Tuesday, September 4, 2012

City of Rolla Weekly E-Updates (Sept. 4, 2012)


Rolla, British
Columbia celebrates
100th Anniversary
By Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks, III
While it may be well known that there are other towns and cities in the U.S. that are named Rolla, few may realize that Rolla, British Columbia in Canada was named after Rolla, Missouri.
In fact, I had the privilege recently of recognizing and paying tribute to Rolla, British Columbia with a ‘Key to the City’ plaque when the town celebrated its 100th Anniversary in August 2012. The plaque was presented during a ceremony recognizing the 100th Anniversary of Rolla, British Columbia, by Phelps County, Missouri resident Paula Miller Lindenlaub (who is married to Russell Lindenlaub) to her cousins, John Miller (age 82) and Belva Ireland (age 92) who live in British Columbia, Rolla. The Rolla, British Columbia residents are the two oldest remaining members of the Miller family who were the first settlers of Rolla, British Columbia, and who named the community Rolla. John and Belva’s fathers were brothers who were born in Phelps County, Missouri and traveled with their father and other family members to Canada and arrived in the Peace River Valley in 1912 (which includes Rolla, British Columbia).

(Pictured above: Phelps County Missouri resident Paula Miller Lindenlaub, (far right), presents a Key to the City  plaque on behalf of Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks, III, to Rolla, British Columbia residents, Belva Ireland, (age 92), and John Miller (age 82). Rolla, British Columbia celebrated their 100th Anniversary as a town in August 2012).




In addition to the Key to the City plaque, a Welcome to Rolla, Missouri banner, which now hangs in Rolla Community Hall in Rolla, BC, was presented by Rolla City Administrator John Butz to members of the Miller family who were in the Rolla, Missouri area (in 2008) while visiting and researching family cemeteries. The blue and white welcome banner was presented as a symbol of Rolla’s international friendship with Rolla, BC.
               Somewhat similar to the topography of the Rolla/Phelps County area, Rolla, BC, is a small historic farming community located in the Peace River district of Northeastern British Columbia about 12 miles north of the famous town of Dawson Creek, which is the beginning of the Alcan Highway (built in 1942 during WW II). The area in Rolla, BC is very scenic, with gently rolling farmland and mountains in the distance. It is located about 2,500 miles from Rolla, Missouri.According to the Discover the Peace Country.com Visitors Guide for Northern Alberta and British Columbia (http://www.discoverthepeacecountry.com/htmlpages/rolla.html), Rolla, BC is home to the Rolla Post Office, Rolla Traditional School (Kindergarten thru 7th grade), Rolla Community Hall, Rolla Centennial Park and the Rolla Pub, which has become a landmark of the community. The majority of the buildings in town are residential. Wikipedia lists the population of Rolla, BC at around 1,000 people. Area residents pronounce Rolla as “Raw-la.” The Sweetwater 905 Festival, held June 15-17, 2012, is a special event that takes place 1.5 miles west of Rolla, B.C. on the Sweetwater Road. The three-day festival is a celebration of music, poetry, visual and performance art, and brings together a wide range of talent from the community, the province and beyond. To learn more about this unique event, visit the Sweetwater 905 Arts and Music Festival Website at http://www.sweetwater905.com. Rolla BC is primarily an agricultural community that cherishes its beauty, small-town flavor and peaceful lifestyle. It is truly an honor for Rolla, Missouri to be closely associated and connected to this Canadian town nestled in the Peace River Valley. We wish the Millers, the Irelands and all the residents of Rolla, British Columbia the very best as they celebrate their 100th Anniversary. I’d like to remind everyone that due to the Labor Day Holiday on Monday, Sept. 3, the Rolla City Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Rolla City Hall (901 N. Elm St.). I encourage the community to attend the Council meeting, as the Rolla City Council and myself will be recognizing the accomplishments of Chantae McMillan, a RHS star athlete and All American, who recently participated in the Heptathlon in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England. I will be presenting Chantae with a Key to the City plaque.
In addition, I will be presenting the Lewy Body Dementia Day Proclamation to Rolla resident and Rolla Public School Board member, Jane Haskell. Jane, along with her daughters, Joannie, Ann and Dana, will be hosting the Coach Haskell 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012 beginning at 8 a.m. at the Rolla Junior High Hill. Coach Dan Haskell, who was a former Rolla High School wrestling coach for numerous years, a 9th Grade football coach at Rolla Jr. High School, and a public educator for 32 years, most of which was in the Rolla Public Schools system, was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2004.
Have a safe week!
City Council
Mtg. set for
Wed., Sept. 5
Due to the Labor Day holiday, the Rolla City Council meeting, which is usually held the first Monday of the month, will be held Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall (901 North Elm Street). 
The Environmental Services Department will be pick up Tuesday’s trash on Wednesday. There will be no special pick ups on Wednesday. For more information, please call the Environmental Services Department at (573) 364-6693.
Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3 was closing day at SplashZone, Rolla’s favorite outdoor waterpark.
The popular Canine Plunge (end of the season swim for pets), where you may bring your dog to the SplashZone, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 12-noon to 3 p.m. Registration to this popular event is required, and there is a cost of $5 per dog. All dogs must be vaccinated, accompanied by their owners and be socialized. This event is limited to 30 canines. For more information please call SplashZone at (573) 364-8222.

