City Talk - Shopping local message echoed by many in area

On behalf of the Rolla City Council and Rolla City employees, I hope you had a memorable Christmas, and will be blessed by the peace and serenity that manifests itself during the holidays.

Throughout the last several months several members of the community, including well-known merchants, business owners and community leaders have been repeating the “Shop Local” mantra that is being heard daily on the national news, and communities and cities all across America. If the busy parking lots in shopping centers, strip malls and throughout town are any indication of the success of this often repeated message, it may very well be that many of us have once again done a significant portion of our holiday shopping here in Rolla and Phelps County. The convenience and ease of staying in town makes it all the more appealing when it’s 5 degrees below zero, and it’s difficult to tell when the next ice or snow storm is going to make its impact on our roads and highways. The Rolla and Phelps County area have much to offer, and I’d like to continue encouraging everyone to patronize first the merchants, businesses, restaurants and hotels in our area. I’d also like to extend my thanks and appreciation to all the individuals and groups who have so vigorously spread the “Shop Local” tag line. It seems to be working!

If you happen to be visiting the Rolla area this weekend, and have been away for the last several months you have probably notice that the intersection of Highway 72 and State Route 63 at Ridgeview Road looks a little different than it did this time last year. While some of the establishments located at Bishop Commons on the corner of Bishop Avenue (State Road 63) have been open for a couple of months, the new flagship Walgreens store adjacent to Bishop Commons at Ridgeview Road and State Road 63 is nearing completion. These additions to this strategic and highly traveled intersection have been a long time in coming, but demonstrate the retail strength and vitality of our community.

In closing, I’d like to remind everyone that Rolla City Hall, located at 901 N. Elm Street, will be closed on New Year’s Day, Thursday, Jan. 1. The Solid Waste Department will be picking up Thursday’s trash on Wednesday. For more information regarding the City of Rolla holiday trash pick-up schedule, please call 364-6693.

The Centre, Rolla’s Health and Recreation Complex, located at 1200 North Holloway Street, will be open on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on New Year’s Day, Thursday. Regular operating hours at The Centre resume on Friday, Jan. 2. The week of Jan. 4 through Jan. 9 is “Free Class Preview Week” at The Centre, which means all group fitness classes are free for anyone interested in participating. For more information, please call The Centre at 341-2FUN (2386).

Another important communication tool the City of Rolla is making available to the residents of our community is a BLOG that is linked on the City’s homepage at http://rollacity.blogspot.com. The City is now posting my weekly City Talk column and Police Chief Mark Kearse’s City Chat column on the City’s BLOG at http://rollacity.blogspot.com. We welcome your comments, input and feedback.

Wishing you and your families, friends and neighbors a happy and prosperous New Year!

Rolla Channel 6 captures holiday happenings in Rolla

Without trying to sound too much like a cliché, I think you’ll agree that it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Rolla, Missouri. My sincere thanks goes out to all of the Rolla businesses and agencies such as Fidelity Cablevision, Rolla Municipal Utilities (RMU), and the City of Rolla’s Public Works Department who light up our downtown area and help us get into the spirit of the holidays.

Fidelity puts up all the lighted stars along Hwy. 72 and Hwy. 63 South, RMU puts them up along 10th Street and the downtown business district, and the City’s Public Works Department puts up the stars along Hwy. 63 North from Blockbuster Video to Interstate 44. The Public Works Department and Traffic Division also creates and displays all the holiday banners in the downtown business district, puts up wreaths and lights at City Hall (901 North Elm Street), and of course, displays and decorates the 20-foot-tall Christmas Tree in the City’s Downtown Festival Park.

Many events held last weekend helped kick off the holidays, and if you didn’t have a chance to attend the Rolla Christmas Parade hosted by the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce last Saturday in downtown Rolla or the Christmas Band Concert (8th-12th grades) at Rolla High School last Thursday, you can see these events in their entirety on Rolla Channel 6 (RC6) throughout the holidays.

Both of these events, which were produced by Gabe Mankin, RC6 Video Production Manager and his two video production assistants, Kile Crews and Daniel Galarza, who attend Rolla Junior High School, are examples of the many community events and educational programs that are being produced and aired on Rolla Channel 6. If you would like to receive a DVD copy of either of these events, RHS sporting events, Rolla City Council, Planning and Zoning and RPS board meetings, you can order them through Rolla Channel 6. To place your order, simply call Gabe Mankin, RC6 Video Production Manager, at (573) 426-3377. You may also place your order in person anytime Monday through Friday during normal business hours at the Rolla Channel 6 offices located at Fidelity Cablevision at 1304 Highway 72 East.

In addition to the above mentioned events, RC6 will also be airing other holiday happenings in the days to come, including a holiday greeting from the City of Rolla and Rolla Public Schools. Public service announcements showcasing The Centre, Rolla’s 63,000-square-foot Health and Recreation Complex and the Rolla Recycling Center located at 2141 Old St. James Road, and the first episode of “City Minutes” will also be airing on RC6 throughout the holidays. So be sure to tune into RC6 – Rolla’s premiere Education, Government and Community channel.

RC6 is a jointly funded education and government cable channel provided by the City of Rolla, Rolla Public Schools, and Fidelity Cablevision. The mission of RC6 is to enhance the City of Rolla’s and Rolla Public Schools’ public information and communication systems, involve the community in local government and Rolla Public School decision-making, and provide useful information to the public.

City Talk - Holiday season kicks off with Rolla Christmas parade

If you haven’t made plans yet for this morning, be sure to put the Rolla Christmas Parade on your schedule for 10 a.m., (Saturday, Dec. 6) on Pine Street in downtown Rolla. In many ways it seems that after the Thanksgiving Day holiday, the Rolla Christmas Parade officially kicks off the holidays for many residents in the Rolla community.

Coordinated by the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce, the Rolla Christmas Parade is in its 38th year, and promises to be one of the best parades ever. If you want to watch the parade again after seeing it live on Pine Street be sure to tune into Rolla Channel 6 (RC6), which will be filming the parade in its entirety.

After the parade you will also want to attend the 14th Annual Christmas at the Historic Old Courthouse located at Third and Rolla Streets across from the Dillon Log Cabin. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with historic tours of the 1860 Courthouse and 1838 Dillon Log Cabin Museum, Christmas gifts, and live entertainment in the Municipal Court Room on the second floor of the Old Courthouse. Families are also encouraged to visit and have your pictures taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus and visit the Kid’s Corner to make paper ornaments. Free holiday refreshments will also be available for everyone to enjoy.

The entertainment begins at 11:30 a.m. with “Sometimes Tuesday” Mountain Dulcimer Group followed by the Mark Twain 4th Grade Steamboat Choir at 12-noon and Rolla Community Children’s Choir at 12:30 p.m., Rolla Jr. High Choir at 1 p.m. and Rolla Sr. High Choir at 1:30 p.m. There will also be an antique clothing display and historic military display open to the public in the Old Courthouse.

While you are at the parade stop by the Bandshell in the City’s Downtown Festival Park off 9th Street where members of the City’s Public Works Department recently set up and decorated a 20-foot-tall Christmas Tree. Rolla City Hall is also decorated with lights, wreaths and a large Christmas tree in the lobby, all thanks to our Public Works and Administration Departments. The Frisco Caboose will be decorated and lighted for the holidays as well, which is only fitting when you consider that our town’s history and development was due in large part to the railroad.

Beginning next Friday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. through Dec. 21 be sure to attend the Christmas in the Park dazzling light display in Lions Club Park located on Hwy. 63 South across from G & D Steakhouse. The event is free, but donations are welcomed. Christmas in the Park will be open 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday. For more information regarding this fun event, please call Rolla Lioness Club member Jaci Huebner at 578-9090.

There are of course numerous other holiday events, festivities and gatherings planned throughout the month of December, but I thought I would just hit some of the highlights you don’t want to miss. For a comprehensive listing of events and happenings, please visit the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org/events, and tune into the community calendar on Rolla Channel 6.

City Talk - City unanimously supports Tour of Missouri bid in 2009

It seems like just yesterday that 120 of the most talented professional cyclists in the world, who competed in the 2008 Tour of Missouri, crossed the finish line on 10th Street in front of the Castelman Hall Performing Arts Center.

Being part of the Tour of Missouri Stage 4 Finish on Sept. 11, 2008 in Rolla was not only an exhilarating experience, but also a major milestone for a City of our size in South Central Missouri. The partnerships that were forged before, during and after the international event with Missouri University of Science and Technology, the City of St. James, Medalist Sports, KOM, and the event’s area sponsors such as Brewer Science, Inc., Phelps County Bank, Phelps County Regional Medical Center, to name just a few, demonstrated how collaboration and teamwork is essential when hosting an event of this magnitude.

Many Rolla residents who attended the Tour of Missouri Stage 4 finish in Rolla and Stage 5 Start in St. James on Sept. 12 may be curious to know just how much of an impact the TOM had on the City of Rolla, and fortunately I have been provided with those statistics and figures from Scott Caron, Director of the Recreation Center and Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the Tour of Missouri.

