The following is a brief of the story. For the full version, see the Monday, Sept. 29 print edition of the BDN.

About 500 people made their way to Boonville’s Katy Depot Sunday afternoon to attend the 4th annual Save the Katy Bridge Festival. In addition some fund raising efforts to support the group’s hopes of keeping the MKT bridge at Boonville, the event included speeches by politicians, music by those who support the cause, and an opportunity for the Save the Bridge Coalition to remind the public to attend an open meeting Tuesday night to discuss the future of the 76-year-old lift span bridge. The meeting will be held at the Isle of Capri Casino from 6-8 p.m. and is expected to draw dozens of people still hoping to preserve the structure, even after Missouri courts have ruled that bridge owner Union Pacific may tear down the bridge. UP has said it would like to reuse some steels segments of the bridge for a new structure near Osage City.

Columbia mayor Darwin Hindman, who has attended all four festivals, spoke at Sunday’s event, emphasizing the economic importance of the bridge.