RPD cracking down
on impaired drivers
through September
The Rolla Police Department will be cracking down on impaired drivers by conducting a sobriety checkpoint during the month of September 2012.
Law enforcement efforts will be increased in an endeavor to reduce the deaths and serious injuries caused by impaired drivers. Those caught drinking and driving could lose their license, money, and freedom.
“Driving drunk is simply not worth all the consequences,” said Sgt. Tim Mayfield. “Our message is simple and unwavering: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
For more Information, please contact Sgt. Tim Mayfield at (573) 308-1213 or visit www.saveMOlives.com.

Basswood Drive
street improvements
underway
The City of Rolla Public Works Department, in conjunction with Rainey & Son Construction, L.L.C., have begun substantial street improvements on Basswood Drive.
The Basswood Drive and Boxelder Drive Street Improvement project (#296), recently approved by the Rolla City Council, will include excavation, storm sewer installation, new curb and gutter, new driveway aprons, and subsequent 4-inch paving.
The excavation and road improvements on Boxelder Drive will begin immediately after the street improvements are complete on Basswood sometime in October.
It is anticipated that the entire street improvement project, including Boxelder, should be completed before the end of 2012, weather permitting. Caution signs and safety cones will be posted in the construction area, indicating lane closures, and for motorists to please drive carefully.
“The City of Rolla appreciates the assistance, patience and cooperation of the public throughout the duration of this important street improvement project,” said Steve Hargis, Director of Public Works.
For more information, please contact the Public Works Department at 364-8659 or visit www.rollacity.org.

International Idol
Talent Competition
auditions, Sept. 6
Do you sing, dance, rap, act, or play a musical instrument? Talented community members (all ages and acts are welcome) are invited to audition for the International Idol competition on Thursday, Sept. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Havener Center, Meramec Room, on the Missouri S&T campus.
The final competition will be held during the 3rd Annual Celebration of Nations event on Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Downtown Bandshell (located at the corner of 9th and Oak Street.) Group and individual prizes will be awarded.
To sign up or for more information, please contact Rebecca Holmes at rmhq57@mst.edu or Barbi Spencer at spencerbar@mst.edu.
Celebration of Nations was created to promote awareness, understanding and the celebration of the vibrant cultural diversity that makes Rolla unique to the Ozarks. ”One Campus. One Community. One World.”

Canine Plunge at
SplashZone set
for Sept. 8
The ever popular Canine Plunge, the end of season swim for pets, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 8 from noon-3 p.m.at SplashZone, Rolla’s favorite outdoor waterpark (located on 14th Street in Rolla).
Pets must be accompanied by an owner and must be socialized and have current vaccine updates. Early registration is required, and the event is limited to 30 canines ($5 per canine).
To register or for more info, please call Mitch Lewis, Aquatics Manager, at 364-8222.

