Events Calendar / News
A listing of upcoming public meetings and events of interest involving City government, and the greater Rolla community. For information on items with no contact number, please call City Hall at 364-1384. For an additional community calendar of events, visit the Rolla Chamber of Commerce.
Paving of 10th Street from Forum to Pine begins July 28
The City of Rolla’s Public Works Department would like to announce that the milling of 10th Street from Forum Drive to Pine Street will begin on Wednesday, July 28 as Rolla Asphalt makes preparations to pave one of the City’s most heavily used east/west corridors.
After the street is milled, Rolla Asphalt will pave it on Monday, Aug. 2 and Tuesday, Aug. 3. The City will need to close one lane of traffic on 10th Street between Forum and Pine throughout the paving project, and detour signs will be posted.
“The City of Rolla appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation throughout the duration of this paving project on 10th Street,” said Steve Hargis, Public Works Director. “This section of street is very heavily traveled, and we want to get the word out early that the paving of 10th Street will slow traffic in this area for about a week.”
The City of Rolla’s Public Works Department will oversee the repaving project. For more information, please call 364-8659 or visit www.rollacity.org.
Bryant Drive Extension underway
Construction and renovation projects (including more new restaurants and businesses) of all shapes and sizes are popping up around Rolla. Most notably, is the impressive new building being constructed at Missouri S&T’s Innovation Park located on 10th Street, and the early phases of the new Bryant Drive Extension that will create a new traffic intersection at Bryant Drive and Kingshighway.
You may have noticed some of the heavy equipment and signs of early construction work next to the McDonald’s restaurant on Kingshighway, and next to the Webster University and Pizza Inn parking lots where the new Bryant Drive Extension begins. Development agreements among the City of Rolla, Fairgrounds Chevrolet and McDonald’s for the Bryant Drive Extension were approved by the Rolla City Council at the June 21, 2010 Council meeting, and the City received the green light to proceed with this significant project.
These development agreements culminate several months of planning and negotiations with these three entities as well as the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to provide a new transportation facility to serve not only these existing and new developments, but also provide an integral link in the development of the Rolla West Area. These three entities will be providing the rights of way and the City of Rolla will be constructing the road improvements. The road extension is estimated to be $580,000. This extension of Bryant Drive is scheduled for construction beginning in mid-August 2010 and will correspond with the construction of the new McDonald’s Restaurant.
The new Bryant Drive Extension will provide one of the gateway entrances to the new Missouri S&T Innovation Park, and improve traffic mobility on Kingshighway and Fairgrounds Road. Sometime this summer MoDOT will be relocating the traffic light now located at the intersection of Fairgrounds Road and Kingshighway to the new intersection that will be built at the intersection of Bryant Drive and Kingshighway just west of the McDonald’s restaurant. When the new Bryant Drive Extension, intersection and McDonald’s restaurant are complete, this area on Kingshighway will be significantly enhanced – bringing more attention to the progressive, welcoming image of our City.
Parks and Rec. to host ASA National Fast Pitch Softball Tournament (Aug. 4-8) at Ber Juan Sportsplex
The City of Rolla’s Parks and Recreation Department, which oversees the maintenance and operations of over 310 acres of park land, 33 parks, Ber Juan Sportsplex, Ber Juan Tennis Complex, Skate Park, and Rolla Cemetery, was instrumental in brining the prestigious ASA Boys 10U-18U and Mens 23U Fast Pitch Softball National Tournament to be held Aug. 4-8 at the Ber Juan Sportsplex in Rolla.
I think I speak for our Parks and Recreation Director Ken Kwantes, when I say it is a tremendous honor for our City to be hosting this National Championship Tournament, which will provide a rare opportunity for the residents of Rolla, Phelps County and the surrounding Meramec Valley Region a chance to be part of a very exciting National Championship Tournament. Hosting a tournament of this magnitude on a national level is a reflection on how well maintained and operated the Ber Juan Sportsplex has been over the years by the Parks and Recreation staff. And anyone who has participated in any number of softball leagues held throughout the year at the Ber Juan Sportsplex knows that the well manicured and maintained fields, expansive grandstand seating, batting cages and concession stands provide a very unique and welcoming experience for all who utilize the facility.
I encourage the entire community to attend the five-day ASA national tournament, which should provide some very exciting and entertaining fastpitch softball, and also provide a warm welcome to all of the players, coaches, and staff (and parents, grandparents, family and friends), who will travel hundreds of miles across the U.S. to participate in the tournament.
Civilian Service Awards presented to Rolla area residents
Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks, III and Rolla Police Chief Mark Kearse recognized the heroic efforts of four Rolla area residents who were presented with the Civilian Service Award on July 23, 2010 for assisting with the apprehension of two robbery suspects involved in the July 2, 2010 robbery at Hillcrest Pharmacy (located at 1100 S. Hwy. 63) in Rolla.