Scott recently made a presentation to the Rolla City Council during our last Council meeting that outlines the many benefits and rewards the City received by participating and hosting Stage 4 of the event.

The international exposure and recognition Rolla received on television networks, Websites and newspapers from over 80 countries was staggering. In addition, numerous state-wide television and radio coverage, magazines, and newspapers, including great coverage by the Rolla Daily News, helped put Rolla on the map in a way that has not been done very often in the history of our city. Rolla’s sales tax and motel sales tax both had significant spikes during the month of September when more than 12,000 individuals came out to watch and show their support for the Stage 4 Finish in Rolla and Stage 5 Start in St. James. Most of the motels and hotels in Rolla were booked to capacity on Sept. 11 and many of the area restaurants reported record sales the day and evening the Tour of Missouri was held in Rolla. Other positive benefits the Rolla community receive from the Tour of Missouri include an increased awareness of the importance of health and wellness, a better understanding of the various countries represented in the race, and the overall community pride that comes from the team work and collaboration generated through an event of this stature and size.

My wholehearted support continues to be behind the members of Rolla’s Local Organizing Committee as they once again submit an application bid to be considered as a host city for next year’s Tour of Missouri scheduled for Sept. 7 through Sept. 13, 2009.

In closing I would like to wish everyone a happy, safe and memorable Thanksgiving weekend. Our next City Council meeting will be held Monday, Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall (located at 901 North Elm Street). If you can’t attend the meeting, be sure to tune into Rolla Channel 6 (RC6) at 6:30 p.m. The Council meeting will be broadcast live and rebroadcasted throughout the week.

City Talk - Growing the economy top priority for City Council

Among the many topics discussed at the 8-hour-long City Council retreat Nov. 13 at City Hall were the financial challenges facing not only the country, but the Rolla community in the months and years ahead.

The City’s 2009 complete budget document can be viewed on the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org/admin.budget.shtm. A hard copy of the budget document is also available at City Hall located at 901 North Elm Street.

To help eliminate some of the misconceptions that sometimes arise regarding the 7.6% sales tax in Rolla, I thought it would be helpful to explain how the City’s sales tax is distributed among the various taxing jurisdictions.

Many individuals think all of Rolla’s 7.6 cent sales tax is received by the City of Rolla, but in reality the City receives 2.5 cents. Of the 2.5 cents received 1 cent goes to the City’s General Fund (about $9.5 million for seven of the City’s departments); 1/2 cent is ear-marked for transportation (street improvements); 1/2 cent for capitol Improvements (city infrastructure), and 1/2 cent for parks and recreation. The remaining 5.1 cents is allocated this way: the State of Missouri receives 4.225 cents, and Phelps County receives .875 cents. The average overall sales tax for Missouri cities comparable to Rolla is 7-8%, with several cities with sales tax rates approaching 9%.

The City’s Solid Waste Department, which includes the Recycling Center and Sanitation (waste collection), and the Sewer Department are considered enterprise funds, which are self-sufficient departments that generate revenues through user fees. The Centre, Rolla’s 63,000-square-foot Health and Recreation complex, is funded by membership, user and program fees, and a 1/2 cent sales tax passed by voters in 1998. The tax funding The Centre sunsets in 2013. The Street fund is also maintained in its own fund to track program expenses and the transportation sales tax and capital improvement sales tax, along with the motor fuel (gas) tax.

Another question many residents may have regarding the City budget is how we plan to generate more revenue or sustain the revenues we have to meet the ongoing expenses generated through inflation and increased city services/manpower (i.e., public safety and public works).

There are many options available to address this dilemma, including cutting services, raising taxes and growing the economy. The strategy the City continues to pursue is to grow the economy so that new businesses, industry and economic development generate employment opportunities and thus fuel the economy in a way that benefits everyone. The tactics that the City employs to grow the economy are to encourage businesses, developers and real estate owners to invest and relocate to the Rolla/Phelps County area. The City regularly partners and works collaboratively with organizations, businesses and institutions such as the Rolla Regional Economic Commission (RREC), Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce, Meramec Regional Planning Commission, Rolla Community Development Corporation, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Phelps County, Rolla Public Schools, area health care providers, and many others to achieve this end.

The most recent and visible example of how the City has worked to grow the economy is the new Walgreens store being constructed at the intersection of State Hwy. 63 and Ridgeview Road. This multi-faceted, multi-phase project dramatically improved not only the appearance of this highly visible and key intersection, but also greatly enhanced the safety, slope and access along Ridgeview Road.

The City is also partnering with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) on other transportation projects such as the proposed Ridgeview Road extension to Bridge School Road, a new traffic light and entrance at the corner of Kingshighway and Fairgrounds road that will ease traffic congestion on Kingshigway and provide a entrance to the new Innovation Tech Park being developed by Missouri S&T.

By continually sending out the message that Rolla is a progressive City where the quality of life is high, the education is top-notch and cutting-edge technology, research and high-tech industry is abundant, we also seek to initiate developer-driven projects such as Rolla West. The recently completed master plan for Rolla West by HNTB is the type of tool the City and Rolla Regional Economic Commission can use to attract new businesses and industry that will help diversify and strengthen our City’s retail offerings, provide more jobs, generate more sales tax, and ultimately grow our economy. The development of Rolla West will help enhance and solidify the City’s stature as the regional hub for South Central Missouri.

In closing I would like to wish everyone a happy, safe and memorable Thanksgiving. In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, City Hall will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28. The Centre (1200 North Holloway, Street), will also be closed Thanksgiving Day, and will be open the day after Thanksgiving from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, please call (573) 341-2386.

The Solid Waste Department will be picking up Thursday’s trash on Wednesday. For more information regarding trash pick-up, yard waste, recycling or the City’s new Household Hazardous Waste Facility, please call (573) 364-6693.

City Talk - Bourbon H.S. Ecology class tours Recycling Center

As part of a day-long field trip that included stops at the City of Rolla’s Southwest Treatment Plant, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), a group of 23 Ecology students from Bourbon High School recently toured the Rolla Recycling Center located at 2141 Old St. James Road.

The tour of the Recycling Center on Nov. 6 was hosted by Solid Waste Director Brady Wilson, who did a lot more than talk about trash to the group of juniors and seniors who attend Jon Johnson’s Ecology class at Bourbon High School in Bourbon, Missouri.

Wilson’s main message to the students was that “just about anything we use and consume at home, at work and around town can be recycled.” The students were surrounded by mountains of recycled paper and cardboard as Wilson emphasized how important recycling is, not only from an environmental and ecological perspective, but also an economic one.

Hylan Beydler, Public Information Coordinator with the DNR, Division of Geology and Land Survey in Rolla, said that touring the Rolla Recycling Center helps to broaden the student’s awareness of their career opportunities in Geology and Ecology, and increases their awareness of the impact that recycling has on their environment. Beydler, who coordinated the day-long field trip and environmental education outreach with Jim Lubbers from the DNR in Jefferson City, said the field trip was funded entirely from the State’s Scrap Tire fee, which is coordinated by DNR.

Wilson, who is passionate about recycling, the environment, and educating the public about the positive impact recycling and the Rolla Recycling Center has on our community, conducts student and civic tours of the Recycling Center on a regular basis.

The next big project Brady will be showcasing at the Recycling Center is a new recycled materials exhibit that will demonstrate the use of recycled products and includes a handicapped picnic table and message board totally constructed from recycled materials. The exhibit will also include a composting demonstration display.

To schedule a tour of the facility, or for more information about the Recycling Center and new Household Hazardous Waste Facility, please call the Solid Waste Department at (573) 364-6693. To schedule a tour of the DNR offices in Rolla, please call Hylan Beydler at (573) 368-2100.

Police Chief Chat - Veteran's Day / Friday Backpack Program

Good morning, I hope you had a great week and were able to attend at least one of the many Veteran’s Day programs held in an around Rolla in honor of those who have preserved our freedom by serving our country. The Rolla Junior High School, Mark Twain Elementary and Hickory Pit Barbecue all offered programs, luncheons and services to show appreciation for the sacrifices these great men and women endured in the name of freedom and support of our constitution.

We have several service related organizations in our area that offer support to our veterans in the way of social gatherings, fundraising events and memorial tributes and benefit information. These organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Disabled Association of Veterans and AMVETS provide a wide variety of services to benefit local heroes such as Bill Jenks, Dick Elgin, Bosco Eudaly, Neal Grannemann, Ed Schmidt, Les Burris, Bill Feeler, Michael Flowers, Neal Jocsing, Al Parsons, Jim Greig, Eddie Schwartz, Luke Kearse, John Mittendorf, Butch Fiebelman, Tom Pasley, Jim Fiscus, Bill Stoltz, Stan Spadoni, Ed Lorey, Forrest O’neal, Bill Wright and Fred Kruger. These and many others from our own community stood proud, pledged allegiance and did what they had to do to keep the rest of us safe in conflicts ranging from World War II, the Korean War, Viet Nam War and the War in Iraq! Thank you to all veterans past and present for what you have done and for what you are about to do to keep us safe!