Planning & Zoning
Mtg. set for Sept. 11
A Planning & Zoning Commission meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the Rolla City Hall – Council Chambers, 90 N. Elm Street.
There will be a report on City Council actions from the Aug. 20 City Council meeting to approve an amendment to Exhibit 1 of the Pebble Stone Planned Unit Development (first and final reading, approved).
In addition, there will be a public hearing on the request to re-zone property at 2009 Vichy Road from R-2 (two family district) zoning to R-3 (multi-family district) zoning.
The public is invited to attend the meeting, and as always the meeting will be broadcast live on Rolla Channel 16 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Electronics & Appliance
Collection set for
Sept. 22 at Brewer Science
If you have an old, broken or outdated computer, electronic device, appliance, television, or cell phone that you have been wanting to get rid of, plan to recycle, ‘go green’ and attend the Electronics & Appliance Collection on Saturday, Sept. 22 from 8 a.m. to 12-noon at the Brewer Science parking lot located at 2401 Brewer Drive (in the Hypoint Industrial Park at I-44 Exit 189/Hwy. V).  
You may drop off and recycle the following household items for free the day of the collection: stoves, washers, dryers, microwaves and other appliances, computer CPUs, keyboards, printers, VCRs, cell phones and other electronics.
During this collection, there will be no fee for refrigerant appliances. There will be, however, a $5 handling fee to dispose of TVs and computer monitors (no material from businesses, please).
This event is sponsored by the City of Rolla, Phelps County Commission, Brewer Science, Inc., Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District, Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC).
For more information, please contact MRPC at 573-265-2993.

P.O.W. – M.I.A. Ceremony
and Cruise In set for
Sept. 22 at VMP
The public is invited to attend a P.O.W. – M.I.A. Ceremony and Cruise In on Saturday, Sept. 22 from noon – 4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park (located on Southview Dr. off Hwy. 72 in Rolla).
The event kicks off at noon with a Cruise In organized by the Rolla Cruise In Committee and Cave State Cruisers. The P.O.W.-M.I.A. Ceremony, presented by Chapter #49 of the D.A.V., begins at 1 p.m. Music will be provided by Phelps County Bluegrass for Veterans at 2 p.m. Concessions will be provided by Rolla Road Riders Motorcycle Club.
Other events and activities are also being planned, so bring your chairs or pillows for comfort and enjoy the festivities.
The event is hosted by the South Central Regional Veterans Group. For more information, please contact Russ Hinkle at (573) 68-4436 or Jerry Bumpus at (573) 647-7601.

Operation Neighborhood
Clean-up set for Nov. 2
The 5th annual “Operation Neighborhood Clean-up” will be held on Friday, Nov. 2 throughout the Rolla community in designated, high priority areas. The selection of these properties will be determined by the City of Rolla Police Department and the Rolla Area Ministerial Alliance.
All volunteers are asked to attend the welcome gathering at 6:30 a.m. at Greentree Christian Church Youth Center located at 801 East 10th Street. A complimentary continental breakfast will be provided. The clean-up will take place from 7 a.m. to 12-noon.
The entire community is invited to participate in this beautification effort, which is once again being coordinated by the Rolla Area Ministerial Alliance and the Rolla Police Department.
Operation Neighborhood Clean-up is an opportunity for residents to partner with the Rolla Area Ministerial Alliance, community churches, and the Rolla Police Department to enhance a sense of community, well being, pride and property values among the neighborhoods where the clean up is conducted.
The clean-up effort will involve limited tree trimming, hedge trimming, and the removal of brush piles, leaves, household items and trash. Groups or individuals interested in volunteering may contact Chris Foster, Adult Education Minister at Greentree Christian Church, at 364-2649 or cfoster@greentreerolla.org, or Officer Vince Giacolone at the Rolla Police Department at 308-1213 or at vgiacolone@rollacity.org. 

Rolla Downtown
Farmer’s Market
open every Tuesday
The Rolla Downtown Farmer’s Market is open and operating under the new shade structure in the lower parking lot of Rolla City Hall from 7 a.m. until 12-noon each Tuesday throughout the growing season.
The Farmer’s Market is coordinated by Roy Fiscus and Wilma Bingham, and spots are available for vendors to sell their items, but they must be locally grown or made products/produce (Phelps County).
No flea market, yard sale type items will be permitted. All spots are first come, first served. The cost to host a booth is $2 per day, which is given to the organizers the day the vendors are there.
For additional information, please contact Roy Fiscus at 341-8045 or Wilma Bingham at 364-5544.

