Chamber Business After Hours at The Centre April 8

The Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to a Business After Hours event on Friday, April 8 from 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at The Centre, 1200 N. Holloway St. 

   This Business After Hours will be held in conjunction with Fine Arts Day, an art awareness event, showcasing Rolla High School student art exhibits, demonstrations and a Jewelry Auction featuring jewelry designed by students and crafted by the staff of Kent Jewelry. The Jewelry Auction will benefit the United Way of South Central Missouri.

   Business After Hours is a networking event, allowing members and the community an opportunity to meet, exchange ideas and make new contacts. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please call the Chamber office at 573-364-3577.

Exercise Your Right to Vote on April 5

  With the Rolla General Municipal Election just around the corner on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, I would like to encourage Rolla residents to exercise your right to vote. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. The positions open for election this year include: one Council Representative for all six wards (two-year term) and Municipal Judge (to fulfill a one-year unexpired term).  

   Also appearing on the April 5 ballot is Proposition A – the proposed ½ Cent Park Sales Tax. The ballot language on Proposition reads as follows: “Shall the municipality of Rolla, Missouri impose a sales tax of one-half (1/2) of one percent for 10 years beginning Oct. 1, 2011, reduced to three-eights (3/8) of one percent beginning Oct. 1, 2021, for the purpose of funding local parks for the municipality, including construction, operation and maintenance of a new community and senior services center?”

   The primary purpose of the park sales tax is to fund the operations of the Parks and Recreation Department and to construct and operate a senior center. A small portion of the funds will be utilized to ensure the sustainability of The Centre. The park sales tax will free dollars to be spent on municipal services such as public safety (police & fire) and on economic development. The Rolla City Council recently approved a resolution in support of Proposition A – the proposed ½ Cent Park Sales Tax. The resolution states that in December 2010 a citizen survey was conducted demonstrating 70 percent of those surveyed support extending the half-cent parks sales tax in order to fund park system improvements, provide a seniors’ services facility and to improve public safety.

   In light of considerable public feedback on the needs and desires of a quality parks and recreation system for the citizens of Rolla, the city council also approved an ordinance calling for the April 5 park sales tax election. For more information regarding the results of the 2010 Direction Finder Citizen Attitude Survey, the Parks Sales Tax Fact Sheet, and other information regarding the proposed ½ Cent Park Sales Tax, please visit the City’s Website at www.rollacity.org and click on the ‘Proposition A’ tab. For more information regarding voting or polling places, please contact Carol Daniels in the City Clerk’s Office at (573) 426-6942 or at cdaniels@rollacity.org.

   In closing, I’d like to remind everyone that the next Rolla City Council meeting will be held this Monday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall. I’d also like to invite everyone to attend the annual Fine Arts Day 2011 that will be co-hosted by Rolla High School art students, RHS art teachers, Kent Jewelry and staff at The Centre on Friday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The popular and well attended event includes a jewelry exhibition, demonstrations and student designed jewelry auction. The purpose of the event is to expose area students to how the creative process can be applied with real life results; demonstrate to students the importance of giving back to their community and to raise funds and awareness for the United Way of South Central Missouri.

   Questions about this event may be directed to Kent Bagnall at Kent Jewelry at 364-1030 or Carolyn Peplow at the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce, at 364-3577.

   Have a good week and don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, April 5.

Police Chief Chat

This past week, and for the first time in modern history, the Rolla Police Department received no calls for service, there was no reported crime anywhere in the city and officers all took time off and stayed home…. April fools! Actually we received 664 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 25 arrests, 12 alarms, 18 accidents, 31 traffic complaints, 108 traffic stops, 18 disturbance (including domestics), 6 suspicious nature, 12 check well beings, 4 intoxicated persons, 3 juvenile complaints, 2 malicious mischief, 2 try to contacts, 1 repossessed vehicle and 10 property destructions. This call total is down 104 calls from last week, but still another busy week!