Lieutenant Jason Smith and I had the opportunity to attend the International Police Chiefs Association annual conference held in San Diego, California this past week. The conference is designed to present Police Chief’s from all over the world with the latest in equipment demonstrations, tactics, management styles and philosophies to better serve their agencies. There are also break-out sessions featuring nationally recognized guest speakers who cover preventive measures in turnover rates, public opinion analysis and community policing advantages. . Other management sessions were presented from the nation’s top cops on how to win in situations that require use of force. The training began on Saturday, November 8 and ran through Wednesday November 12, 2008.

I learned from our own Behind the Badge organization that the local founder of the Friday Backpack Program, Faith Barnes with the assistance of the Christian Life Center has secured a $19,000.00 donation to assist in funding the backpack program. The program provides food items to children in need on Friday after school to ascertain that they will be nourished over the weekend to stimulate better study habits. Our Behind the Badge group assists Faith and others in filling the backpacks each week. The program now includes all 3 of the Rolla elementary schools and the Newburg elementary school and serves over 200 students. Way to go Faith and the CLC. Great job! And a special thanks to the donors. This is just one more example of how this community comes together in times of need.

In closing, I would like to congratulate Patrol Officer Josh Campbell and K-9 Ziggy for successfully completing 2 weeks of certification training in tracking, narcotic detection building and article searches and handler protection with the Dogwood Inn and Training Center in Jeffersonville, In. Officer Campbella and Ziggy trained side by side for during the 80 hour certification. Ziggy was partnered with Pto. Campbell after serving Senior Patrol Officer Adam Meyer. Great job Josh and Ziggy!

I hope you have a great week!

City Connection - Shopping local is a wise investment

City Connection (A monthly update from the City of Rolla to the Business Community)

Shopping local is wise investment
By Mayor Bill Jenks, III
I’m sure that all of you have given some thought as to how important in today’s economic climate it is that we consider the benefits of patronizing our local businesses, restaurants and retail establishments in the weeks and months ahead.
Regardless of how the presidential election, and local and state elections turned out, we as citizens, must remember that we can do our part to ensure that our community continues to prosper and grow in the months and years to come. One of the easiest ways to do this, as simple as it may sound, is to remember to do as much of your day to day and holiday shopping right here in Rolla and Phelps County.
So please consider the real and significant benefits shopping local will bring not only to you, but our area businesses, retail outlets, restaurants, grocery stores and banking institutions. Fuel prices are fortunately back below the $2 mark, and will hopefully stay that way throughout the holiday season, but the recent reduction in the cost of fuel doesn’t offset the need for all of us to continue to support and patronize our local shops and stores.
And when you decide to purchase locally, you are not only helping to sustain and grow business in the area, but you are also fueling our economy from both an investment and employment perspective. We have much to be grateful for as we approach the holidays, and one of the best ways to demonstrate our gratitude is to reinvest in our community.

Rolla, British Columbia meets Rolla, Missouri
With a population of 200 people, the Canadian town of Rolla, British Columbia is located about 12 miles from the frontier town of Dawson Creek – better known as Mile Zero on the 2,288-mile-long Alaska Highway.

The elevation is about 2,100 feet (1,000 more than in Rolla, Missouri), and its location 80 miles east of the Rocky Mountains and seven miles from the Alberta, Canada boarder, make it an ideal location for grain farming, and many decades ago, homesteading. Over 98 percent of the town’s industry consists of farming, and the climate is milder than you might imagine for a Canadian Province where 40-below zero is not unheard of.

This is the picture painted of Rolla, British Columbia by Gordon Miller during a visit he and three other Miller family siblings and their spouses, and the spouse of a deceased sister, made to Rolla City Hall (901 North Elm Street), in Rolla, Missouri on Friday, Nov. 7, 2008. Gordon, a third-generation Miller, and his wife, Brenda Miller, who both reside in Rolla, British Columbia, are retracing their roots in Rolla, Missouri where Gordon’s ancestors once lived over 100 years ago.

The 9-member contingency from British Columbia are visiting family cemeteries and the old Miller Homestead located in Camp Creek in Phelps County. Historic records indicate that the Millers were an early pioneer family in Phelps County, and that one of the Millers once served as a county judge.

While visiting Rolla City Hall Gordon was presented with a large Rolla Welcome banner from City Administrator John Butz, who coordinated the visit through Rolla resident Russ Lindenlaub. Gordon said he plans to display the welcome banner in the Rolla, British Columbia community center.

“It’s always a pleasure whenever we have the opportunity to visit at City Hall with such friendly folks like these whose ancestry traces to Rolla, Missouri,” said Butz. “It always amazes me how many connections people from all over the country, including the Canadian Provence of British Columbia, have with Rolla’s history and heritage.”

Bourbon High School Ecology students tour Rolla Recycling Center
As part of a day-long field trip that included stops at the City of Rolla’s Southwest Treatment Plant, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), a group of 23 Ecology students from Bourbon High School recently toured the Rolla Recycling Center located at 2141 Old St. James Road.

The tour of the Recycling Center on Thursday, Nov. 6 was hosted by Solid Waste Director Brady Wilson, who did a lot more than ‘talk trash’ to the group of juniors and seniors who attend Jon Johnson’s Ecology class at Bourbon High School in Bourbon, Missouri.

Wilson’s main message to the students was that “just about anything we use and consume at home, at work and around town can be recycled.” The students were surrounded by mountains of recycled paper and cardboard as Wilson emphasized how important recycling is, not only from an environmental and ecological perspective, but also an economic one.

“Touring the Rolla Recycling Center helps to broaden the student’s awareness of their career opportunities in Geology and Ecology, and increases their awareness of the impact that recycling has on their environment,” said Hylan Beydler, Public Information Coordinator with the DNR, Division of Geology and Land Survey in Rolla. Beydler, who coordinated the day-long field trip and environmental education outreach with Jim Lubbers from the DNR in Jefferson City, said the field trip was funded entirely from the State’s Scrap Tire fee, which is coordinated by DNR.

Wilson, who is passionate about recycling, the environment, and educating the public about the positive impact recycling and the Rolla Recycling Center has on our community, conducts student and civic tours of the Recycling Center on a regular basis. To schedule a tour of the facility, or for more information about the Recycling Center and new Household Hazardous Waste Facility, please call the Solid Waste Department at (573) 364-6693.

To schedule a tour of the DNR offices in Rolla, please call Hylan Beydler at (573) 368-2100.

Buckle up to avoid ticket And arrive alive
Nearly one in four Missourians still fail to regularly wear their safety belts when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.
Among those least likely to buckle up are young males, pickup truck drivers and their passengers, people who live in rural areas, and night time drivers.
The Rolla Police Department recently announced it is joining with law enforcement agencies across the state on Nov. 26 for an aggressive “Click It or Ticket” mobilization to crack down on Missouri’s safety belt law violators and to reduce highway fatalities.
Failure to regularly wear a safety belt can be deadly. In 2007, a driver in a Missouri traffic crash has a 1 in 32 chance of being killed if they were not wearing a seat belt. In cases where the driver wore a seat belt, their chance of being killed was 1 in 1,309.
“Regular safety belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities and injuries in motor vehicle crashes”, said Corporal Harry Eckman, Rolla Police Traffic Division Supervisor.
For more information on Missouri seat belt usage, please visit www.saveMOlives.com or contact Corporal Harry Eckman at (573) 364-1213.

City offers choices for pick-up of bagged leaves through Dec. 13
For Rolla residents who are deciding how to dispose of their leaves during the fall season, the city offers a couple of alternatives to help make your leaf disposal efforts a little more convenient.

The City of Rolla’s Solid Waste Department will continue to offer pick-up of bagged leaves through Dec. 13, 2008. To receive this service, the leaves must be placed in brown paper biodegradable yard waste bags, which can be purchased at many stores in the area. We also ask that you place your bags to the curb by 6 a.m. so our equipment operators can pick them up on your normal collection day.

This service will be suspended from Dec. 13, 2008 through March 1, 2009. Collection of yard waste (leaves, grass, clippings and small sticks) in brown paper bags will resume on Monday, March 2, 2009. Residents wishing to dispose of these materials during the winter suspension can use the composting facility located at the Phelps County Transfer Station, or arrange for a special pick up for a fee. For more information please call the Solid Waste Department at (573) 364-6693.

Rolla residents can also get their leaves picked up by the Parks and Recreation Department Monday through Friday for a nominal fee through Dec. 15, 2008 (leaves will not be picked up after noon Friday or during weekends and holidays). We just ask that you rake or haul all leaves to the curbside along city streets. No private driveways or private areas will be entered by City vehicles. Per City Ordinance no leaves can be placed in the streets, gutters or ditches. Leaves will be picked up by a large vacuum and deposited into a large dump body and trailer and then taken to the Phelps County Composting Site to be recycled.