(Pictured left: Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks, III, and Rolla Police Chief Mark Kearse present Civilian Service Awards to four Rolla area residents who assisted the Rolla Police Department with the apprehension of two robbery suspects involved in the July 2, 2010 robbery at Hillcrest Pharmacy. Pictured (l to r) are: Mayor Bill Jenks; Brian Clifton, Hillcrest Pharmacy; George Moran, Rolla Manor Care; Larry Jackson, Rolla Manor Care; and Rolla Police Chief Mark Kearse. Not pictured is Patti Hallum).
The four individuals who received the prestigious Civil Service Award included Larry Jackson, Certified Nursing Aid, Rolla Manor Care; George Moran, C.N.A., Rolla Manor Care; Brian Clifton and Patti Hallum, both employees of Hillcrest Pharmacy.
“The quick, courageous and selfless actions of these four individuals brought about the successful apprehension of both robbery suspects,” said Chief Kearse during the recognition ceremony held in the conference room at the Rolla Police Department. “If it were not for your quick thinking and fearless actions, the identity of the suspects may never have been discovered.”
Any civilian whose assistance to the Rolla Police Department, given without regard to personal welfare, having a positive bearing on the outcome of an incident, and contributing to the furtherance of law enforcement in the community, is deserving of special honor.
“The Rolla Police Department needs to have community support to be able to do our jobs to the fullest extend possible, said Chief Kearse. “And I wish to extend to all of you our sincere thanks for your assistance in helping restrain the suspects until officers arrived.”
Rolla’s Wellness Program reduces absenteeism, lowers health costs
At a time when health care insurance costs are escalating nationwide, the City of Rolla’s formula for proactive health and wellness has paid big dividends to not only City employees, but the residents of Rolla as well.
Improving employee wellness, and saving dollars for taxpayers, however isn’t the only bright spot in this City’s approach to finding innovative ways to overcome escalating health care costs. The City’s wellness program, now in its third year, also is paying off in a reduction of absenteeism and lower health care costs, said City Finance Director Steffanie Rogers, who is a member of the City’s Health Insurance Committee. The City’s absenteeism for 2008, which was 12,339 hours, dropped significantly to 11,513 hours in 2009.
As a direct result of the new wellness program, Rolla city employees have not had a health insurance premium increase for three years, and health care costs actually went down in 2009. In 2008, the City spent $2.2 million on preventable disease treatment and that number dropped in 2009 to $1.9 million.
“The City’s health care costs have remained relatively stable in comparison to the national average, which experiences a 7 to 18 percent annual increase, said Rogers. “The City’s savings will more than pay for the newly implemented $50,000 employee wellness program recently approved by the Rolla City Council in May 2010. And better yet, the cost of the program will not be put on the backs of the residents of Rolla, but will be funded by a reserve account in the City’s self-insurance fund.”
While some City’s may be considering ways to increase employee premiums to address the rising cost of health care to their employees, the City of Rolla is offering monetary incentives ($5 per pay period) to employees to participate in annual health-risk assessments with additional incentives to improve their scores. There is also a new incentive offered for fitness center membership reimbursement (capped at $150), and weekly comp. time (up to 1 hr.) for documented physical activity.
Additional enhancements to the 2010 wellness program include a voluntary fitness assessment with a trained fitness instructor (timed running, push-ups, sit-ups and stretching), which will offer employees an opportunity to participate in the physical fitness weekly comp. time option. Other incentives include a monthly wellness newsletter, a stress management program with the local hospital (Phelps County Regional Medical Center) as a partner, which will include stress management workshops, and chair massages once a quarter at the luncheons, and an in-house Weight Watchers program. Since the City is self-insured, tracking participation, PT time earned, and the overall success of the program is easy.
The overall goals of the wellness program – reduction in absenteeism, a reduction in preventable disease health insurance claims, increased awareness of healthy lifestyle choices and support of employees making healthy lifestyle choices – are being met and are paying off, Rogers said.
To reinforce the City’s focus on health and fitness, the City’s Employee Advisory Council (EAC) is hosting the first annual Employee and Family SplashZone Night at the City’s outdoor water park where employees and family members are invited to spend the evening swimming, riding the water slides and enjoying a free bbq dinner provided by a local vendor in the community.
“Wellness is something the City is trying to emphasize as a way of life not only at the workplace, but also at home, and during leisure activities,” said City Administrator John Butz. “We would really like to establish the City’s wellness program as a model for other cities across Missouri and the nation who are seeking ways to reverse sky-rocketing health care premiums, absenteeism and overall employee wellness.”