• On March 27, 2011 at approximately 1820 hours, the Rolla Police Department received a report of an armed robbery that occurred at Lions Club Park located in the 1000 block of S. US 63, Rolla, MO. The victim, male age 18 of Carol Stream, IL, reported that he met three subjects at the location in order to facilitate an illegal narcotic...s transaction. Reportedly, one of the subjects had flourished a weapon while another subject approached the victim, assaulted him, and demanded the victim’s wallet. The victim was able to leave after handing over his wallet. The third subject reportedly did not take an active role in the incident. The victim was able to identify the subject who flourished the weapon and the third subject from past associations but did not know the identity of the subject who had assaulted him. The Uniformed Division sought out the known subject who had flourished the weapon. Unable to locate the subject, a warrant application was made.

On March 28, 2011, the Uniformed Division was able to tentatively identify the subject who had assaulted the victim. The Uniformed Division located and arrested Terrance Tipton age 19 of Rolla who had an outstanding warrant issued through the Rolla Municipal Court that was unrelated to this investigation. During the investigation, it was determined that Terrance Tipton was the subject who had assaulted the victim and took his wallet. Terrance Tipton was incarcerated in the Phelps County Jail pending warrant application for Robbery 1st and Assault 3rd. Later in the evening, the Street Crimes Unit located the third subject, male age 22 of Rolla. The subject was interviewed by the Division of Criminal Investigations and at the time released without charges.

On March 29, 2011, the Uniformed Division located and arrested Benjamin Tolliver age 21 of Rolla. Benjamin Tolliver was arrested on a warrant issued by the 25th Judicial Circuit for Robbery 1st and Armed Criminal Action in connection to this investigation. During the investigation, it was determined that Benjamin Tolliver was the subject that had flourished the firearm. The stolen wallet was later recovered by a citizen on a public road and turned over to the Rolla Police Department. Missing from the wallet was the victim’s money. The amount of money is not being disclosed at this time. The charges for which Terrance Tipton and Benjamin Tolliver have been charged with is a mere accusation and is not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of this charges must be presented to a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

• On March 30, 2011, Terry L. Dunaway, age 24 of the 600 Block of E. 12th Street in Rolla, was arrested on a Phelps County Warrant charging him with Possession of Child Pornography. This arrest and charge stems from a three month criminal investigation that was conducted by the Rolla Police Department’s Division of Criminal Investigation...s Unit, and the South Central Missouri Computer Crimes Task Force. Terry L. Dunaway is currently incarcerated in the Phelps County Jail on a $25,000.00 bond. The charge for which Terry L. Dunaway has been charged with is a mere accusation and is not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of this charges must be presented to a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

These aforementioned entries are just a few examples of the results of the collaborated efforts of our Criminal Investigations Unit, the Patrol Division, Street Crimes Unit, the South Central Drug Task Force and our Housing Officer. This versatile team of experienced officers are battling illegal drugs, and associated crimes on many fronts and are producing amazing results. Some of those results were seen here and will be shown in future Chief Chat columns and on our Rolla Police Department Facebook site. As I have said in the past, we will not sit still and allow the criminal element and other undesirables to come into our community and spread their poisons and victimize our citizens without delivering swift and severe consequences. These Specialty Teams have been formed to enhance and support the work already undertaken by our Patrol Division and Criminal Investigations Unit.

Recently we announced that we would be seeking applicants to fill a telecommunicator position in our Central Dispatch Unit and also a Parking Control Officer to replace Warren Hogan who will be retiring in the near future. The results of that announcement netted over 75 interested applicants for those positions. I wanted to thank each of you for your interest in securing employment here at the Rolla Police Department. Both of the announced positions are very important positions in our community and we will do our best to fill them with the best all around candidate for the job. Thanks again to all of the applicants for your desire to join us in serving this great community. The only problem with so many applicants is that we only have the two positions available. If you are not selected for these openings please keep us in mind and watch for future opportunities as they arise.

