and the Pacific Street Water Tower that houses the Utility Department offices in addition to replacing the parking lot lights at the RecPlex with LED bulbs. http://www.bransonmo.gov/news/newspdfs/Energy_grant.pdf