New users of this service must pay a $120 refundable deposit or leave a credit card number. The fee is $40 per half hour with the minimum charge of $40, and all fees must be paid within two weeks of the service being completed. Credit card payments (Visa, Master Card & Discover) are preferred. If you wish to use this service, or to get more information, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (573) 364-4278.

Residents encouraged to use Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Rolla residents who have household hazardous waste materials such as car batteries, used oil or antifreeze, or other toxic, poisonous or flammable products may dispose of them at the City’s new Household Hazardous Waste Facility. The facility is operated by the City’s Solid Waste Department at the Rolla Recycling Center located off Old St. James Road.

Use of the facility is encouraged by all Rolla residents, however, this is strictly a residential service; business and commercial waste is prohibited. If you are interested in using the facility, we simply ask that you make an appointment by calling the Rolla Recycling Center during normal business hours at (573) 364-6693. Deliveries will be accepted by appointment only. For a complete list of items that will be acceptable to drop off at the facility, please contact the Solid Waste Department at (573) 364-6693 or visit the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org/waste.

The new Household Hazardous Waste facility is open to residents in the Rolla/Phelps County community as well as the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski, and Washington counties). There is also a new HHW facility located in the City of St. Robert in Pulaski County.

This service will be more convenient, accessible, and safer for the public and employees alike, and reflects the City of Rolla’s commitment of “going green.”

Rolla Channel 6 airs City Council & Rolla Public Schools board meetings
Rolla Channel 6 (RC6) is airing live Rolla City Council meetings the first and third Monday of the month (6:30 p.m.), as well as several times throughout the week. City Planning & Zoning (P&Z) Commission meetings are also airing live on RC6 the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m.

Rolla Public Schools (RPS) board meetings also air live on RC6, and will re-air throughout the week as well. Rolla High School Friday night football games air the Sunday following the game at 6 p.m. RC6 will re-air the games frequently throughout the following week or weeks depending on the home schedule. The schedule for all programs will be posted on the RC6 program guide.

Other pre-produced programs currently airing on RC6 include: Missouri Outdoors, After the Storm, Army Newswatch, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Services (CSREES) Partners Video Magazine, NASA Science Files, World Energy Television, PlaySports TV, Perils for Pedestrians, Road to Recovery and Friends in Discovery.

For more information regarding programming or DVD duplication of Rolla City Council and Rolla Public Schools board meetings, and RHS sporting events, please contact Gabe Mankin, RC6 Video Production Manager, at (573) 426-3377 or at Gabe.Mankin@fidelitycommunications.com.

RC6 is a jointly funded education and government cable channel provided by the City of Rolla, Rolla Public Schools, and Fidelity Cablevision. The mission of RC6 is to enhance the City of Rolla’s and Rolla Public Schools’ public information and communication systems, involve the community in local government and Rolla Public School decision-making, and provide useful information to the public.

Full-color 2008 Aerial photos of Rolla available at City Hall
The 2008 full-color aerial photo of the City of Rolla is available for purchase at the GIS/Mapping Office located in the Public Works Department at Rolla City Hall (901 North Elm Street) in downtown Rolla.

The aerial was flown in January 2008 and is available on 42- x 52-inch photo quality gloss paper. The price is $20 per print. A limited supply of the 2007 black and white aerial photos are also available for a cost of $5.

For more information, or to place your order for an aerial photo of Rolla, please call (573) 364-8659, ext. 033, or stop by City Hall anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

City Talk - Shopping local is wise investment

I’m sure that all of you have given some thought as to how important in today’s economic climate it is that we consider the benefits of patronizing our local businesses, restaurants and retail establishments in the weeks and months ahead.

Regardless of how the presidential election, and local and state elections turned out, we as citizens, must remember that we can do our part to ensure that our community continues to prosper and grow in the months and years to come. One of the easiest ways to do this, as simple as it may sound, is to remember to do as much of your day to day and holiday shopping right here in Rolla and Phelps County. So please consider the real and significant benefits shopping local will bring not only to you, but our area businesses, retail outlets, restaurants, grocery stores and banking institutions. Fuel prices are fortunately back below the $2 mark, and will hopefully stay that way throughout the holiday season, but the recent reduction in the cost of fuel doesn’t offset the need for all of us to continue to support and patronize our local shops and stores.

And when you decide to purchase locally, you are not only helping to sustain and grow business in the area, but you are also fueling our economy from both an investment and employment perspective. We have much to be grateful for as we approach the holidays, and one of the best ways to demonstrate our gratitude is to reinvest in our community.

In closing I would like to remind residents that Rolla City Hall, located at 901 North Elm Street, will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 11 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. The Solid Waste Department will be picking up Tuesday’s trash on Wednesday. The CENTRE, Rolla’s Health and Recreation complex, located at 1200 North Holloway Street, will maintain regular operating hours on Veterans Day from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

This Veterans Day the Rolla City Council and Rolla City employees express their gratitude and appreciation for all veterans, both home and abroad, who are serving or have served to protect our freedoms. Please remember to keep our veterans in your thoughts, and let them know how much they are appreciated.

City Talk - City offers choices for pick-up of bagged leaves through Dec. 13

Along with all the beauty that comes with autumn in the Ozarks – and we sure are getting our share of it this year - lots of leaves also come with the fall foliage.

Fortunately for Rolla residents who are contemplating how to dispose of their leaves, the city offers a couple of alternatives to help make your leaf disposal efforts a little more convenient.

If you like to get outside, and grab a rake, the City of Rolla’s Solid Waste Department will continue to offer the pick-up of bagged leaves through Dec. 13, 2008. To receive this service, the leaves must be placed in brown paper biodegradable yard waste bags, which can be purchased at many stores in the area. We also ask that you place your bags to the curb by 6 a.m. so our equipment operators can pick them up on your normal collection day.

Please be aware that this service will be suspended from Dec. 13, 2008 through March 1, 2009. Collection of yard waste (leaves, grass, clippings and small sticks) in brown paper bags will resume on Monday, March 2, 2009. Residents wishing to dispose of these materials during the winter suspension can use the composting facility located at the Phelps County Transfer Station, or arrange for a special pick up for a fee. For more information please call the Solid Waste Department at (573) 364-6693.

Rolla residents can also get their leaves picked up by the Parks and Recreation Department Monday through Friday for a nominal fee through Dec. 15, 2008 (leaves will not be picked up after noon Friday or during weekends and holidays). We just ask that you rake or haul all leaves to the curbside along city streets.

No private driveways or private areas will be entered by City vehicles. Per City Ordinance no leaves can be placed in the streets, gutters or ditches. Leaves will be picked up by a large vacuum and deposited into a large dump body and trailer and then taken to the Phelps County Composting Site to be recycled.

New users of this service must pay a $120 refundable deposit or leave a credit card number. The fee is $40 per half hour with the minimum charge of $40, and all fees must be paid within two weeks of the service being completed. Credit card payments (Visa, Master Card & Discover) are preferred. If you wish to use this service, or to get more information, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (573) 364-4278.

Rolla residents who have household hazardous waste materials such as car batteries, used oil or antifreeze, or other toxic, poisonous or flammable products may dispose of them at the City’s new Household Hazardous Waste Facility. The facility is operated by the City’s Solid Waste Department at the Rolla Recycling Center located off Old St. James Road.

Use of the facility is encouraged by all Rolla residents, however, this is strictly a residential service; business and commercial waste is prohibited. If you are interested in using the facility, we simply ask that you make an appointment by calling the Rolla Recycling Center during normal business hours at (573) 364-6693.

Beliveries will be accepted by appointment only. For a complete list of items that will be acceptable to drop off at the facility, please contact the Solid Waste Department at (573) 364-6693 or visit the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org/waste.

The new Household Hazardous Waste facility is open to residents in the Rolla/Phelps County community as well as the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski, and Washington counties). There is also a new HHW facility located in the City of St. Robert in Pulaski County.

This service will be more convenient, accessible, and safer for the public and employees alike, and reflects the City of Rolla’s commitment of “going green.”

Police Chief Chat - Awards Banquet / Fight / Halloween Safety

Good morning! I hope you had a great week and a safe Halloween. We kicked off our “Project Halloween” campaign by assigning additional officers to patrol the traditional “hot spots” for trick-or-treaters around the city. The Patrol Division was supplemented by a host of Missouri S&T students who travel in groups in these same areas looking for unsafe activity, lost children and other dangerous situations, then report them to the patrol officers assigned to that area. Thank you to Missouri S&T for your support and continued assistance.

Our Behind the Badge group held a bake sale Thursday evening at the Wal-Mart Supercenter to raise money for charitable events and to sponsor our annual awards banquet which will be held this evening at the Havener Center. The bake sale raised over $300.00 in just 2 hours, which is remarkable considering all the other events going on at this time. Thank you to the ladies of the Behind the Badge organization for the time and effort to create some wonderful snacks and desserts and to Wal-Mart Supercenter for allowing us to hold the sale at the store.