In closing, the Rolla Police Department S.W.A.T. Team is comprised of 10 full time officers and 4 reserve officers. The S.W.A.T. Team was developed in 1997 to assist in resolving incident outside the realm of ordinary patrol response through the use of developed skills, tactics and specialized equipment capabilities. The S.W.A.T. Team trains as a team on a regular basis throughout the year and in an effort to keep the training diverse and as real as possible, locations throughout the community are sought as a trainging site. These locations could be residences, businesses, schools and other government buildings. Our training, although intense and realistic, is designed to create an intense atmosphere, but does not cause damage to the chosen site. If you have a building you would consider allowing us to use as a training site please contact S.W.A.T. Commander Lt. Jim Macormic at 573-308-1213.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

The Centre is so much more than fitness

   As I scan the number of community events, educational conferences, cultural events and school related activities that have taken place and will take place in the coming weeks at The Centre, Rolla’s 63,000-square-foot health and recreation complex, the first thing that comes to mind is that The Centre, which has recently surpassed the 1.5 million visit mark to the facility, is so much more than fitness.

Just last Saturday, March 19 at The Centre, several members of the Rolla community, including many whom were grandparents, attended what has become the annual Grand-Family Informational Gathering - a day-long free seminar co-hosted by AARP Missouri, The Centre and the University of Missouri Extension. Beginning this Monday, March 28 the annual “Spring Break-out”, a week-long program designed for kids age 6-13 during Rolla Public School’s official week of Spring Break, will be held March 28 through Friday, April 1 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parents will be able to drop off their kids at 7:30 a.m. and pick them up as late as 5:30 p.m. To register or receive more information, stop by The Centre (1200 N. Holloway Street), or call 573-341-2FUN. The fee for Spring Breakout is $125 for the week, with Centre members receiving a $25 discount. Each additional child from the same family is only $85 for the week.

Looking toward the month of April, the annual Fine Arts Day 2011 will be co-hosted by Rolla High School art students, RHS art teachers, Kent Jewelry and staff at The Centre on Friday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The popular and well attended event includes a jewelry exhibition, demonstrations and student designed jewelry auction. The purpose of the event is to expose area students to how the creative process can be applied with real life results; demonstrate to students the importance of giving back to their community and to raise funds and awareness for the United Way of South Central Missouri. Questions about this event may be directed to Kent Bagnall at Kent Jewelry at 364-1030 or Carolyn Peplow at the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce, at 364-3577.

Last month during the month of February Arts Rolla, which hosts several art shows, photographic exhibits, and receptions for local artists who display their work at The Centre, presented the work of several artists with the art group, Local Color. Original art by Arts Rolla artists is continually on display at The Centre where the exhibit changes monthly. In fact, an opening reception is held by Arts Rolla each month on the first Friday of the month between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend the reception, meet the artists and enjoy the reception.

Arts Rolla and The Centre will also be hosting the Youth Art Exhibit, which will feature original artwork created by students ages pre-school through high school at The Centre. Interested students may bring their artwork to The Centre on Friday, April 1, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The art exhibit will include 2-dimensional paper artwork which will be pinned to a cloth that hangs on the wall in The Centre lobby, and 3-dimensional small artworks which will be displayed in the glass case near the entry doors of The Centre. It is requested that each student attach their name, age, title of work, school, and city to each piece of artwork. Each artist will be limited to exhibit two works of art. For more information, please call Arts Rolla at 364-5539 or Jan Roberts at 364-2841.

Later in the month of April, on Saturday, April 23 Breakfast with the Bunny, an annual event held every Easter at The Centre, begins at 8 a.m. Arts Rolla and The Centre provide fun activities for children. The event is free and open to the public.

The list of community events, activities, programs and outreach opportunities held throughout the year at The Centre go on and on, including the annual free Health Fair sponsored by Phelps County Regional Medical Center and attended by hundreds of residents in October; the annual Halloween Costume Contest, Photos with Santa during Christmas, and let’s not forget the nationally recognized summer Licking Basketball and Volleyball tournaments that provide great sporting opportunities and entertainment for literally thousands of youth during a period of six weekends in the gymnasiums at The Centre. The Licking tournaments have reported to attract upwards of 15,000 visitors who spend hundreds-of-thousands of dollars in the Rolla area on hotels, restaurants, fuel, shopping and entertainment.

For the sake of time and space, I have left off several other community events and activities held throughout the year at The Centre, but I think it is fairly evident from the above mentioned activities and events, that The Centre is so much more than fitness. It’s also very much about community, education, art, culture, wellness, health, and recreation for all ages.