Fun Show at Veterans Memorial Park big success
Blue skies provided the perfect backdrop for the Veterans Memorial Park Fun Show held Saturday, July 10 at Veterans Memorial Park in Rolla. Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks, III, who was one of the judges at the car show, visits with Bob May, former Missouri State Representative, (District 149) and Anne McClay, Engineering Coordinator, City of Rolla.
There were 48 entries for the first annual Fun Show held at Veterans Memorial Park (located on Southview Drive, off Hwy. 72 behind Casey's). Classic, vintage and show-quality vehicles from the early 1900s were on display for the public to view. The event was planned and hosted by members of the South Central Regional Veterans Group (SCRVG).
Visitors to the Fun Show on July 10 at Veterans Memorial Park purchased commemorative Veterans Memorial Park T-shirts ($15) and Memorial Bricks ($50) that will be displayed at the new Armed Forces Pentagon, which will be constructed over the summer at Veterans Memorial Park. If you are interested in purchasing either a T-shirt or Memorial Brick, please contact Anne McClay, Engineering Coordinator, City of Rolla, at 426-6955 or e-mail Anne at amcclay@rollacity.org. Anne's office is located in the Public Works Department on the fourth floor of Rolla City Hall, 901 N. Elm Street.
Jim Larson, a well known Rolla builder and lover of classic car shows, was the master of ceremonies and official DJ spinning DVDs with classic 50s, 60s and 70s music at the Fun Show held at Veterans Memorial Park on July 10, 2010. A special thanks goes to Jim, who provided great tunes and entertainment throughout the event.
To learn more about Phase II of Veterans Memorial Park, please visit the SCRVG Website at http://www.scrvg.org.
Rolla recognized by EPA for energy savings and Pollution Reduction Plans
(Kansas City, Kan., July 9, 2010) – EPA Region 7 recognized the City of Rolla, Mo., for developing energy savings and pollution reduction plans.
Rolla has developed an energy management plan to manage current and future costs associated with energy use. Rolla’s plan will reduce energy consumption by an estimated 1,716,500 kilowatt hours through the installation of additional energy-efficient pumps at its wastewater plant and energy-efficiency improvements. An additional benefit is a reduction of approximately four million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions due to less coal being burned at regional power plants to supply electricity for city utilities.
“Rising energy costs are a major challenge to city utilities,” EPA Regional Administrator Karl Brooks said. “We are working with Missouri communities to reduce energy use at drinking water and wastewater treatment plants.”
EPA Region 7 developed an Energy Management Initiative for Water and Wastewater Utilities for the Missouri communities of Branson, Columbia, Harrisonville, Joplin, Neosho, O’Fallon, Rolla and St. Peters. These eight communities have demonstrated that water utilities can reduce energy use and save money through careful assessment, good planning and wise investment.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri University of Science & Technology’s Institute of Environmental Excellence and Siemens Industry, Inc., are partners in the program.
For more information, please contact Kris Lancaster, at 913-551-7557, lancaster.kris@epa.gov. To learn more about energy management, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region07/water/si.htm.
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News, Events & Activities
New rain garden part of City's stormwater management system
A prototype rain garden, complete with plants, trees, shrubs and rocks, is part of the City of Rolla’s stormwater management system included with the newly paved 100-space public parking lot constructed by the City’s Public Works Department in Rolla’s new Arts and Entertainment District (located at the corner of 5th and Cedar Streets).
(The newly paved 100-space 10-hour public parking lot constructed by the City’s Street Department in Rolla’s new Arts and Entertainment District at the corner of 5th and Cedar Streets, features a new experimental prototype rain garden that will be used as a stromwater management retention and filtration system.)
“The serpentine sidewalk and landscaped rain garden not only adds to the aesthetic appearance of the public parking lot, but also serves as a stormwater retention system that will collect all the stormwater and pollutants that drain in and around the new parking lot,” said Steve Hargis, the City’s Director of Public Works.
The stormwater run-off that is trapped at the rain garden will be absorbed by the soils and plants, preventing the runoff from traveling further into streams and creeks, and ultimately the City’s stormwater sewer system.
Hargis said the rain garden is part of the City’s stormwater permitting requirement with the Department of Natural Resources, and that it should greatly reduce the amount of run-off and pollutants that would have otherwise been carried downstream. A large four-foot-deep by 25-foot-wide filtration strip that runs the length of the parking lot will provide the retention area for the runoff. The filtration strip is filled with engineered media (a combination of top soil, organic material and sand), which will also help filter the water as it is absorbed into the rai
n garden.
(Members of the City’s Traffic Division lay down a chalk line as they continue to stripe the newly paved 100-space public parking lot located at the corner of 5th and Cedar Streets. Pictured front to back are: Gene Stroup, Gary Drew and Kyle Pinkston.)
