On the Street

The city of Springfield will hold its second public meeting Dec. 5 to discuss several options for changing three railroad grade crossings and for reconfiguring rail lines in Jordan Valley Park’s West Meadows. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, 202 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway. The discussion is part of the city’s 18-month development project to alter rail crossings on Division Street, Chestnut Expressway and James River Freeway, where fatalities have occurred, and reconfigure the rail lines for future expansion of Jordan Valley Park. Printed materials and exhibits will be available at the meeting.

All roads lead to Branson

In anticipation of greater traffic from Branson Landing, the city of Branson and Missouri Department of Transportation are partnering to improve the U.S. Highway 65 and state Highway 248 interchange. MoDOT is funding $1.6 million of the $3.1 million project, which will install a roundabout, widen the overpass and realign an exit ramp for better traffic flow. MoDOT will begin construction in 2007.

‘Pay for performance’

The Branson Regional Airport Authority is seeking help for its $114 million airport project at Branson Creek. The group has asked the city to enter into a “pay for performance” agreement, in which the city pays the airport a flat fee for each passenger who arrives and stays in Branson. The fee would be negotiated. The Branson Board of Alderman is reviewing the proposal and asked the city administration to draft an agreement by early next year. Airport organizers also told the board they hope to attract at least three low-cost air carriers by the time the airport is operational in late 2007.

Springfieldian Award deadline

The deadline is Nov. 30 to nominate someone for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Springfieldian Award. For 49 years, the award has recognized outstanding, dedicated community service. The honoree will be announced at the chamber’s Jan. 27 annual meeting. Nominations can be made online, www.springfieldchamber.com, or by calling Judy Galbraith, (417) 862-5567. Chamber President Jim Anderson received the 2005 award. Chamber board members are ineligible.

Slice of Nice

Christmas Cheer: Christian County Select, Nixa Junior High Student Council and Inman Elementary Running Club are collecting stocking stuffers through Dec. 15 for The Least of These, a Nixa-based food pantry and clothing bank. New unwrapped toys and gifts can be dropped off at Jenkins CPA, Family Pharmacy, Nixa Junior High and Inman Elementary. The gifts will go to infants through teenagers in Christian County.

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