In closing, I’d like to remind everyone the City of Rolla Environmental Services Department will hold the City-wide Clean Up on Saturday, April 2. If you wish to participate, we ask that you please place all items near the curb by 6 a.m. Common acceptable items include furniture, beds, toys, microwaves, and televisions, boxed or bagged trash. Unacceptable items include major appliances, construction or demolition debris, and loose trash. 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 clean-up it will not be emptied. If you have any questions, please call the Environmental Services Department at 364-6693.

I would also like to remind everyone to exercise your democratic right to vote during the Rolla Municipal General Election on Tuesday, April 5. The election will include Proposition A – the proposed ½ Cent Park Sales Tax that is endorsed by the Rolla City Council. Have a safe week! And don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, April 5.

Sponsors needed for Rolla Sesquicentennial Celebration

The Rolla Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee continues to seek sponsors to help defray costs for the Sesquicentennial Celebration and many festivities planned through the day on Saturday, June 4, 2011 in downtown Rolla.

A special thanks goes to the following businesses and organizations that have already made generous contributions to the Sesquicentennial Celebration: Phelps County Bank, Town and Country Bank, Rolla Municipal Utilities and Rolla Noon Kiwanis Club.

If you are interested in being a sponsor and making a donation to the Rolla Sesquicentennial celebration, please contact Rolla City Administration at 426-6948 or stop by Rolla City Hall, Administration Department on the third floor (901 N. Elm Street).

The day-long celebration starts with a “Walk Through History” at 8 a.m. in and around Rolla City Hall with tours of the Frisco Caboose, a vintage photo slide show, oral history PowerPoint show, and tours of the Historic Walking Tour of Rolla. The Sesquicentennial Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Pine Street in downtown Rolla where 15 decades will be represented by various community and civic organizations.

Following the parade, the Sesquicentennial Program begins at 11:30 a.m. at the downtown bandshell. Several City, County and State officials, as well as long-time Rolla residents and historians, and the Rolla High School Choirs will be part of the ceremony, which will include a tribute to Rolla’s rich heritage and history. Later that afternoon at 2 p.m. Sesquicentennial festivities will continue with historical re-enactments, a living history demonstration and lots of historic exhibits, crafters, artisans, displays and tours of the pre-Civil War old Phelps County Courthouse, and the 1857 John A. Dillon Log Cabin, (the first Phelps County Courthouse, which serves now as the Phelps County Historical Museum).

The entire community, State and Midwest region is invited to participate in and help celebrate Rolla’s Sesquicentennial and milestone event on June 4, 2011. For more information, please contact Scott Grahl, Chairman of Rolla’s Sesquicentennial Committee, and the City of Rolla’s Communications Officer, at 573-426-6943 or at sgrahl@rollacity.org.

Exhibitors needed for Rolla Earth Day Celebration April 22

The 10^th Annual Rolla Earth Day Celebration will be held Friday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the Missouri S&T Gale Bullman Multi-Purpose Building at 10^th Street and State Route 63.

   Businesses, government offices, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to participate. Rolla Earth Day exhibits are limited to organizations sharing information about topics related to sustainability, recycling, environmental best practices, earth and biological sciences and environmental policy. 

   Last year, approximately 1,500 children and adults attended the event. Hands-on childrens activities are encouraged. Giveaways are allowed but only if they relate to the theme (such as trees, seeds, flowers planted in biodegradable flower pots, or products made from natural and/or recyclable materials). This year’s theme is:  Live Green, Love Green, Think Green.

   For more information, please contact Julie Wilson at 341-4262 or wilsonjulie@mst.edu at your earliest opportunity. You can register your exhibit at http://green.mst.edu/Exhibitors.html. Rolla Earth Day Celebration is a free event that includes childrens activities, educational exhibits, live music, a fashion show with items made from recycled materials, and more.  The event will take place rain or shine.