“Using state-of-the-art stormwater management practices such as the rain garden and filtration strip should help reduce stormwater runoff, and help preserve and protect our City’s creeks and streams,” said Hargis. “This methodology, which is required as part of the City of Rolla’s stormwater management permit with the Department of Natural Resources, is a demonstration project that showcases the kind of filtration technique used in other communities throughout the country in managing stormwater.
Did Your Household Get Counted in the U.S. Census?...It’s Not Too Late
Census Bureau Telephone Lines Still Open...
It’s not too late to make sure you’ve been counted in the 2010 Census. The Census Bureau’s Telephone Questionnaire Assistance line will remain open until July 10, 2010. Anyone who has not received a form or a visit from a Census enumerator should call 866-872-6868. For Spanish-language operators, call 866-928-2010.
At its final meeting on Monday, the Missouri Statewide Complete Count Committee wrapped up its efforts and planned a final push for getting Missourians counted. “For the past few months, we’ve communicated with all residents about how important, easy and safe it is to get counted,” said Kelvin Simmons, Commissioner of the Office of Administration. Simmons chairs the statewide committee, which was charged with promoting participation in the census. “We’ve used traditional and new media to reach as many people as possible with our message. There are still a few weeks to make sure every single person in Missouri is counted and we need that to happen.”
Funding and representation make this count crucial to the state. Missouri will keep or lose its ninth Congressional seat by a very narrow margin. Losing that seat means less representation for the state at the federal level. Additionally, estimates are that the state receives up to $1,300 for every person included in the count. Those dollars go for services such as road and other infrastructure maintenance and repair as well as schools, support for senior citizens and many other items that residents use every day.
Gov. Jay Nixon established the committee by executive order in 2009. The committee’s slogan for the state, “Everybody Counts. Get Counted” communicates how important every resident is in this process.
“It’s imperative that every person in Missouri get counted. That’s how we will keep our Congressional seat. Check on your family, friends and neighbors and make sure they were counted, too,” says Simmons. “If you know someone who hasn’t been counted, get them to call the toll-free number and make a difference. This is vital to our future.”
Pre-School students serve free lemonade to City's Street Crew while constructing new public parking lot for Rolla's Arts and Entertainment District
Pre-School students attending All God’s Children Church in Rolla graciously served lemonade and homemade cookies to members of the City’s Street and Concrete Crews on Thursday, June 17 as the crews were hard at work constructing a public parking lot for Rolla’s new Arts and Entertainment District at the corner of 5th and Cedar Streets.
The children, age 3-5 years-old, baked the cookies and made the lemonade from fresh squeezed lemons that morning in class. Temperatures were in the mid-90s, and the cold lemonade and homemade cookies were much appreciated by the City crews. (Pictured with Bill Cochran, Construction Foreman in the City of Rolla’s Public Works Department, (far right) are Pre-School teachers Sheri Green, (far left), and Christan Salts, (upper right). Also pictured standing behind the students (l to r), are members of the City’s Street Department: Brent Turner, Danny Gorman, Jay Bahr, Kevin Orf, Jeff Grisham, and Chris Palmer).
When the parking lot is finished it will accommodate 99 parking places that will be free for the general public to use seven days a week. The City would like to express a special thanks to the pre-school students and teachers at All God’s Children for their kindness and thoughtfulness.
Candidates Forum hosted by RACC July 20 at Phelps County Courthouse - Mutipurpose Room
The Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Candidates Forum on July 20 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Phelps County Courthouse Multipurpose Room for the following races:
State Representative –District 147
State Representative – District 149
State Representative – District 150
Circuit Judge – Circuit 25 Division 2
Associate Circuit Judge – Division 1 and Probate
Associate Circuit Judge – Division 2
Presiding Commissioner of the County Commission
Clerk of the Circuit Court
County Clerk
Recorder of Deeds
County Treasurer
Prosecuting Attorney
Collector of Revenue
We are accepting pre-submitted questions for the candidates to address during this forum. If you have a question that you would like one of the candidates to address during the event, please submit it to the RACC no later than noon, July 14. Questions must be submitted by email to rollacc@rollachamber.org or fax 573-364-5222.
Photos of water quality of stream running next to City's Southeast Treatment Plant (taken June 3, 2010)
Pictured below are photos taken on June 3, 2010 of the stream that runs next to the City's Southeast Treatment Plant located just off Hwy. 72 South. The purpose of posting the photos is to show the public the water quality of the stream.
Bulldog Pride Night set for Aug. 27
The Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 2nd Annual Bulldog Pride Night on Friday, Aug. 27 prior to the first home football game for Rolla High School. This event will start at 6 p.m. and continue until game time. There will be free hotdogs, soda, megaphones, and fall sports schedule posters. The band, cheerleaders, and football players will all make an appearance so plan to join the community to support our Bulldogs and show your pride! Football game starts at 7 p.m., cost $4.