Our annual awards banquet is an opportunity for our Rolla Police Family to get together and pay tribute to the members of our agency that went above and beyond what is considered the normal call to duty to protect our community and keep our citizens safe. My staff and I gather recommendations throughout the year from supervisors, other officers and citizens then award citations to officers and civilian personnel that qualify for the following awards: Medal of Honor, Legion of Honor, Combat Cross, Wounded in Combat, Gallantry Star, Gallantry Star, Grand Cordon, Meritorious Service, Life Saving, Samaritan, Queen’s Honor, Distinguished Volunteer Service, Exceptional Duty, Honorable Service, Civilian Service, Educational Achievement and the Letter of Recognition.

Typically, the bulk of the awards are from the Exceptional Duty, Honorable Service and Letters of Recognition, but on occasion the officers become involved in situations that warrant the more prestigious awards such as the Medal of Honor and Gallantry Star. It is very common to award several Life Saving Honors for the year for officers who have performed CPR and other life saving techniques to restore life in threatening situations.

On another note, I read a disturbing report that was submitted by Cpl. Harry Eckman regarding his response to a fight call in the 1200 block of Holloway St. on Wednesday afternoon. The call came in as several subjects involved in an altercation in that area. Investigation revealed that 2 male juveniles had received an invitation via cell phone, from 2 other male juveniles to meet them at the location and fight over a pre-existing disagreement. Allegedly, the 4 male juveniles arrived at the location where an argument ensued, that led to a pushing exchange then eventually the pushing escalated to a full blown brawl where at least 3 other male juveniles and an adult male became involved in the fracas. Overall, at least 2 male juveniles were hospitalized for their injuries and others sought individual treatment.

What concerns me is the willingness of the initial male juveniles to meet at some location to commit a serious crime. Secondly, the alleged involvement of an adult male, who is supposed to know better, but becomes active as a primary aggressor in the situation. The adult male was arrested for 2 counts of assault in the 1st degree and 9 counts of endangering the welfare of a juvenile. These are serious crimes and carry substantial punishment upon conviction. This situation is troubling in that it reminds me of a very similar situation where a Rolla youth was kicked and beaten at a local restaurant over a trivial matter that led to a permanent brain injury. Please realize this type of situation can get out of hand real quick and lead to serious injury or death to those involved and may also lead to substantial punishment to those responsible. Think before you act!

In closing, I would like to mention that our Law Enforcement Torch Run Trivia Night was tremendous fun and a great success. We were able to raise over $1500.00 for our Special Olympic athletes thanks to the support received from both the entering teams and our sponsors. Without you, we could not succeed. Special thanks to Administrative assistant Kerri Schultz, Lt. Doug James and S/Sgt. Rick Williams for their coordination efforts to make the evening a success. Thank you for helping us help the athletes!

Citiy Talk - Fall City-Wide clean-up nets 95 tons of bulk waste

“Green Communities” or “The Greening of America” continue to be among the most popular catch-phrases used these days in pop culture and the mass media. And when it comes to recycling, conservation and environmentally-conscious communities, Rolla and Phelps County are putting up some pretty solid numbers.

With the cooperation, involvement and assistance from the residents of Rolla, and the hard work of the City’s Solid Waste Department, the City-wide residential fall clean-up held on Oct. 4 was a big success. How big of a success was it? I’m told by Brady Wilson, Director of Solid Waste, that members of the Sanitation Division collected nearly 95 tons of bulk waste in nine hours during the one day event.

To put this into perspective, try to imagine how many cars or trucks (weighing in at 2 to 4 tons each) it would take lined up along the street to equal 95 tons of bulk waste. Quite a few. The clean-up, which is held twice a year in the fall and spring, (first Saturday of October and April.), has become one of the most popular and successful events/services of the year. The City-wide residential spring clean-up for next year will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2009 so you might want to make a note of it on your calendar. All items must be to the curb by 6 a.m. on that day. A list of important dates can also be viewed on the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org/waste.

Have you ever considered how many tons of recycled materials are actually collected every month by the City’s Recycling Division? During the month of September, 2008, 168 tons of recyclables were shipped from the Recycling Center. This amount is approximately equivalent to 24 fully loaded garbage trucks, or 480 compacted cubic yards. The disposal cost avoided by recycling this volume is approximately $7,500. The revenue received form the sale of these recyclable commodities totals approximately $21,800 for a total economic benefit of $29,300 from recycling for the month. To put this into perspective, during the same month, the Sanitation Division collected and hauled a total of 1,616 tons of refuse. This total monthly tonnage represents approximately 231 fully loaded garbage trucks or 4,620 compacted cubic yards. The cost to dispose of this amount of refuse was $72,000. Clearly, recycling takes a pretty hefty bite out of the refuse that is collected every month.

Looking ahead toward the month of November, if that seems possible, Rolla City Hall will be closed Monday, Nov. 11 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. The Solid Waste Department will be picking up Tuesday’s trash on Wednesday. Rolla City Hall will be closed on Nov. 27 and 28 for the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. Thursday’s trash will be picked up on Wednesday.

For more information, please call the Solid Waste Department at (573) 364-6693 or visit their homepage on the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org/waste.

Police Chief Chat - Trivia Night / Felons & Firearms

Good morning. I hope you had a great week and were able to get to the Rolla Crafts Festival. The weather was perfect and from I could gather the crowd was bigger than anticipated. This week we have a very busy Saturday as I mentioned in my last article, in that we have the bicycle and surplus property auction here at the Police Department that will begin at 9:00 am. Try to be here by 8:30 am to get registered as a buyer. There are over 75 bicycles and quite an assortment of surplus property that typically sell fairly quickly and fairly cheap, so don’t miss this opportunity to get a good deal.

Then on Saturday night, we will host our 8th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run “Trivia Night” to benefit Special Olympics. This event will be held at the Rolla Elk’s Lodge where we will provide food and an available cash bar to the players. The 2007 winning team “Ground Chuck” will be returning and will have the distinct pleasure of being seated at the cherished “Head Table” will trying to defend their championship. Our team roster is full this year, but please keep us in mind in October 2009 to enter a team. We have a great time and it is for a great cause.

Since the beginning of the school year, we have received ongoing complaints from both citizens and school personnel of a large gathering of young people near the Rolla High School. The complaints were that several people in the group were smoking and leaving trash and cigarette butts on the ground. The group was comprised of both students and non-students who gather before and after school to smoke and in order to comply with the no-smoking on school property policy, were gathering on the sidewalks at the edge of the parking lot. My staff and School Resource Officer Sgt. Wayne Rapier met with school administrators and discussed the problem. My staff and Patrol Division then began patrolling the area and issuing tickets to anyone in violation of state law or city ordinances. So far, several students and some non-students have been cited and a an even larger number have been issued warnings. This operation will continue until the problem is alleviated.

The Missouri Legislature made significant changes to the law dealing with felons in possession of firearms, and Missouri law now more closely follows federal law. It is now a class C felony for any convicted felon to possess any firearm, including a handgun, rifle or shotgun. Missouri has not historically been so restrictive. The state’s prohibition had been limited to concealable weapons (such as handguns) and applied to only “dangerous” felons. A dangerous felon was an individual who plead guilty to , or was convicted of, only certain felonies. For this reason, most convicted felons could use a rifle or shotgun for hunting if they completed their probation or parole. Under Missouri law, a “conviction” includes a suspended execution of sentence (SES), but does not include a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS). Thus, if someone who pleads guilty and receives an SIS is not deemed a convicted felony for purposes of this law. Because the prohibition now includes rifles and shotguns, many felons who could lawfully hunt under Missouri law, may no longer do so. (Bows are not “firearms” and felons may continue to bow hunt.) As was the case before the 2008 change, a felon cannot obtain a concealable weapons permit under Missouri law. This includes felons receiving an SIS.

Next Friday, October 31, 2008 is Halloween and since the date falls on a Friday night, parents and children need to exercise caution when trick or treating. The significance of celebrating on Friday night will mean that since it is the beginning of the weekend, there may be more children on the streets that if it were a school night. In addition, there are sure to be Halloween parties that night and increased traffic to and from the parties. This combination of more children on the streets and increased traffic could lead to more accidents or injuries. Please remember the basic rules for children participating in Halloween.
Remember:
Parents should accompany their children and visit only homes of people you know.
Homes that are well lit should be chosen over those that are not.
Children should refrain from eating anything until inspected.
Costumes should be light in color and reflective tape should be used on them.
Costumes should have eye openings for good visibility and be properly fitted to prevent tripping.
Children should carry a flashlight and cross at marked intersections only.

And to the adults who plan to attend Halloween parties. Please remember that there will be parents and children along your route trick or treating. Pay close attention in neighborhoods especially at intersections and crosswalks. Do not drink and drive and if you do drink, use the buddy system, call a cab or have a sober friend drive you, but do not drink and drive.

In closing, last Saturday, Patrolman Jose Rodriquez was injured while riding an ATV and was air-lifted to St. Louis for treatment. I am happy to announce that although he will be on light duty for a while, Jose will fully recover and be returned to full duty.