Sesquicentennial float brings Rolla’s history to life

Thanks to the glorious spring-like weather last Saturday, attendance at the 103^rd annual St. Pat’s parade was in the thousands. And it was truly an honor to join City Administrator John Butz, our police and fire chiefs, department heads, and other Rolla city employees on the City’s Sesquicentennial pioneer-themed float that showcased not only Rolla’s 150 year anniversary, but the great since of history and tradition that is part of Rolla’s heritage.

   Not unlike one of the nostalgic living history floats you might see depicting an American slice of life in a Walt Disney parade, the City’s Sesquicentennial float, with its fire-operated forge, cannon, Civil War era musket, and tent, embodied the spirit of Rolla’s pioneer history. And if you happened to miss seeing the Sesquicentennial float, you will have another opportunity to see everything that was showcased on the float, and then some during Rolla’s day-long Sesquicentennial Celebration on Saturday, June 4. Pioneer era crafters, such as a blacksmith, quilters, rope makers, and even corn-husk doll artisans will all be part of the festivities that are being planned that afternoon (12-4 p.m.) in the area in and around the Old Phelps County Courthouse. Showcasing and sharing Rolla’s pioneer heritage, in fact, is one of the main themes that the Rolla Sesquicentennial Planning Committee intended for every aspect of Rolla’s Sesquicentennial anniversary, which is being celebrated throughout 2011.

   While much of the recognition for Rolla’s Sesquicentennial float needs to go to the ancestors and pioneers who helped settle the Rolla and Phelps County area, I would be remiss not to thank Steve Hargis, Director of Public Works; John Petersen, Community Development Director; and George Lewis, Maintenance Manager at The Centre, for setting up and decorating the 28-foot-long float that glided through the crowds on Pine Street during the St. Pat’s Parade. I would also like to thank Anne McClay, Project Coordinator in the Engineering Division, for her work in designing all the banners for the float, and Lawrence Light, Equipment Operator in the Street Department, for driving the dump-truck that pulled the float and showcased the City’s new red, white and blue flag that now flies in the City’s downtown festival lot. The banners that were so effectively used for the parade float, will also now be displayed throughout the downtown area to promote Rolla’s Sesquicentennial Celebration on June 4, and Public Works Celebration Day, which will be held on Saturday, May 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the downtown bandshell. One side of the parade float showed a banner promoting the Rolla Sesquicentennial Celebration and another side of the float showed a banner promoting Public Works Celebration Day – not a bad way to start off the spring and summer seasons in Rolla, Missouri!

   When you think of Spring, you can’t help to also think of the many good things that come with warmer weather, trees and flowers blooming, birds migrating, and the opportunity to spend more time outdoors enjoying the many recreational activities made possible by our City’s park system, 12-mile-long pedestrian/bike trails and 1.3 million acres of forests we are so fortunate to have in our community. Spring also means there will be a City-wide Clean Up that is held annually the first Saturday in April. The City’s Environmental Services Department will coordinate the Clean Up on Saturday, April 2. If you wish to participate, we ask that you please place all items near the curb by 6 a.m. Common acceptable items include furniture, beds, toys, microwaves, and televisions, boxed or bagged trash. Unacceptable items include major appliances, construction or demolition debris, and loose trash. 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 clean-up it will not be emptied. If you have any questions, please call the Environmental Services Department at 364-6693.

   Looking towards the month of April, I would also like to remind everyone to exercise your democratic right to vote during the Rolla Municipal General Election on Tuesday, April 5. The election will include Proposition A – the proposed ½ Cent Park Sales Tax that is endorsed by the Rolla City Council, which recently approved a resolution in support of the Rolla Park Sales Tax proposal. The resolution states that in December 2010 a citizen survey was conducted demonstrating 70% of those surveyed support extending the ½ cent Parks Sales tax in order to fund park system improvements, provide a seniors’ services facility and to improve public safety. In light of considerable public feedback on the needs and desires of a quality parks and recreation system for the citizens of Rolla, the City Council also approved an ordinance calling for the April 5, 2011 Park Sales Tax election.