Evironmental Services Important Dates

 (clip & save coupon)
Oct. 6, 2012 - Citywide Fall Clean Up: Saturday - Citywide clean up day (residential only).
Nov. 22, 2012 – Thanksgiving Day:  Thursday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday.
Dec. 25, 2012 Christmas Day:  Tuesday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday.
.
Holidays NOT affecting trash or recycling collection:
            Oct. 8, 2012 – Columbus Day
            Nov. 12, 2012 – Veteran’s Day
Nov. 23, 2012 – Day after Thanksgiving

Rolla Channel 16
live streaming
24/7 on the Web
If you happen to miss the airing of a Rolla City Council meeting, Planning & Zoning meeting, Rolla Public School Board meeting or Board of Public Works meeting, you can now watch them live on the Rolla Channel 16 Website at http://rollachannel16.com.
Rolla Channel 16, Rolla’s premiere Education and Government channel, is also now live streaming (24/7) at http://rollachannel16.com. RC16 is live streaming all Rolla City Council meetings, Rolla Planning & Zoning Commission meetings, Rolla Public Schools board meetings, Rolla High School Review and “City Minutes” hosted by the City of Rolla’s Communications Office.
Other syndicated content on RC16 such as Missouri Outdoors, Army Newswatch, and Capitol Dialogue will also live stream on RC16 at http://rollachannel16.com.
For more information regarding programming or DVD duplication of Rolla City Council meetings, Rolla Planning & Zoning meetings, and Rolla Public Schools board meetings, etc., please contact Kenny Perzan, Senior Video Editor, at (573) 426-3377 or at Kenny.Perzan@fidelitycommunications.com.
Be sure to watch Rolla Channel 16 – “Education, Government and Community for you!”

Upcoming Events

SEPTEMBER 2012
Sept. 5 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Sept. 6 – Board of Adjustment Mtg. (5:30 p.m.); Rolla City Hall – Council Chambers
Sept. 6 – International Idol Talent Competition Auditions (6-8 p.m.); Havener Center (to register, contact Rebecca Holmes at rmhq57@mst.edu)
Sept. 6-8 – 79th Annual Grape and Fall Festival, St. James, Mo (www.st-jameschamber.net)
Sept. 8 – Lions Club Park Free Fishing Derby (8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.); Lions Club Park
Sept. 8 – Missouri S&T Coterie Fall Coffee (9 a.m. – 11 a.m.); Rolla Episcopal Church, 1000 Main St. (Nancy Block, 578-2797 or nancyblock2000@yahoo.com)
Sept. 8 – Canine Plunge at SplashZone (noon-3 p.m.); end of season swim for pets (accompanied by owner) that have been socialized and have had current vaccine updates. Early registration required – limited to 30 canines ($5 per canine); 364-8222
Sept. 8 – Cruise In (5-8 p.m.) Fairground Chevrolet; 100 Fairgrounds Rd.
Sept. 11 – Planning & Zoning Commission Mtg. (5:30 p.m.)
Sept. 17 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Sept. 22 – Electronics & Appliance Collection (8 a.m. – noon); Brewer Science, Inc. Parking Lot, 2401 Brewer Dr. (in Hypoint Industrial Park at I-44 Exit 189/Hwy. V)
Sept. 22 – Healthy Baby Extravaganza (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.); Fire Station #1 Headquarters and Greentree Christian Church, 10th Street (364-3989); FREE
Sept. 22 – P.O.W. – M.I.A., Cruise In; (noon – 4 p.m.); Veterans Memorial Park, Southview Dr. (contact Jerry Bumpus for info at 573-647-7601)
Sept. 26 – Eggs & Issues (7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.); Oak Meadow Country Club; to RSVP, call the Rolla Chamber at 364-3577
Sept. 29 – 3rd Annual Celebration of Nations (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.); Downtown Festival Park

OCTOBER 2012
Oct. 1 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Oct. 6 – City-wide Clean Up (items to curb by 6 a.m.); residential only
Oct. 13 – 34th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Oct. 15 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)

NOVEMBER 2012
Nov. 2 – 5th Annual Operation Neighborhood Clean-Up (6:30 a.m.-noon); volunteers meet for at Greentree Christian Church Youth Center, 801 E. 10th St. (308-1213 – Vince Giacolone)
Nov. 5 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Nov. 19 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Nov. 22-23 – City Hall closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

Scott A. Grahl
Communications Director
City of Rolla, Missouri
(573) 426-6943
Follow us on Facebook
& Twitter at www.rollacity.org

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