$50 and $100 sponsorships are available and are a great way to show your support of our Rolla Bulldogs. $50 sponsors will receive two tickets to that night’s game and their name listed on the sports schedule poster. $100 sponsors receive a season pass to football games and their logo on the sports schedule poster.
For more information, please call Jessica at the Chamber at 573.364.3577.
Law Enforcement Torch Run fitting tribute to Special Olympians
As many of us were making plans for the Memorial Day weekend, area law enforcement officers were braving scorching temperatures while runnin
g the 18-mile-long 25th Annual Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run on Tuesday, May 25.
(Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks, left, helps kick-off the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run May 25 in the Wal-Mart Supercenter Parking Lot along with event organizer, SSgt. Rick Williams, (center), and Lt. Doug James with the Rolla Police Department. The runners ran a total of 18 miles along I-44 the J Highway).
This year the torch run began with a heat index of 92 degrees at the Rolla Wal-Mart Supercenter where runners from the Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop I; South Central Corrections Center at Licking, and the Rolla Police Department carried the ceremonial torch as a tribute to Special Olympians north along U.S. 63 to Kingshighway, then west on Kingshighway to Interstate 44. The runners then pounded the pavement for 18 grueling miles along I-44 to the Highway J exit on I-44 just past the town of Jerome, Missouri. The procession was escorted by Missouri Highway Patrol – Troop I and Rolla Police Department motor units and squad cars for safety. The Rolla Fire and Rescue Department provided the Mobile Command Post as a support unit to assist the runners. The torch was relayed to the Opening Ceremonies for the State Summer Games held May 26-28 in Springfield, Mo.
(Members of various law enforcement agencies, right, gather in front of the City of Rolla’s Mobile Command Post in the Rolla Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot before beginning the 18-mile-long Special Olympics Law Enforcement Run).
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® (L.E.T.R.) began 25 years ago, and today is held in 50 states and 35 countries around the world. The event raises $22 million annually and recruits more than 15,000 law enforcement officers from all over the world. The Rolla Police Department began participating in the LETR in 1993 and has been a member of the Law Enforcement Torch Club each year since then. The Torch Club is comprised of law enforcement agencies that raise at least $1,000 each year for the Special Olympic athletes.
(Runners, left, pound the pavement on I-44 in 92 degree temperatures while running in the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Run May 25 from Rolla to the Hwy. J exit just past Jerome, Missouri).
Through the coordination of Staff Sergeant Rick Williams, the Rolla Police Department holds several Law Enforcement Torch Run events throughout the year to benefit Special Olympics athletes including the Torch Run, Trivia Night, Polar Plunge, Rt. 66 Motorcycle Classic, 
Battle of the Badges Softball Tournament, and T-shirt sales.
(Corporal Adam Meyer, right, with the RPD, carries the ceremonial Special Olympics torch along I-44 during the 18-mile-long Special Olympics Law Enforcement Run held May 25).
For more information or to order a Special Olympics T-shirt, please contact SSgt. Rick Williams at the Rolla Police Department at 308-1213.
295 tons of recyclables results in $56,200 benefit to City in April
As the importance and popularity of recycling has increased over the years in the Rolla area, so has the number of tons of recyclables that are being shipped out every month by the City’s Environmental Services Department. And if you recycle, you will be glad to know that you are actually helping to benefit the community not only from an environmental aspect, but also from a financial one.
During the month of April, 2010, the City’s Sanitation Division collected and hauled a total of 1,341 tons of refuse, which represents approximately 191 fully loaded garbage trucks. The cost to dispose of this amount of refuse is $53,000. The Recycling Division also shipped 295 tons of recyclables during the month of April. This is approximately equivalent to 42 fully loaded garbage trucks. The disposal cost avoided by recycling this volume is approximately $11,700. The revenue received from the sale of these recyclable commodities was $44,500, for a total economic benefit of $56,200 for the month of April.
In other recycling related news, 422 people have recently toured the Rolla Recycling Center located at 2141 Old St. James Road. These tour groups primarily consisted of school-aged children in groups of 20-30.The City’s recycling mascot “Polly Plastic” also made her debut at the Rolla Earth Day Celebration on April 22 outside of the Havener Center on the Missouri S&T campus. Polly will be attending other public events, so be sure to say hello to her, and keep on recycling. It really does make a difference!
Solid Waste Fact: Each year, 280 million tires are “retired” or disposed of, in the U.S. Improperly discarded tires can pose a health threat as they hold water and serve as ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Rolla Recycling Center accepting Electronic Waste year-round
Throwing your broken or outdated electronics in the landfill is no longer necessary. The City of Rolla Recycling Center, located at 2141 Old St. James Road, collects electronic waste all year long and encourages you to bring your e-waste to them.