   For more information regarding the results of the 2010 Direction Finder Citizen Attitude survey, and the Parks Sales Tax fact sheet, please visit the City’s Website homepage at  www.rollacity.org. Specific questions and results on both the City’s Parks system and the proposed Parks Sales Tax are included in the survey. Hard copies of both the Parks Sales Tax fact sheet and Direction Finder Citizen Attitude survey are available at Rolla City Hall, 901 N. Elm Street.

   With the recent welcomed news that the construction of a new Kohl’s store will be breaking ground soon next to Lowe’s on State Route 63 North in Rolla, the construction of the attractive Missouri S&T new Student Design Center at the corner of 10^th Street and State Route 63, the new Bryant Drive Extension (connecting Kingshighway to Fairgrounds Road), and expansion of the Missouri S&T Innovation Park, 2011 is looking like the City’s Sesquicentennial anniversary couldn’t have occurred at a more progressive, and promising time in our City’s 150 year history.

   Have a safe week! And don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, April 5.

Rolla City Council approves Resolution in support of Rolla ½ Cent Park Sales Tax

The Rolla City Council recently approved a resolution in support of Proposition A – the proposed ½ Cent Park Sales Tax.

   The resolution states that in December 2010 a citizen survey was conducted demonstrating 70 percent of those surveyed support extending the half-cent parks sales tax in  order to fund park system improvements, provide a seniors’ services facility and to improve public safety.

   In light of considerable public feedback on the needs and desires of a quality parks and recreation system for the citizens of Rolla, the city council also approved an ordinance calling for the April 5 park sales tax election.

   For more information regarding the results of the 2010 Direction Finder Citizen Attitude Survey, click here, and to review the Parks Sales Tax Fact Sheet, click here. Specific questions and results on both the city’s parks system and the proposed parks sales tax are included in the survey. Hard copies of both the parks sales tax fact sheet and Direction Finder Citizen Attitude survey are available at Rolla City Hall, 901 N. Elm Street.  

Proposition A - 1/2 Cent Park Sales Tax on Rolla General Municipal Election Ballot April 5

   The City of Rolla’s 2011 General Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2011. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

   The positions open for election this year include: one Council Representative for all six wards (two-year term) and Municipal Judge (to fulfill a one-year unexpired term).  

   Also appearing on the April 5 ballot is Proposition A – the proposed ½ Cent Park Sales Tax. The ballot language on Proposition reads as follows: “Shall the municipality of Rolla, Missouri impose a sales tax of one-half (1/2) of one percent for 10 years beginning Oct. 1, 2011, reduced to three-eights (3/8) of one percent beginning October 1, 2021, for the purpose of funding local parks for the municipality, including construction, operation and maintenance of a new community and senior services center?”

   The primary purpose of the park sales tax is to fund the operations of the parks and recreation Department and to construct and operate a senior center. A small portion of the funds will be utilized to ensure the sustainability of The Centre. The park sales tax will free dollars to be spent on municipal services such as public safety (police & fire) and on economic development. For more information regarding the details of Proposition A, please visit http://www.rollacity.org/Forms/fact%20sheet_Layout%201.pdf or call the City’s Parks and Recreation Department at 341-2386

   For more information regarding polling places, please http://www.rollacity.org/wards/voter.shtml or contact Carol Daniels in the City Clerk’s Office at (573) 426-6942 or at cdaniels@rollacity.org.

Sesquicentennial float brings Rolla’s history to life

   Thanks to the glorious spring-like weather last Saturday, attendance at the 103^rd annual St. Pat’s parade was in the thousands. And it was truly an honor to join City Administrator John Butz, our police and fire chiefs, department heads, and other Rolla city employees on the City’s Sesquicentennial pioneer-themed float that showcased not only Rolla’s 150 year anniversary, but the great since of history and tradition that is part of Rolla’s heritage.

   Not unlike one of the nostalgic living history floats you might see depicting an American slice of life in a Walt Disney parade, the City’s Sesquicentennial float, with its fire-operated forge, cannon, Civil War era musket, and tent, embodied the spirit of Rolla’s pioneer history. And if you happened to miss seeing the Sesquicentennial float, you will have another opportunity to see everything that was showcased on the float, and then some during Rolla’s day-long Sesquicentennial Celebration on Saturday, June 4. Pioneer era crafters, such as a blacksmith, quilters, rope makers, and even corn-husk doll artisans will all be part of the festivities that are being planned that afternoon (12-4 p.m.) in the area in and around the Old Phelps County Courthouse. Showcasing and sharing Rolla’s pioneer heritage, in fact, is one of the main themes that the Rolla Sesquicentennial Planning Committee intended for every aspect of Rolla’s Sesquicentennial anniversary, which is being celebrated throughout 2011.

