Local Fire Departments to host Open Houses Oct. 13

By Mayor Bill Jenks, III

The beautiful, cool fall weather we are having lately reminds us all why we enjoy living, working and playing in the Ozark Highlands. And if you didn’t have an opportunity to attend the 3rd Annual Celebration of Nations last Saturday, ride a camel or sample international foods, you missed another great event that is among the many festivals and celebrations held in Rolla, Missouri.

With the addition of this unique, Olympic-like international festival, made possible through the International Affairs office at Missouri S&T, the Celebration of Nations Planning Committee, numerous international student groups at Missouri S&T, and many generous sponsors throughout the Rolla community, Rolla is hosting some type of festival, parade, community-wide event, sporting tournament or tourism event almost every month. Sometimes, numerous events are held the same day or weekend.

Next Saturday, Oct. 13 local Fire Departments, including the City of Rolla Fire & Rescue and Rolla Rural Fire Protection District, will host an open house the entire community is invited to attend. The City of Rolla Fire & Rescue’s Open House will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Station #1 located at 1490 E. Tenth Street. Scheduled activities at this open house include free popcorn and snow cones; a Vehicle Extrication Demonstration at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Fire Station tours; fire apparatus and equipment display; Lowe’s Fire Safety Smoke Trailer; a rappelling demonstration; Rolla Homeland Security Response Team – Vehicle & Equipment Display; smoke detector program, child safety seat program, complimentary fire helmets and badges; T-shirt and poster give-a-ways; photos with Firepup (the Fire & Rescue mascot); and best of all, ladder truck rides.

The Rolla Rural Fire Protection District Open House will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1575 East Lions Club Drive. Scheduled activities include free food and drinks; games for all ages, fire station tours, fire apparatus & equipment display; Phelps County Ambulance; Phelps County Sheriff’s Department; Life Line Helicopter (1-3 p.m.); Missouri Conservation Department Smokey the Bear and a Bulldozer; and much more.

For more information regarding either of these open houses, please contact the City of Rolla Fire & Rescue at (573) 364-3989 or Rolla Rural Fire Protection District at (573) 341-2211.

In closing, I’d like to remind everyone that next Saturday, Oct. 13 is also Homecoming Weekend for students and alumni at Missouri S&T, and the 34th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Rolla. There will be lots of authentic crafts, great gifts for the holidays, as well as many other fun things to do on Saturday in downtown Rolla.

Enjoy the festivities, and have a safe week!