Some of the items they accept include microwaves, televisions, VCRs, tapes, DVDs, CDs, copiers, fax machines, power tools, keyboards, monitors, cables, speakers, paper shredders, solar lights, blenders, and much, much more.
So before you throw e-waste away to be buried in a landfill, please consider calling the Rolla Recycling Center at 364-6693. There is a very good chance that it can be recycled free of charge.
Area business and citizens give generously to Rolla Animal Shelter
The Rolla Police Department and Rolla Animal Control would like to thank the Wal-Mart Distribution Center in St. James for their generous donation of 1,440 pounds of dog food to the Rolla Animal Shelter located at 1915 Sharp Road.
(Pictured left: The Rolla Animal Control staff holds up a fraction of the 1,440 pounds of dog food recently donated to the Rolla Animal Shelter by the Wal-Mart Distribution Center in St. James. Pictured (l to r) are: John Redshaw, Animal Control Officer; Roy Taylor, Animal Control Officer and Inge Wilson, Animal Control Manager.)
“This substantial donation of dog food is very much appreciated,” said Inge Wilson, Animal Control Manager at the Rolla Animal Shelter. “Having the additional 1,440 pounds of dog food will help sustain our animals for moths to come.”
The donation couldn’t have come at a better time, as the staff at Rolla Animal Control recently acquired a new dog food storage shed where the donated dog food is being stored. The storage shed was purchased through generous donations from citizens who wanted to make a contribution to the Rolla Animal Shelter in memory of the late Don Sands and the late Margo Brown. The shed was maneuvered into place by members of the City’s Street Department.
The Rolla Animal Control staff also recently invested their time and talent to make interior improvements to the offices and public spaces at the Shelter that will improve customer service, work flow, and overall efficiency.
“In addition to expressing our appreciation to the Street Department, we would also like to thank Triad’s Office City for their generous donation of office partitions, and Hunter Trucking Company of Rolla for their generous donation of paint for all the offices,” said Inge Wilson.
As part of the shelters educational outreach programs, Roy Taylor, Animal Control Officer, conducted a Dog Bite Prevention Program on May 12 for approximately 150 children at St. James Elementary School.
Downtown Farmer's Market open every Tuesday (7 a.m. - 12-noon)
The Rolla Downtown Farmer’s Market will open from 7 a.m. until 12-noon on Tuesdays, beginning May 18 in the downtown festival lot next to City Hall at the corner of 9th and Oak Streets. Vendors will be set up in the lower festival lot at City Hall.
Visitors can choose among an assortment of fruits and vegitables, home-made baked goods, and other one-of-a-kind items that make the Farmer's Market a must see destination in Rolla on Tuesday mornings.
For additional information, please contact the Parks & Recreation Department at (573) 341-2386.
Storm Drain Stenciling Project to help protect City’s water quality
Did you know the water that flows down our streets and driveways and into storm drains isn’t treated, cleaned or filtered before flowing into our local waterways? If you didn’t know this, you’re not alone; realizing this critical stormwater connection is the first step towards improving and protecting water quality.
(Pictured left: Members of Venture Crew 84, a co-ed group ranging in age from 14-20 with Boy Scouts of America, help to spread the message “Dump No Waste, Drains to Stream” by stenciling the message next to storm drains in Rolla’s downtown business district).
On Saturday, May 8 members of Venture Crew 84, a co-ed group ranging in age from 14-20 with Boys Scouts of America, helped to spread the word by labeling numerous storm drains in the downtown business district with the message “Dump No Waste, Drains To Stream.” The project was co-sponsored by the Missouri Stream Team Program, the City of Rolla Public Works Department, and Healthy Yards for Clear Streams.
(Pictured right: “Dump No Waste, Drains to Stream” is stenciled next to storm drains in Rolla’s Downtown Business District to bring awareness to citizens of the importance of not disposing pollutants in storm drains. Wastes can seriously damage our community’s water quality and our environment.)
You may see this message, “Dump No Waste, Drains to Stream” on storm drains around your neighborhood as well in the weeks and months to come. The message will serve as a reminder of the connection we have to our local rivers and streams and that storm drains should never be used to dispose of wastes.
Materials such as motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides and litter that make their way into our streams are called “nonpoint source pollutants.” These wastes can seriously damage our community’s water quality and our environment. To make things worse, some people intentionally dispose of waste, including yard waste, by pouring or sweeping it into nearby storm drains. Improper disposal is coupled with the fact that each time it rains, water runoff carries litter, yard debris, pet wastes and other pollutants into storm drains and this can mean problems for our waterways. In many areas, the same waters receiving runoff are supplies for drinking water.
(Pictured left: Members of Venture Crew 84 stencil the message “Dump No Waste, Drains to Streams” next to the storm drain located on 9th Street in front of the Downtown Bandshell).