City Talk - Lee Maples is living legend at Rolla National Airport

It’s not every day that you honor someone in the community after 35 years of service, so it was my distinct pleasure on Wednesday, Oct. 15 to join Ed Schmidt, President of Baron Aviation Services, Inc. and other members of the Rolla National Airport community in recognizing the contributions that Lee Maples has made to the Rolla community.

It was actually 50 years ago on October 15, 1958 that Mr. Maples, a respected businessman and aviator, was hired by the City of Rolla and then Rolla Mayor Eugene Northern as the first manager of Rolla National Airport (RNA) where he served the needs of the airport and local aviation community until 1967.

The proclamation I presented to Mr. Maples at Baron Aviation headquarters at Rolla National Airport was the City’s way of saying how much Lee was respected, appreciated and remembered by the City of Rolla, the staff at Baron Aviation Services, Inc. and staff at Rolla National Airport. If anyone could tell you the history of Rolla National Airport before and after it was an abandoned U.S. military Army Airfield where World War II pilots once trained, it would have to be Lee Maples. In fact Mr. Maples liked Rolla National Airport so much he moved into one of the abandoned Army barracks when he was hired as the airport manager. He lived there with his family until 1970. The stories that he fondly recalls during his days at the Rolla National Airport are the stuff that books and novels are written about.

A U.S. Army veteran, who served and flew planes in the Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946 (he enlisted on Oct. 15, 1943), Lee transformed Rolla National Airport from a run-down, derelict military base to a thriving airport. Not long after his nine-year stint as the first manager at Rolla National Airport, Lee started Maples Aviation in 1967 where he was a local Cessna aircraft dealer, charter operator, and flight instructor for aviators and ROTC Flight Cadets attending Missouri S&T (then known as Missouri School of Mines). In the late 1960s and early 1970s Mr. Maples along with Ed Schmidt, President of Baron Aviation Services, Inc., had contracts with the Forest Service to provide air tanker support for wild fire control in Missouri’s national forests using a pair of converted WW-II vintage aircraft. It was during this time that Lee began fostering relationships and began attracting businesses such as Kingsford Charcoal, Missouri S&T (then know as Missouri School of Mines), Brewer Science and various other businesses and state agencies who needed to fly in and out of the area for business. The impact of the early in-roads Lee made to encourage air transport and business development in and around Rolla National Airport continues to live on with more businesses and state agencies using the airport to conduct business, tour the Rolla area or just touch down long enough to have their plane refueled for the next leg of their journey.

In 1973 Mr. Maples, along with his long-time friend and business associate Ed Schmidt, started Baron Aviation Services, Inc., which is headquartered at Rolla National Airport. The privately owned company, and largest employer at RNA, provides contractual services for FedEx Express Services, and operates a fleet of 36 Cessna Caravans for FedEX.

So it was doubly fitting that on Oct. 15, 2008 that Lee was honored and recognized by the members of the Baron Aviation team at Rolla National Airport in celebrating not only the 35th anniversary of Baron Aviation, but the contributions Lee has made throughout his career to Baron Aviation, the Rolla National Airport, and residents and businesses in South Central Missouri.

City Talk - RC6 Brings Global Recognition to Rolla community

After only a couple of months of being on the air, Rolla Channel 6 (RC6) – Rolla’s premiere Education and Government television channel, has brought world-wide recognition to the City of Rolla.

Since RC6 is a local channel broadcast only in the Rolla area you may ask how this was possible. It was made possible through one of the many pre-produced programs that run on a regular basis on RC6 called Army Newswatch. It is one of the many outstanding programs, including Missouri Outdoors that is free programming made available through the diligent efforts of Gabe Mankin, Video Production Manager of RC6.

If you haven’t had an opportunity to view Army Newswatch, which is produced bi-weekly, there is a segment in the program called “Shout Out” where the host of the show “shouts out” the names of communities, cities and towns all across the U.S. that air the Army Newswatch program. Since Rolla airs Army Newswatch on a regular basis, Rolla is one of the cities currently being spotlighted, along with the City’s logo, on Army Newswatch.

What this means is that if you have a son or daughter or grandson, or other family member or friend serving in the military overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Philippines, or any other area of the world, and they watch Army Newswatch, they are hearing their hometown (Rolla) being mentioned where they are stationed. And even if you don’t have a son or daughter or family member serving in the U.S. Army, it is refreshing to know that RC6 – through Army Newswatch - is providing a hometown connection to these courageous young men and women who serve our country. If you haven’t yet viewed Army Newswatch on RC6, I encourage you to tune in sometime and take a look at the program and the many fascinating individuals and areas of the world it spotlights.

As a big advocate of anything outdoors, I particularly enjoy viewing the Missouri Outdoors program that frequently airs on RC6. The show, which is produced by the Missouri Department of Conservation, showcases the abundant natural resources in many areas near Rolla such as Meramec Springs Park in St. James (just 8 miles east of Rolla), Montauk State Park and many other conservation and wilderness areas nearby. Other pre-produced programs airing on RC6 include: After the Storm, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Services (CSREES) Partners Video Magazine, NASA Science Files, World Energy Television, PlaySports TV, Perils for Pedestrians, Road to Recovery and Friends in Discovery.

The Rolla City Council meetings (held the first and third Monday of the Month at 6:30 p.m.), along with Planning and Zoning Commission Meetings and Rolla Public Schools (RPS) Board meetings, of course air on a regular basis on RC6 as well all Rolla High School football home games and other RPS sporting events. A community calendar listing the many City, Rolla Public Schools and free community events in the Rolla area also airs daily on RC6. For more information regarding programming or DVD duplication of Rolla City Council and Rolla Public Schools board meetings, and RHS sporting events, please contact Gabe Mankin, RC6 Video Production Manager, at (573) 426-3377 or at Gabe.Mankin@fidelitycommunications.com.

RC6 is a jointly funded education and government cable channel provided by the City of Rolla, Rolla Public Schools, and Fidelity Cablevision. The mission of RC6 is to enhance the City of Rolla’s and Rolla Public Schools’ public information and communication systems, involve the community in local government and Rolla Public School decision-making, and provide useful information to the public.

Another important communication tool the City of Rolla is making available to the residents of our community is a BLOG that is linked on the City’s homepage at http://rollacity.blogspot.com. The City is now posting my weekly City Talk column and Police Chief Mark Kearse’s City Chat column on the City’s BLOG at http://rollacity.blogspot.com. We welcome your comments, input and feedback.

Police Chief Chat - Scams / Crimes against the Elderly / Fatality Accident

Good morning! I hope you had a great week. The Fall season brings us cooler weather, shorter days and busy schedules. This past week Lt. Jim Macormic and S/Sgt. Rick Williams travelled to Springfield, Missouri to attend the annual Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (MIRMA) Seminar entitled “Bricks and Mortar: Laying the Foundation for Litigation Defense”. The sessions were hosted by retired Assistant Police Chief Steve Ijames. Mr. Ijames is a 29 year veteran of the Springfield Police Department and has obtained a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Mr. Ijames is considered an expert in less lethal force devices such as impact projectiles, chemical munitions, noise flash diversionary devices and Taser) devices. Information was provided on management, policy writing, training and practices governing these tools. The Rolla Police Department currently utilizes several less lethal devices designed to help prevent serious or fatal injuries to suspects that we try to apprehend in criminal activity. The class talked about the taser, stating that it is one of best tools to come out in a long time for Law Enforcement. They showed several videos where four and five officers could not control a suspect because of his level of intoxication or drugged condition, but with the taser the officers could subdue the suspect.

On Wednesday, October 8, 2008, Detective Robert Jones of the Division of Criminal Investigations received information from the Division of Child Services concerning an ad that was placed in the Rollanet Classified section of person(s) unknown offering a baby boy to a good home. Det. Jones reviewed the ad then opened an investigation that involved the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Springfield Police Department and the Division of Child Services. Investigation revealed that the ad was a hoax that had originated in south Africa. We receive several complaints each week on a wide variety of internet based scams or false amber alerts that people in the community have received. Several of these scams have been investigated and the perpetrator’s identified but there are still many others still active. Typically if an offer seems to good to be true, it is a scam. Be wary of people offering services or goods for little or nothing, or organizations requesting personal information so they can forward large amounts of cash. These types of scams are the most frequent and in spite of the obvious signs that this is a hoax, people still fall prey to them. If you are concerned of an offer or service that appears suspect it is better to be safe than sorry and to go with a business or service you are familiar with.