   While much of the recognition for Rolla’s Sesquicentennial float needs to go to the ancestors and pioneers who helped settle the Rolla and Phelps County area, I would be remiss not to thank Steve Hargis, Director of Public Works; John Petersen, Community Development Director; and George Lewis, Maintenance Manager at The Centre, for setting up and decorating the 28-foot-long float that glided through the crowds on Pine Street during the St. Pat’s Parade. I would also like to thank Anne McClay, Project Coordinator in the Engineering Division, for her work in designing all the banners for the float, and Lawrence Light, Equipment Operator in the Street Department, for driving the dump-truck that pulled the float and showcased the City’s new red, white and blue flag that now flies in the City’s downtown festival lot. The banners that were so effectively used for the parade float, will also now be displayed throughout the downtown area to promote Rolla’s Sesquicentennial Celebration on June 4, and Public Works Celebration Day, which will be held on Saturday, May 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the downtown bandshell. One side of the parade float showed a banner promoting the Rolla Sesquicentennial Celebration and another side of the float showed a banner promoting Public Works Celebration Day – not a bad way to start off the spring and summer seasons in Rolla, Missouri!

   When you think of Spring, you can’t help to also think of the many good things that come with warmer weather, trees and flowers blooming, birds migrating, and the opportunity to spend more time outdoors enjoying the many recreational activities made possible by our City’s park system, 12-mile-long pedestrian/bike trails and 1.3 million acres of forests we are so fortunate to have in our community. Spring also means there will be a City-wide Clean Up that is held annually the first Saturday in April. The City’s Environmental Services Department will coordinate the Clean Up on Saturday, April 2. If you wish to participate, we ask that you please place all items near the curb by 6 a.m. Common acceptable items include furniture, beds, toys, microwaves, and televisions, boxed or bagged trash. Unacceptable items include major appliances, construction or demolition debris, and loose trash. 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 clean-up it will not be emptied. If you have any questions, please call the Environmental Services Department at 364-6693.

   Looking towards the month of April, I would also like to remind everyone to exercise your democratic right to vote during the Rolla Municipal General Election on Tuesday, April 5. The election will include Proposition A – the proposed ½ Cent Park Sales Tax that is endorsed by the Rolla City Council, which recently approved a resolution in support of the Rolla Park Sales Tax proposal. The resolution states that in December 2010 a citizen survey was conducted demonstrating 70% of those surveyed support extending the ½ cent Parks Sales tax in order to fund park system improvements, provide a seniors’ services facility and to improve public safety. In light of considerable public feedback on the needs and desires of a quality parks and recreation system for the citizens of Rolla, the City Council also approved an ordinance calling for the April 5, 2011 Park Sales Tax election.

   For more information regarding the results of the 2010 Direction Finder Citizen Attitude survey, and the Parks Sales Tax fact sheet, please visit the City’s Website homepage at  www.rollacity.org. Specific questions and results on both the City’s Parks system and the proposed Parks Sales Tax are included in the survey. Hard copies of both the Parks Sales Tax fact sheet and Direction Finder Citizen Attitude survey are available at Rolla City Hall, 901 N. Elm Street.

   With the recent welcomed news that the construction of a new Kohl’s store will be breaking ground soon next to Lowe’s on State Route 63 North in Rolla, the construction of the attractive Missouri S&T new Student Design Center at the corner of 10^th Street and State Route 63, the new Bryant Drive Extension (connecting Kingshighway to Fairgrounds Road), and expansion of the Missouri S&T Innovation Park, 2011 is looking like the City’s Sesquicentennial anniversary couldn’t have occurred at a more progressive, and promising time in our City’s 150 year history.

   Have a safe week! And don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, April 5.