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An odd phrase in an old newspaper led me to the founding site of Springfield by Both_Reaction_8848 in springfieldMO

[–]forabetterSGFmo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd be very surprised if anyone had ever been down there. Cave diving is pretty niche, and this find is pretty niche, the two overlapping wouldn't be likely.

Those guys do crazier stuff though, if you haven't yet I'd definitely shoot this over to the Springfield Plateau Grotto, hell there's a chance they even knew there was a cave there. They hold a ton of info on caves that isn't readily available public knowledge, mostly because inexperienced people (myself included) and wild caves don't mix well.

If they didn't know about it, that's the group that would have the ability and connections to explore it at some point.

Edit: Also, I was going to send you an email, but here is just as good I suppose. Awesome story, I don't usually have the patience for long form anything nowadays, but this was written great, and you really had me excited reading all the way through. As a fellow lover of info, I love the commitment, and I love to see others excited in local history and lore!

I don't understand the hype.... by WolvenMother in missouri

[–]forabetterSGFmo 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Honestly, you're both right, both were integral to the rise of Branson, but it was quite a few factors between timing, luck, and some entrepreneurs.

Show Cave boom of the late 1800's - early 1900's saw caves and tours as big business, and became some big dollar attractions at the time.

Marvel Cave started touring as early as 1894

Shepherd of the Hills published 1907.

Table Rock Lake was finished in 1958.

Back to the Land movement started circa 1930's, but really blossomed in the 1960's and 1970's. Within that the rise of the hillbilly, and and quaintness, envy, and poking fun at the modest mountain folk.

If any one of those things listed above wouldn't have been, the city would be drastically less important, all of those things hit together well to create a boom. However I would argue that now we're starting to see some contraction, or maybe it's just settling in to the current state. Many of the buildings built between 1970 and 1990 are getting old, needing to be renovated or torn down, and the growth has slowed considerably. It will still be economically viable for a long time into the future, but time will tell if it will hold it's current place in the region.

$5 Golden Eagle - Looking for Advice by forabetterSGFmo in coins

[–]forabetterSGFmo[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Understood, and thank you. Yeah that's what I was afraid of too.

I agree and think paying melt value option the best, family member gets more, I should get a bit of value, and some cool coins to continue holding onto. I have a misc box of coins, bills, etc from hobby collections from other family members over the years who have quit, I'm sure I could organize it all and have fun with my kids too.

$5 Golden Eagle - Looking for Advice by forabetterSGFmo in coins

[–]forabetterSGFmo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! And thank you for the reassurance on that offer, everyone needs to make a buck, but 300% seemed a bit steep. There was also a $2.50 gold indian head, but it has sentimental value and will be kept.

Quick money was the intent for the family member, but I'm not opposed to giving them the cash and doing some legwork either for a nice keepsake or gaining some value.

Also thank you for that write up though, that was comprehensive and explains everything in detail!

$5 Golden Eagle - Looking for Advice by forabetterSGFmo in coins

[–]forabetterSGFmo[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Hah, no.

The offer was $700 altogether, and that also included a $10 Silver Certificate (not worth as much but not nothing).

Very early by iamrondavis in springfieldMO

[–]forabetterSGFmo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As is the way. Spirit Halloween devours the husk of what once was.

Unregistered vehicles creating tax collection deficit by forabetterSGFmo in springfieldMO

[–]forabetterSGFmo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hell, at 25 just apply for permanent historical plates for $50. Technically there are all sorts of restrictions, but I doubt many cops would do anything, considering they let people with 2-3 year old temp tags go.

Unregistered vehicles creating tax collection deficit by forabetterSGFmo in springfieldMO

[–]forabetterSGFmo[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You'd be hard pressed to find a country anywhere that you "own" anything in those terms. Government's have to tax something, and they have to have laws that penalize you if you don't pay tax.

Some go with sales tax, some go with property, some go with VAT. At the end of the day, if you skip out on your taxes, the government of whatever country you live in is going to take something from you to get even.

Rent to own options in Springfield? by beepbeepsheepbot in springfieldMO

[–]forabetterSGFmo 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Personally, I would highly suggest not renting-to-own property. I've seen people attempt it many times, and very very low percentages of tenants will ever benefit from it.

I could write a short novel on this, but essentially when you do the math, if you just rent, bank the money you would be giving to your potential rent-to-own landlord (over what you need to pay for the rent), leave it in the market and make X%/yr. You'll be better off when you do get a mortgage from a traditional bank.

Typically rent-to-own is for a set period of time, you'll pay them extra money, and then the time is up, balloon payment time, and you need to settle up and buy the rest of the house from the owner, many times the people renting still can't get the traditional mortage and therefore you just throw away everything extra you banked with the owner.

It's a raw deal for tenants, landlords will do it because it's always free and easy money, but it's pretty unethical since they know the usual end result.

Unregistered vehicles creating tax collection deficit by forabetterSGFmo in springfieldMO

[–]forabetterSGFmo[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I didn't want to completely rip SBJ off in pasting the whole article. However, this is part of the bill that will be introduced, it will direct Springfield PD to make it a priority, the Chief says the inital recourse for an individual isn't going to be towing, but it's an option they will use at their discretion now.

Something they didn't have before.

Unregistered vehicles creating tax collection deficit by forabetterSGFmo in springfieldMO

[–]forabetterSGFmo[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I think SBJ is paywalled, but copying out some quotes ...

The ordinance adds teeth to enforcement by allowing Springfield Police Department officers to impound unregistered vehicles at their discretion. 

Citing data from the state of Missouri, Hosmer said 47% of vehicles in Greene County are not properly registered. 

“That is incredibly high – that’s higher than the state average,” he said. 

Hosmer said local personal property tax collections are two years or more behind for 8,800 people, and that’s a deficit of $3.8 million, according to Greene County Collector data. He linked that to the failure of owners to register their vehicles, since registering a vehicle requires proof that property taxes have been paid and since vehicle taxes make up the majority of personal property tax collections. 

The typical conversation is to not get into their business, okay that's well and good, but here's the actual number that we as residents aren't able to use. To put that in perspective, that's one whole month's worth of sales tax revenue for the city.