Did you know that most crimes committed against the elderly are "transient crimes," meaning that many involve home repairs or diversions where a person requests to come into the home to use the bathroom or ask for a glass of water? Another such crime committed against the elderly is to "check out" an unreported problem. Your elderly parents need your help to protect themselves. They forget because of their age all the important safety tips they taught you as a child. Now it is your turn to help your elderly parents who are particularly vulnerable to be a victim of transient crimes.
Your parents may be eager to socialize with strangers because they do not get out and socialize like they once did, remind them not to speak to strangers. I would also suggest to tell them not to talk to by anything from someone who knocks on their door or sells anything over the phone. Call or stop in to see your parents more often to give them company. If this is not possible ask a neighbor to stop in once a day just to check on your parents. Because your parents are eager to please and be helpful, they is particularly prone to allowing anyone into the house to check out an undisclosed problem, use the telephone or get a glass of water. Tell your parents that unless they have called someone for a repair, not to open the door. Explain that since they are elderly, once inside the home, a person can easily intimidate and influence them. Pride is another issue with elderly parents. Because they know they can't make needed repairs and fears losing independence, they may think that family members will believe that they are unable to maintain their home. This makes them prone to the transient scam of driveway, roof and other home repairs. Ask neighbors to contact the police immediately if they see something like this happening. Warn your parents not to sign anything. When confronted by someone who wants them to sign a bogus check or contract, tell your parent to say, "I have to ask my son first." If the person trying to get the check signed or contract is in a hurry, point out to your parents that this would be a perfect sign that this is a scam.

If you live out of town, ask a trusted neighbor to check on your parents once a day and to keep watch of who stops at the house. Offer to pay this neighbor and give them your home, work and cell phone number. This will connect you with your elderly parents in the event of a scam emergency.

Many criminals know exactly when government checks arrive each month, and may pick that day to attack. Avoid this by using Direct Deposit, which sends your money directly from the government to the bank of your choice. And, at many banks, free checking accounts are available to senior citizens. Your bank has all the information. Never withdraw money from your bank accounts for anyone except YOURSELF. Be wary of con artists and get-rich schemes that probably are too-good-to-be- true. You should store valuables in a Safe Deposit Box. Never give your money to someone who calls on you, identifying himself as a bank official. A bank will never ask you to remove your money. If you have been swindled or conned, report the crime to the Rolla Police Department or your local police.

From our Communications Division I would like to welcome Jerrie Thomen who has accepted a position as telecommunicator. Ms. Thomen comes to us from lengthy career in emergency service dispatch in the St. Louis County area. Jerri was employed as a dispatcher with the South County Fire Alarm Company in St. Louis, Missouri where her duties included handling emergency calls and dispatching appropriate emergency responders for 11 different fire districts in St. Louis, County. Jerrie enrolled in the St. Louis County Police Academy where she attended classes to become a certified police officer and served as a reserve officer with the Kirkwood, Missouri Police Department. Jerrie’s hobbies include attending dog shows where she shows her American Bouvier breed dogs. Welcome aboard Jerri!

A sad event occurred last night, I received a call at about 1:00 am that there was a fatality accident on Forum drive by the Rolla Public School bus barn. The vehicle drove off the right side of the road through the grass and over a ditch, one occupant was dead at the scene and the other was flown to a hospital in Columbia in critical condition. This is always a sad occurrence that effects so many, both were Missouri S & T students, we are still investigating the accident, next of kin have been notified.

When we judge or criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about our own need to be critical

Thank you and make it a wonderful weekend.

City Talk - Rolla area continues to top "Best of Lists"

One of the positive aspects of living in an area of the country that has a high quality of life with a diversified economy, clean air, scenic landscapes, and over one million acres of national forest is that we are frequently included on the “Best of Lists” in many publications, national surveys and research polls.

And I’m pleased to report that after months of extensive research, Outdoor Life magazine has included Rolla, Missouri in a list among the top 200 towns for hunting and fishing in America.

Rolla, which is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, including thousands of acres of parkland, reserves, conservation areas, and pristine trout-filled rivers, was ranked number #74 and included among such cities as Durango, Colorado; Grand Junction, Colorado; Grants Pass, Oregon; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Fairbanks, Alaska; Flagstaff, Arizona; and Helena, Montana. Mountain Home, Arkansas topped the list at number one, followed by Lewiston, Idaho (#2) and Sheridan, Wyoming in the number 3 slot. Other Missouri cities that made the list include: Boonville (#22), Kirksville, (#53), Springfield (#129) and West Plains (#151).

The Outdoor Life Website at http://www.outdoorlife.com/article_gallery/Paradise-Found says that the Top 200 list is about moving to “places where life seems simpler, the people friendlier and where the economy is nourished by postcard-perfect vistas.” Many of us living here in Rolla have known this to be true for a long time, but it’s always nice to know when a reputable and well known magazine such as Outdoor Life writes about it and better yet, tells the world about it.

The Website article goes on to state that “Outdoor Life has evaluated towns across America to find the places that offer world-class hunting and fishing, easy access to public land and water and vibrant economies that remain affordable and hospitable.” I have always believed that Rolla’s location in the middle of the Mark Twain National Forest and the foothills to the Ozarks is something many of us take for granted. Maybe that’s why magazines like Outdoor Life and the many other market research companies who continue to rank Rolla as one of the best places to live in America do us all a big favor by reminding us how fortunate we truly are to be living here.

In closing I’d like to mention that the City of Rolla has been doing a little bit of informal polling of sorts of its own by creating a BLOG on the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org. We began using the BLOG about six months ago as a communications tool to offer residents and members of the community an opportunity to comment and provide input about the proposed Rolla West Master Plan. I’m pleased to say that we have, and continue to receive, numerous positive and constructive comments regarding the Rolla West Master Plan.

Police Chief Chat - October 3, 2008

Good morning, it’s been a beautiful week and I hope it stays that way because on Saturday October 25th, 2008 you all are invited to a bicycle and surplus property auction held at the Rolla Police Department located at 1007 North Elm Street starting at 9:00AM. Items included in this auction will be approximately 90 bicycles of all sizes from children’s to adults and a variety of other miscellaneous items. Things usually go for a pretty fair price, so if you need a bicycle here’s the place to get one. The bidding will begin at 9:00 AM. Interested buyers should be at the Rolla Police Department by 8:30AM to obtain a bidding card (must show photo i.d.).

The Rolla Police Department, has received a grant for $14,150.00 from the Missouri Department of Transportation Highway Safety Division to fund overtime projects targeting speed violations by motorists during the 2009 fiscal year. The grant money includes the purchase of several new radar units for patrol cars to effectively enforce the local speed limits.

At the Rolla Police Department, we take traffic safety very seriously and as of late, this has become a major concern of our citizens based on the amount of citizen complaints we have received. Our intent and goal is to identify and take enforcement action against drivers on our roadways that are posing a hazard to the other motorists and pedestrians in the area. Excessive speed is a factor in many motor vehicle accidents that are investigated in Rolla. Besides impairment, speeding is the most preventable driving action motorists can do to avoid accidents. We want to enforce our speed laws by using all available tools at our disposal, this includes using radar units.

Excessive speed remains a major factor in car crashes in Missouri. In 2006, there were a total of 87,708 traffic crashes reported in Missouri. Of those, 1,590 involved excessive speed playing a contributing role in having caused the crash. Of those 1,590 crashes, 98 people in Missouri were killed. Enforcement efforts like this one help to make travel in Rolla and other areas of Missouri safer. Any questions about this activity can be directed to our traffic supervisor CPL Harry Eckman at the Rolla Police Department at 573-364-1213.

When a 911 line rings, dispatchers have to be prepared for whatever the emergency is on the other line. Here is a brief sample of the responses our dispatchers have heard this past week when we asked that magic question …. “911 What is your emergency?” . “ My girlfriend is not breathing.” “My son’s overdosed and is not breathing.” “ There is a truck rolled over on the interstate” “Some guy tried to run over me.” “I am locked out of my apartment and my 1 year old child is inside.” “ I need help. I have been stealing my mother’s medication.” “There is a strong smell of propane in the area.” “ My neighbor’s stereo is shaking the walls.” “Someone threatened me with a gun.” “There is a man and woman in the street screaming and throwing things.” “There are 2 little kids playing out in the parking lot with no parents around.” “There is a car on fire by St. Patrick’s Church” “Someone busted my mail box” “I think I am having a heart attack” “Someone stole my medication.” “There is a strange truck parked in front of my house.” “My friend got attacked.” “ There is someone looking in cars.” “There are a bunch of sheep near the highway.” “There is a raccoon in my yard acting strange.” “This truck almost ran me off the road.” “There is a woman outside yelling and screaming.” “There is a 2 year old having a seizure.” “Someone is trying to break into my apartment.” Whatever the problem, be it emergency or non-emergency, dispatchers must always be ready to assist our callers. We are blessed to have a very capable and conscientious crew in our communications center and I want to commend them for being the unsung heroes behind the scene of every emergency. Thank you, you are appreciated.


911 Telecommunicators are often the unsung heroes working diligently behind the scenes of any emergency to ensure that everything runs smoothly. The telecommunicators at the Rolla Police Department answer 911 lines for the entire county along with non-emergency lines for Rolla Police, St. James Police Department and the Phelps County Sherriff’s Department. We dispatch for 14 agencies including 5 law enforcement agencies, 7 fire departments and 2 ambulance companies. To put that in perspective…. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, dispatchers coordinate response to nearly every single emergency in Phelps County. They are responsible for the safety of the men and women we dispatch for, our 39,000 citizens and all of the people who travel through our 674 square miles every day.


