Lebanon, MO

The Bowling Bears, the only four person team from Ezard Elementary in Conway MO, took Second Place in the Bowling Buddies League at Starlite Lanes in Lebanon MO.

The first half of the 2008/2009 league ended in a tie for Second Place. After a bowl-off, the Bowling Bears walked away with the trophy.

The Bowling Bears play, learn and compete at Starlite Lanes in Lebanon, MO. All four of the kids had bowled only a few times before joining the league - none of them were overly skilled in the art of bowling.

It's been interesting to watch them learn the game and take direction from the coach's (and their Dad's). They've been learning the art of a Team, the concept of showing up at a certain day at a certain time and doing their best - much like what will be expected when they get a job. Shh... Let's not tell them they are learning lessons of life while having FUN!

Congratulations Karissa, Aaron, Ashley and Tony!

The only bowling alley in town, Starlite Lanes offers league bowling for children, teens and adults. Open bowling and birthday party packages are also available. You can contact Starlite Lanes at 417-532-4262. The bowling alley is located at 1331 E. Historic Route 66 in Lebanon MO 65536.

Representative Darrell Pollock will be introducing legislation in the upcoming 2009 Missouri session that would change the due date for personal property taxes from December 31st to June 30th of each year.

Personal property taxes are paid each year on your "personal" items, such as motor vehicles, boats, trailers, livestock, farm machinery and business-related equipment. While the amount is usually not as large as other taxes, such as income taxes and real estate taxes, the timing may not be good for many Missourians. (For 2008, mine where under $300 for the year.)

Currently coming at the same time as real estate taxes, just after the holidays and in the winter - moving the due date of personal property taxes to a June due date could relieve some stress on some families.

If you think this change would benefit you, your family and your Missouri business, contact Rep. Pollock at:

Phone: (573) 751-4451
Address: 201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 201F, Jefferson City, MO 65101
E-mail: darrell.pollock@house.mo.gov

Then contact your own state representative and our state Senators to voice your support of the bill:

Missouri Legislator Look Up

As this proposal moves through the process, into committee and hopefully onto the floor, I will keep you updated.

"So many fail because they don't get started - they don't go. They don't overcome inertia.
They don't begin." W. Clement Stone

I am getting wimpy.

At first I thought it was old age - I did turn 40 this year, you know.

But, I think I have decided it's not the age, it's the location.

Having grown up in Naperville Illinois, about 32 miles south west of Chicago, we had some cold, wet winters. The wind would not only blow, it would whip. The snow would not only fall, it would keep on falling. And, once you had snow "up North" it stayed until spring.

I've lived in Missouri for almost nine years. Seem strange to type that - the time has gone by so very fast. The first year I was here, people would tell me not to worry about the weather - it was constantly changing. It didn't take me long to figure out: they were right! The weather here in South Central Missouri can change in a matter of minutes.

One of the first years we were here, it was 72* on Christmas Day. We washed the car outside and the neighbor was riding her horse in our pasture. That same year Ray golfed more in January than he had the June before!

Earlier this week, the temperature was in the 60's. The leaves are almost all gone, but for the most part, the grass is still green.

So you can imagine I was a little miffed when Grandma called about twenty mintues ago: Tell the kids to look out the window, snowflakes are falling!

What!

Snowflakes!

Granted they are not sticking to the ground, but they were falling none the less. Just the word itself sent a shiver over me and made my toes cold!

They have stopped now. I can hear the cars outside on the wet pavement. We have a very light drizzle.

My husband had to remind me, Deb, it is almost December 1st.

Okay. So. Your point is?

I love my four seasons and that is what I have here in Missouri. But, I have to admit, I am getting a little wimpy when it comes to Season No. 4: winter. Or maybe wimpy isn't the right word. Maybe just spoiled!

Snow was never a thought at last weeks Lebanon MO Christmas Parade.

I've been romping around in the Rain tonight and recently read Katerina's post: Contest Time! Win With Your 20 Million Dollar Listing Presentation! Updated!

Two lines in that post really caught my attention. They beat to the heart of something I've been mulling for a few weeks now:

Remember, you must visualize and be prepared for your dreams to come true.
Before you can receive you must believe ...

Every time you listen to the news, listen to a talk radio show or pick up any newspaper, the news is all the same. Doom and Gloom.

Yesterday it was Meet the Press, this morning it was The Today Show.

The American people have lost confidence in their government.
The people have lost confidence in the economy.
It is a Buyer's Market.
Real estate prices have not bottomed out.
There are no jobs, don't bother to look for one. Companies are not hiring.
The economic down turn will last another 18 months.

Negative, negative, negative. Every media outlet in this country, every moderator in the land, the message seems to be the same.

How many times do you have to hear something before you believe it to be true?

The Law of Attraction at work on a grand scale!

Why does the media continue to tell us, the American people, we have no confidence? How do THEY know?

I do not believe the down turn of Wall Street represents the majority of the American people.

Why can't the media try spreading a little good news?

Why can't the media try visualizing a POSITIVE America?

Why can't they encourage POSITIVE thoughts for our country?

Why can't they have FAITH in the POWER of the American people?

Do they not understand, before we can RECEIVE we must BELIEVE?

My words of wisdom have fell on deaf ears for years...

     Buy land, I would say.

          Buy land, I still say today.

Over time, I have received a lot of strange looks and eye rolling. But today,
United Country Real Estate released some interesting statistics:

Rural land (non-Urban) values have increased by more than 27 percent, since 2006.

Based on United Country's closed land sales data, the national price per acre average increased from $1,691 in 2006 to $2,142 in 2008.

When compared to a roughly 35% decrease on Wall Street since 2006, land investment has become an attractive option.

What does this mean, exactly?

If Investor A put $100,000 into the stock market back in 2006, he would have roughly $64,000 today - perhaps even less based on the closing bell this week.

If Investor B put $1000,000 into land on that same day back in 2006, his investment would be worth approximately $127,000 today - 
perhaps even more based on which part of the country he invested in .

Dan Duffy, the CEO of United Country sums it up nicely:

"What makes land an even more attractive investment is that unlike Wall Street investments, land can actually be used and enjoyed
 for recreational purposes such as hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, vacationing
 or as a source of additional income by purchasing cropland or hunting leases that allows them to receive cash rents."

The old adage is true: They aren't making any more of it!

I love land and never tire of it's beauty. I'm not sure how many people can say the same of Wall Street!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Debbie DiFonzo, GRI, SRS, e-PRO
Broker/Owner

United Country VIP Realty
417-532-2031 Lebanon, MO
417-468-5900 Marshfield, MO

Serving Laclede, Webster, Wright and Dallas Counties in South Central Missouri