What We Know: It appears a longtime chapter in southwest Missouri journalism has come to an unexpected end.
What It Means: Employees at the Branson Tri-Lakes News, the Stone County Republican-Crane Chronicle and the Barry County Advertiser say they were all laid off Thursday after being told the newspapers were shutting down.
State Representative Brian Seitz called the reported closure devastating for the community. He said the newspaper would definitely be missed.
All three newspapers are owned by Lancaster Management Incorporated of Alabama.
What’s Next: When asked about the reported closures and the future of the publications the vice president says, “No comment.”
The Branson Tri-Lakes News has served the area for more than a century and traces its roots to several historic southwest Missouri newspapers.
Stories were still being published online Thursday morning, just hours before employees say they were informed their jobs had ended.
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