Storm drain stenciling is an activity of the Missouri Stream Team Program. For more information or to get involved, please visit www.mostreamteam.org, or call 800-781-1989.
Celebrations of Nations set for Oct. 9
Click here to sign up for International Idol auditions and Parade of Nation entries
Area residents and university students will have an opportunity to gather together to celebrate the vibrant cultural diversity that makes Rolla unique to the Missouri Ozarks. Rolla’s inaugural Celebration of Nations event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 9. The event was created to promote awareness, understanding and the celebration of the ways cultural diversity enriches Rolla, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and the world.
A Parade of Nations will kick off the event at 11 a.m. on Oct. 9. The parade will begin at the University’s Havener Center, (located on the Missouri S&T campus), travel through the downtown area, and end at the downtown bandshell (located in the City’s Downtown Festival Park on the corner of 9th and Oak Streets).
Colorful flags representing all the countries of origin of the residents of this region will be carried in the parade. Community groups, marching bands and area school children are invited to participate. Following the parade, there will be festivities featuring international arts, crafts and food.
There will also be an International Idol talent competition. The competition is open to all, but contestants must preregister. All parade entries and festival participants must be traditional representations of culture. For more information about the International Idol competition, or to participate in the Celebration of Nations, please contact Erin Hood at hodel@mst.edu. For more information about the event, please contact menands@mst.edu or birdie@mst.edu.
Sponsors of the event include the City of Rolla; Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center; Missouri S&T’s student chapter of Engineers Without Borders; and Missouri S&T’s economics department, international affairs’ office, leadership and cultural programs, provost’s office and student life department.
City of Rolla participates in 9th Annual Rolla Earth Day celebration
(Pictured left: Polly Plastic, (short for polyethylene), a seven-foot tall plastic bottle, is the newly minted mascot for the City of Rolla’s Environmental Services Department, who made her debut at the 9th Annual Rolla Earth Day Celebration held April 22 outside of the Havener Center on the Missouri S&T campus. Joining Polly is Brady Wilson, the Director of Environmental Services. Spreading her message of recycling, Polly will make appearances during school tours at the Rolla Recycling Center, at area parades and other community events and festivals).
(Pictured right: 
Lise Swift, Administrative Assistant in the City’s Environmental Services Department, (far right), visits with Salem resident Jasmine Conway and her children during Rolla Earth Day. Lise hosted an educational booth for the Rolla Recycling Center where she works. This year’s theme for Earth Day was “Be Green, Keep Our Planet Clean.”)
(Pictured left: Steve Hargis, the City’s Director of Public Works, co-hosted a “Striving For Sustainability” Energy Education booth with Greg Modlish, Siemens Industry, Inc., at the Rolla Earth Day Celebration on April 22. Siemens, which recently conducted an extensive energy audit for the City of Rolla that includes several City facilities, is proposing an energy saving program to the Rolla City Council that is projected to save nearly 25% on the City’s baseline energy use. A sign on the booth declared that “The greenest Kilowatt hour is the one you never use.”)
(Pictured right: Hundreds of students attended the 9th Annual Rolla Earth Day Celebration held on April 22 outside of the Havener Center on the Missouri S&T Campus. The theme of this year’s Earth Day Celebration was “Be Green, Keep our Planet Clean.” Many of the activities were geared specifically for children age preschool – 5th grade. Older children benefited from the many exhibits, tours and entertainment as well.)
Royal Canin donates 1,266 pounds of dog food to Rolla Animal Shelter
The Rolla Police Department and Rolla Animal Control would like to thank Royal Canin USA for their generous and never wavering support of Rolla's homeless animals.
This week Royal Canin USA donated 1,266 lbs of dog food to the Rolla Animal Shelter located at 1915 Sharp Road. Again and again Royal Canin USA steps up to feed hundreds of unwanted cats and dogs in our area. Not only do they support the Rolla Animal Shelter, but they are also supporting our local Pet Food Pantry.
Every year Royal Canin USA donates thousands of pounds of dog and cat food to our Shelter; without their support we would not be able to take such excellent care of our homeless animals. When we were worried about what effect the declining economy would have on animal owners on fixed incomes, Royal Canin stepped up and offered to support our local Pet Food Pantry.
The need in our area has risen drastically over the last year and Royal Canin USA now donates one ton of dog food and 800 pounds of cat food once a month to the areas unemployed, disabled, retired and single parents. We cannot thank Royal Canin USA enough for all they do and have done over the past years for the animals in this area.
Rolla hosts DREAM Kick-Off meeting April 22 at Rolla City Hall
The Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri (DREAM) Initiative was the principal topic at the DREAM Kick-Off meeting on Thursday, April 22. The meeting was held from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Rolla City Hall - Council Chambers, located at 901 North Elm Street in Downtown Rolla.
