City News 
Changing time means changing those smoke alarm batteries
Spring is less than two weeks away with that season of year comes the beginning of Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, March 14. As the time change approaches when we move our clocks forward one hour, the Branson Fire Department would like to remind residents to make another change that could save their lives – changing the batteries in their smoke alarms. It is estimated that over 92% of American homes now have at least one smoke alarm.
Action taken by Branson Board of Aldermen at March 9, 2010 meeting
SECOND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE BILLS. Architect selected for city hall modifications. Final approval given to contract with Pellham-Phillips Architects of Springfield to design the remodeling of the police department and city clerk/municipal court offices in city hall. Both departments need more space and this remodeling would be a short term solution. The design contract would cost $27,000. The actual construction cost is estimated to be $273,000. Funds were budgeted for these projects.
City seeking citizens’ help in avoiding sign and banner clutter
Branson city officials are seeing an increase in the number of illegal temporary signs and banners around town and want to remind residents and businesses that there are city codes regulating the placement of these types of signs. “While we all take pride in keeping our homes and businesses clean, we need to exercise that same pride in keeping the whole city clean, especially since Branson hosts millions of visitors a year,” said Jim Lawson, Branson’s director of planning and development department, which enforces the municipal sign code.
Watershed Festival for 600 Taney County 5th Grade Students
The Taney County Elementary Watershed Festival marks its 10th anniversary this year. Over 4,500 area fifth grade students have attended the festival over the past decade learning important concepts about clean water and how water moves over, through and under the Ozarks. The 2010 water festival will be held March 23 and 24 at the Tri-Lakes Center, 2527 State Highway 248 in Branson. Programs begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. each day.
Police ticket restaurants serving liquor to minors
On Friday evening, the Branson Police Department conducted random compliance checks of restaurants and bars serving alcohol, to determine if bartenders and wait staff are verifying that the purchaser is of legal age to buy alcohol. Officers worked with the assistance of four minors to conduct spot checks of forty four businesses, finding that clerks in thirty of the businesses checked identification or accurately enforced the Missouri age restriction of being at least 21 years old to purchase alcohol. The minors working with officers were able to purchase alcohol in fourteen of the forty four locations.
Branson Police Department Encourages Motorist to Buckle Up and Arrive Alive
The Branson Police Department participated in the statewide Click It or Ticket mobilization conducted February 25. During the enforcement effort, officers issued a total of (42) traffic tickets including: (14) safety belt tickets; (5) speeding tickets; (13) Failed to Show Financial Proof and (10) other traffic violations. (3) Misdemeanor warrant arrests were made as a result of the crackdown.
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