I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— John 10:14
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INSIDE: • Around Town.... 12A • Churches.......... 11A • Classifieds......... 10B • Education........... 8A • Fun & Games.... 12B • Pets for Adoption �� 3A • Obituaries........ 10A • Weather........... 10A
March 21, 2025 • Volume 6, Issue #11
End of an era as old Long Creek Bridge drops
PLUS: Long Creek Bridge blast (Photo by Philip Thomas) BY CYNTHIA J. THOMAS, Staff Writer The Long Creek arm of Table Rock Lake was the place to be for excitement on Monday morning, March 17, as MoDOT crews continued the demolition work on the Long Creek Bridge, part of State Hwy. 86 south Foster-based rescue in Taney of Branson. County – SEE PAGE 3A Construction on a new,
wider bridge, adjacent to the old one, started in 2022. It was opened to traffic in 2024, and the project is expected to be completed during summer 2025. More than 8,000 drivers cross the bridge daily, as residents of nearby neighborhoods commute to work via Hwy. 86 and U.S. Hwy. 65 and Big Cedar Lodge guests travel
to Dogwood Canyon. The old bridge was constructed by MoDOT in 1956 to connect Stone and Taney counties. In 2019, repairs were made to the structural steel, but those were a temporary fix, with permanent repairs deemed by MoDOT as not possible due to the continued deterioration of the system.
For Monday’s demolition, residents of nearby neighborhoods watched from land, some even turning the event into a neighborhood party complete with refreshments and custom T-shirts, and at least 50 boats made the cruise to watch the explosion from the water. There were a few reports of distress on the part of neighborhood
pets, and a few questions via social media from people who missed the MoDOT announcement and wondered what was going on. Those who have been around for a while expressed nostalgia at the end of an era, but most agreed the wider bridge will be a blessing for larger vehicles and pedestrian safety.
Well-known resident loses home in fire; GoFundMe account to help her rebuild
Tiny chapels springing up – SEE PAGE 1B.
5586 W. 76 Country Blvd.
417-386-0100
shepherdsgrill.com
BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer A GoFundMe account has been set up to help a well-known resident of Stone County. Sandy Hill recently lost her Branson West home in a fire. The home was located in the Notch community, near Silver Dollar City. Said Hill’s daughter, Chelsea Dygert, “On Wednesday, March 12, while out of town, she received a call from a neighbor that her home was on fire. She lost everything, including her three beloved cats — Mojo, Cookie and Apollo.” Hill is well known in the community as Miss Sandy, a pre-school teacher for more than 20 years. For much of her career, Hill was employed at Lakeview Learning Center, which was recently bought out and underwent a name change to Brother Bear Learning Center. The center closed down more than a year ago, leaving Hill devastated and feeling lost.
“Teaching kids is her passion,” explained Dygert. “She now subs parttime for the Reeds Spring School District in their Early Education Center and volunteers her time as a Child Advocate/CASA worker for abused and neglected children in Taney County.” Immediate needs for Hill include clothing and toiletries, but the ultimate goal of the GoFundMe set up for Hill is to rebuild and refurnish her home. Hill, who will be staying with family members until she can rebuild, had minimal insurance, and will have to rely on donations to help her with the rebuilding efforts. “My mom has spent her whole life volunteering in soup kitchens, addiction centers, at churches, etc. She is known for being ‘the kindest person anyone has met,’ “ said Dygert. “She will give anything to any stranger without hesiSEE FIRE, PAGE 3A
The Branson Cafe (Photo from downtownbransoncafe.com)
Popular restaurant has been open 115 years BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer Brandi Beebe is wellknown in the Branson area. She serves the community as a Certified Financial Marketing Professional at Central Bank. Along with two partners, Beebe also owns a landmark eatery in the Branson area. Beebe and her partners Mary Meadows and Sandra Ferdig own and operate Branson Cafe, the oldest restaurant in Branson. Branson Cafe first opened in 1910, and was purchased by Beebe, Meadows and Ferdig in February of 2022.
“Branson Cafe specializes in serving family recipes that we love to share with the community,” said Beebe. “We are open for breakfast and lunch, while also providing catering. We recently started serving Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas, and are famous for our cinnamon rolls the size of your head! Other favorites include the Branson Cafe Skillet, chicken and waffles, Memaw’s Meatloaf, and the club sandwich.” Beebe credits the Branson Cafe staff with much of the success of the
restaurant. Said Beebe, “Our staff is the best in Branson! They work very hard to make us who we are, and we are grateful for each and every one of them.” Branson residents—and visitors — have long supported local businesses, and Branson Cafe truly appreciates that support. “The support from our community has been amazing,” noted Beebe. “We, the owners, are all local, with our families going back generations in this community. We want to provide SEE BRANSON CAFE, PAGE 2A
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