The Keynote speaker was Russ Volmert of PGAV, Inc., the planning firm under contract with the Missouri Development Finance Board to provide the DREAM planning components. Representatives from the Missouri Development Finance Board, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, and The Missouri Housing Development Commission will also be in attendance.
The DREAM Kick-Off meeting is an event open to the public, which will introduce the project goals to the local community. Comments from the public regarding the project are encouraged and welcome.
The DREAM initiative is intended to help small and mid-sized Missouri community’s access existing state programs that help with downtown revitalization and job creation efforts. The DREAM Initiative allows communities to more efficiently and effectively engage in downtown redevelopment, and revitalization, and attract new private investment opportunities to the heart of their communities.
For more information about efforts to improve opportunities for Missouri communities, please visit the DREAM Initiative Website at www.modream.org.
For additional information about the Rolla DREAM program, contact the City of Rolla’s Community Development Director, John Petersen, AICP, CEcD, PCED, at (573) 426-6970 or at jpetersen@rollacity.org.
Please mail in 2010 U.S. Census form at earliest convenience
Throughout the month of March we have a chance to make sure that our community gets its fair share of resources for the next 10 years. How?
By filling out your 2010 census form and mailing it in. The information collected helps ensure that we get the resources that we need and deserve.
Census data is used to determine everything from road improvements and funding for schools to new businesses moving into the area.
This time around the census form is shorter, just 10 short questions, and your private information is kept just that – private for 72 years.
Our community has a lot riding on this and it’s up to each of us to do our part so please fill out your 2010 census form and drop it in the mail at your earliest convenience.
Environmental Services Dept. resumes Curbside collection of yard waste
The City of Rolla Environmental Services Department resumed the curbside collection of yard waste in brown paper biodegradable bags on Monday, March 8.
Yard waste bags (containing leaves, grass clippings and small sticks) should be out to the curb by 6 a.m. on your regular trash collection day.
For more information, please contact the Environmental Services office at 364-6693 or visit the City of Rolla Website at www.rollacity.org/waste.
City's Household Hazardous Waste program temporarily suspended
The City of Rolla Environmental Services Department would like to inform the community that the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) disposal program is temporarily suspended while there is a transition between service contractors.
In the interim period, appointments are not being scheduled and HHW materials cannot be accepted at the Recycling Center until further notice. However, during regular operating hours, the Recycling Center will still be accepting rechargeable batteries, lead-acid batteries, and electronic waste.
For more information, please call 364-6693.
Community leaders attend Scope of Services meeting for D.R.E.A.M Initiative in Jeff City
Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks, III, pictured center, reviews the D.R.E.A.M. (Downtown Revitalization Economic Assistance Missouri) Initiative Scope of Services during a meeting for the City of Rolla at the Office of Missouri Development Finance Board in Jefferson City on Friday, Jan. 29. Also pictured (l to r) are: Bob Donnelly, Business Development Manager, Missouri Department of Economic Development; Lonna Sowers, President, Rolla Downtown Business Association; Andy Papen, Compliance Manager, Missouri Department of Economic Development; Rolla’s Director of Community Development John Petersen; Rolla City Administrator John Butz; Stevie Kearse, Executive Director, Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce; Kimberly Martin, Community Development Program Manager, Missouri Development Finance Board, Bill Marshall, Chief Executive Officer, Phelps County Bank and Russell Volmert, Associate Director of Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc.
The City of Rolla is one of five Missouri communities who were selected for the D.R.E.A.M. Initiative, which is a program designated to help communities to more efficiently and effectively engage in downtown redevelopment and revitalization efforts. Another benefit of being selected as a DREAM Community is that Rolla will become an active member of the DREAM Initiative for three-years and will gain prioritized access to state supported programs through ongoing cooperation among several unique agencies and funding sources.
These programs include technical and financial assistance for infrastructure improvements, historic preservation, affordable housing, community services, business development and job creation. (Scott Grahl/City of Rolla photo)
Ashley Flores Missing Child Hoax
Initial reports in the media and on the Internet of the missing 13-year-old Philadelphia girl named Ashley Flores have proven to be nothing more than a very bad hoax, according to numerous law enforcement agencies and credible news outlets.
Despite conclusive evidence that the original missing person report and Amber Alert regarding Ashley Flores was a hoax concocted by a kid's prank, the Rolla Police Department still receives hundreds of calls every day regarding her status.
A variety of searches through law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigations, New Jersey State Police and Philadelphia Police, and numerous missing child websites such as The Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), confirms there has never been an official report of a missing girl named Ashley Flores.
The Rolla Police Department is trying to spread the word that although Ashley Flores may exist, reports of her disappearance were an unfortunate internet hoax. Pranks such as these are not only illegal, but also hamper and interfere with communications and law enforcement operations.
For more information, please go here or call Lt. Doug James at 573-308-1213