The Rolla Police Department would like to thank Janessa Martin. Janessa is a former telecommunicator and is currently a Rolla Police Explorer. She was gracious enough to come back and help out in the Communications Division this summer. Our 911 center has been 3 dispatchers short and Janessa worked part-time to help us cover shifts over the summer. We really appreciated having her back in the Communications Center. She enabled us to allow dispatchers to take some much needed time off this summer with their families without leaving the division too short handed. Janessa is expecting her first child later this month. Though we will miss her at the Rolla Police Department, we are excited for her and her husband Josh Martin. We wish them the very best.

Communications Supervisor Stacey Smith and Telecommunicator Amanda Rogers attended the Russell House Volunteer Training earlier this week. We try to speak to all Russell House volunteers to help give them an idea of how the 911 system works and what will happen when officers arrive on the scene of a domestic call. Unfortunately, domestic violence is a very prevalent problem in our society. We value the role that the Russell House provides in our community by providing resources and a safe haven to victims of abuse.

I just thought this might be of interest to some of you to know that the Probation and Parole office here in Rolla which is the District 11 Office routinely supervises 1,800 plus clients for the five county areas of Phelps, Pulaski, Maries, Dent and Crawford. The Phelps County area accounts for 801 clients supervised at all levels, 32 of which are supervised on the Sex Offender Case Load. That’s almost a thousand people in Phelps county that are on probation or parole for some type of crime. I’m sure it’s a hard job supervising that many people, it’s hard to believe we have that many that are being supervised on law violations such as murder, rape, child molestations, burglary and the list goes on. My hat goes off to P & P for the job they do.

The Department has just received some free publications from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children thanks to Telecomunicator supervisor Stacey Smith. Most of the publications are geared towards citizens but there are some additional ones for law enforcement, there is a Law Enforcement Guide to Case Investigation and Program Management to assist the officers. Here is a list of some of the citizen publications, if you need any of these stop by and get a copy. Child Protection, Just in Case - Choosing Daycare, Just in Case - Family Separation, Just in Case - Federal Parent Locator Service, Exploited Children Service, Know the Rules - Door to Door Solicitation, Just in Case - Child Care Provider, Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Know the Rules - After School Safety, Just in Case – Runaway, Child Victim Identification Program, Keeping Kids Safer on the Internet, Just in Case Sexual Exploitation, New Neighborhood Safety Tips, Just in Case- Finding Professional Help, Know the Rules - Abduction and kidnapping and several other similar topics.

Everyday we should try to help someone who can’t reciprocate our kindness. Thank you and have a great week.

City Talk - Improvements to Rolla National Airport underway

Maintaining and upgrading the infrastructure of our City’s facilities, roads, bridges and storm water/storm sewer systems continues to be a significant priority for City staff and the Rolla City Council. And I’m pleased to report that the improvements underway at Rolla National Airport (RNA), located 13 miles north of Rolla off U.S. Hwy. 63, will upgrade yet another important community asset.

The airport, which consists of two 5,500-foot-long by 100-foot-wide runways, a pilot’s lounge, two 10-unit T-hangers, a number of businesses and numerous aircraft, is used by pilots throughout the Midwest and country as a convenient stop-over or access point to the Rolla/Phelps County area. Maintaining the runways and ensuring that the airport is meeting the standards and requirements established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is something that RNA Manager Wes Faulkner is always striving for.

Wes, who has managed the airport for the past 12 years, is currently working with Gaines Construction and Huff Construction to ensure the airport’s two runways are well lit, easy to navigate and well marked. Gaines Construction is finishing the installation and landscaping of new runway lights on runway 22 and 04 this week. This Monday, Sept. 29 Huff Construction also will be drilling and filling cracks (where grass and weeds are popping up), resealing, painting and marking runway 13 and 31. These upgrades will not only meet the FAA’s requirements for municipal airports, but they will also improve the quality of the airport services provided by Wes and his staff for pilots and professionals who fly in and out of the Rolla area thousands of times a year.

RNA continues to be an integral asset to the Rolla area, both from an economic development and commuter service perspective. Several businesses and institutions such as Kingsford Charcoal, Brewer Science, Mo-Sci Corporation, Wal-Mart, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and the State of Missouri use RNA on a regular basis. Baron Aviation Services, Inc. also is headquartered at RNA. According to Shawn Bancroft, Operations Supervisor at Baron, the privately owned company provides contractual services for FedEx Express Services. Baron operates a fleet of Cessna Caravans for FedEX. Wodohodsky Aviation, LLC – a flight instruction school also located at RNA, provides airplane rental and aerial photography as part of their services.

RNA is clearly a significant asset to our area in terms of aviation, transportation, economic development, homeland security and future industrial expansion. The eventual development of an industrial/business park at RNA also would encourage the growth of additional businesses and industry around the airport. During the past two weekends hundreds of students from Missouri S&T participated in the “Greek Week” games at RNA at the pavilion area where the legendary Ozark Extravaganza was hosted for many years. This event, like the recent Tour of Missouri Stage 4 Finish in Rolla, reflects the ‘town and gown’ relationship the City of Rolla continues to strengthen and foster with the administration, faculty and students at Missouri S&T.

In closing I would like to mention again that Rolla Channel 6, Rolla’s premiere education and government channel, will begin airing Rolla City Council meetings on a regular basis beginning Monday, Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. In addition to airing the City Council meetings live the first and third Monday of the month, RC6 also will re-air City Council meetings several times throughout the week. City Planning & Zoning (P&Z) meetings will begin airing on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 5:30 p.m. with additional City meetings planned for the coming months.

Rolla Public Schools (RPS) board meetings and Rolla High School Friday night home football games also will air on RC6. The schedule for all programs will be posted on the RC6 program guide. So tune in. RC6 is a jointly funded education and government cable channel provided by the City of Rolla, Rolla Public Schools, and Fidelity Cablevision. The mission of RC6 is to enhance the City of Rolla’s and Rolla Public Schools’ public information and communication systems, involve the community in local government and Rolla Public School decision-making, and provide useful information to the public.

City Talk - RC6 is Rolla’s new premiere education and government cable channel

We sure had an exciting, exhilarating and memorable week when the Tour of Missouri Stage 4 and Stage 5 races made history in Rolla (Sept. 11) and St. James (Sept. 12). It’s not every day that you see the City of Rolla’s name in the headline of articles all over the Internet from countries such as England, Australia, France, and a dozen other countries around the globe. And the timing couldn’t have been better for Rolla Channel 6 (RC6), Rolla’s new Education and Government channel, to capture on film this international sporting event.

In case you were not aware, Gabe Mankin, Video Production Manager for RC6, was very busy filming and capturing video from the Tour of Missouri Stage 4 Finish throughout Rolla’s downtown area. Historic events like these deserve to be filmed, recorded and replayed, and RC6 was among the many other state and national media outlets who were clamoring for position to video and photograph the Tour of Missouri Stage 4 finish in front of the Castleman Hall Performing Arts Center on the Missouri S&T campus.

Many exciting and wonderful events like the Tour of Missouri can bring state, national and international attention to the Rolla community, and having an Education and Government cable channel such as RC6 capture and broadcast these events is, I think you’ll agree, a wonderful addition to our community. The promotional video clip for the Tour of Missouri had been airing on RC6 for weeks prior to the race on Sept. 11, and created additional excitement and anticipation for the event that brought more than 18,000 spectators to the Stage 4 race finish in Rolla and 12,000 spectators to the Stage 5 start in St. James, for a total of more than 30,000 spectators in both TOM host cities.

Rolla Channel 6 will begin airing Rolla City Council meetings on a regular basis beginning Monday, Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. In addition to airing the City Council meetings live the first and third Monday of the month, RC6 also will re-air City Council meetings several times throughout the week. City Planning & Zoning (P&Z) meetings are scheduled to begin airing on Tuesday, October 14 at 5:30 p.m. with additional City meetings planned for the coming months.

Rolla Public Schools (RPS) board meetings also will be aired live on RC6. These meetings will re-air throughout the week as well. Rolla High School Friday night football games will air the Sunday following the game at 6 p.m. RC6 will re-air the games frequently throughout the following week or weeks depending on the home schedule. The schedule for all programs will be posted on the RC6 program guide.

Other pre-produced programs currently airing on RC6 include: Missouri Outdoors, After the Storm, Army Newswatch, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Services (CSREES) Partners Video Magazine, NASA Science Files, World Energy Television, PlaySports TV, Perils for Pedestrians, Road to Recovery and Friends in Discovery.

For more information regarding programming or DVD duplication of Rolla City Council and Rolla Public Schools board meetings, and RHS sporting events, please contact Gabe Mankin, RC6 Video Production Manager, at (573) 426-3377 or at Gabe.Mankin@fidelitycommunications.com.

RC6 is a jointly funded education and government cable channel provided by the City of Rolla, Rolla Public Schools, and Fidelity Cablevision. The mission of RC6 is to enhance the City of Rolla’s and Rolla Public Schools’ public information and communication systems, involve the community in local government and Rolla Public School decision-making, and provide useful information to the public.