St. Pat's Parade was "Best Ever"

If you didn’t have the opportunity to attend the highly touted and well attended St. Pat’s Parade last Saturday in Rolla, you may have missed one of the best St. Pat’s parades in recent years.

Every year it seems like the St. Pat’s Board that organizes the event adds something new to improve upon the year before, but this year – the 101st Anniversary - was truly something special. And I echo the remarks made by City Councilman Don Morris at last Monday’s City Council meeting when he expressed his thanks and appreciation for how well the parade was organized, coordinated and celebrated by the entire community.

I’d like to especially thank the St. Pat’s Board, Missouri S&T Professor, Dr. Lance Haynes, Advisor to the St. Pat’s Board, St. Patrick and his Court, and Missouri S&T Chancellor Dr. Jack Carney for working together with the City (Rolla PD, Public Works, Streets, and Environmental Services). This event, which is a combined community effort, reflects not only the Town and Gown relationship between Missouri S&T and the City, but the entire Rolla community. Kudos to all who made this festive celebration as enjoyable and successful as it was.

Speaking of great events, Friday, March 20 marked the first official day of spring. And along with spring, comes many events you will want to also mark on your calendar. In anticipation of the April 7 Rolla Municipal Election (polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.), the City of Rolla and Rolla Channel 6 will host a Candidates Forum on Wednesday, April 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall (901 N. Elm Street).

All seven candidates who are running in the Rolla Municipal Election on April 7 for the six open City Council ward seats have been invited to attend the forum, which will be moderated by Lee Buhr, Sports/Newscaster for Results Radio.

The format of the forum will include brief introductions by each candidate, followed by questions from the audience, and then an opportunity for closing remarks. Only questions given directly from those attending the forum will be included in the discussions. For more information, please call City Administration at 426-6948.

For all the sports-minded people in our community, there will be a managers meeting for the Rolla adult softball leagues on Wednesday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m. in Meeting Room “B” at The Centre (1200 North Holloway Street). Managers must attend this rules meeting as changes for the 2009 season will be discussed. This is the only managers meeting scheduled prior to the start of the season. For more information, please contact Kristy Bullock at the Rolla Parks and Recreation Department at 341-2386 or via e-mail at parks@rollacity.org.

Another upcoming event you will want to mark on your calendar is the annual city-wide “Spring Clean-up” on Saturday, April 4. If you wish to participate, please place all items near the curb by 6 a.m.

Examples of items that will be accepted include: furniture, microwaves, televisions, old clothes, and household trash. Items that will not be accepted include: appliances, water heaters, yard waste, tires, or construction debris such as sheet rock, shingles, concrete or rock. Loose items should be placed in boxes or bags and small pieces of lumber should be bundled.

We ask that you do not place your roll-out container to the curb, because during this special spring clean-up it will not be emptied. If you have any questions, please call the Environmental Services Department at (573) 364-6693.