Investment in Rolla area seen across the board

While the City of Rolla is still not seeing the soaring 5% gains in sales tax revenues we once did five and six years ago, many significant developments and investments made in our City over the past year or so are showing just how attractive and robust are community continues to be.

In our City’s downtown business district alone we are seeing resurgence in growth and redevelopment of major structures that have brought a new life and energy in our historic downtown area. More than $5 million in private investment has been made in the City’s downtown business district over the past two years that has not only improved the attractiveness of our City center, but, also brought badly needed foot traffic and life to an area that is home to the historic Edwin Long Hotel (now Phelps County Bank), historic U.S. Route 66 (Pine Street), the Rolla Public Library and several businesses and establishments that are benefiting from this new growth.

Just a couple of blocks east of the downtown business, the new Benton Square Development, that includes at least five properties, and numerous businesses, has resulted in at least $3 million in private investment. Spearheaded by successful business owners Dan Klinski and Steven Scholz, the Benton Square development is the anchor for Rolla’s new Arts and Entertainment District that was recently approved by the Rolla City Council. To say that the Benton Square development will help to put Rolla on the map as a destination City similar to that of a Hannibal, Hermann or Washington, is no stretch of the imagination. Rolla is already known for its tremendous cultural assets such as Leach Theatre and the Castleman Hall Performing Arts Center, Ozark Actors Theatre, Cedar Street Center, Orval Reeves Gallery and Arts Rolla! The Benton Square development will only help to solidify the City’s reputation for arts and culture, and a great place to spend a day, an evening or the weekend. In addition, it is projected that the development will create as many as 100 new jobs. The ripple effect of this type of investment and growth benefits many sectors of the Rolla economy, but most notably economic development.

Investment in the Rolla community is not just limited to Rolla’s business district and Benton Square, although considering the state of the national economy and Missouri’s economy, the investment in these two areas alone would be noteworthy. Missouri University of Science and Technology is also experiencing a benchmark year with record-high student enrollment, the future construction of a new $2.7 million Student Design Center (to be located at the corner of 10th and Bishop Avenue); and construction of the first new building in the new Innovation Park on the Missouri S&T campus on 10th Street. These projects are on the heels of the new state-of-the-art, $29 million Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering building known as Toomey Hall on the Missouri S&T campus. Innovation and technology have been associated with Missouri S&T and the Rolla area for over 100 years, and the realization of the beginning of the new Innovation Park will further establish Rolla’s world-wide reputation as a City steeped in innovation and technology.

The third area of significant investment in the Rolla area includes the expansion and construction of several restaurants, including Napoli’s Italian Restaurant, (Hwy. 72 South); the expansion of Gordoz Restaurant on Bishop Highway; the newly opened Papa Murphy’s in Bishop Commons (Hwy. 63 South); and the soon to open El Sombrero’s, located in Summit Plaza on Hwy. 63 North (next to Lowe’s).

In terms of retail investment and development, the Rolla Daily News recently reported that Shoe Sensation, a regional chain of family-owned shoe stores, will be opening sometime this spring in the Forum Shopping Center where the Sam Goody’s was formerly located. The RDN states reports that other businesses will also be occupying storefronts in the Forum Shopping Center as well. In addition to creating more jobs and shopping opportunities, greater retail expansion and development makes the Rolla area much more attractive to new businesses and industries considering locating in the Rolla area.

A fourth area that is showing signs of life, and one area that is a clear indicator to economic activity in the City, is construction. Compared to fiscal year 2009, which was a very low year of construction activity, early indications for fiscal year 2010 show a significant increase in construction activity with first quarter activity of $6.4 million and permit fees of $35,867. While there is relatively less activity in single-family homes there is considerable activity in multi-family construction and commercial construction. Growth attracts growth, and development attracts development, and abundance creates more abundance. So let’s celebrate our successes, play to our strengths, and keep the momentum going through the first year of this new decade!

Police Chief Chat

True Heroes. Many times the media talks about sports athletes and movie stars as being heroes. I believe they are good at their jobs, but this does not make them a hero. Littleton, Colorado: A gunmen entered the middle school parking lot and began randomly shooting at students. He had just wounded two students, when math teacher David Benke, who was assigned to parking lot detail, sprung into action! Benke, fearing another “Columbine” type situation, disarmed the 32-year-old gunman, then with the help of another teacher, tackled him and pinned him to the ground, ending what could have been a much more violent encounter. These are true Heroes!

Sadly this type of situation seems to be on the rise not only in Colorado, but in all parts of our country. It never ceases to amaze me how some people can arm themselves with a weapon and just begin shooting at innocent victims, especially children! The frequency of these criminal acts have prompted law enforcement agencies to not only adapt their training, but also their way of thinking when responding to this type of call. The Rolla Police Department began our own active shooter training program several years ago, and most recently began offering the training to surrounding jurisdictions as a way of getting all of us on the same page. We pray that we never have this type of situation but we also feel the need to be prepared if we do. Thank you David Benke and your co-worker for ending this terrible nightmare!

On a lighter note, this week’s Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) spotlight is focused on Anthony Giacolone. If the last name Giacolone sounds familiar, it should as Anthony is none other than VIPS Coordinator Vince Giacolone’s son. Anthony is a chip off the old block in that he assists our patrol division with school and business patrols, vacation security checks, neighborhood patrols and call assistance. Anthony was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and has been living in Doolittle since 2000. Anthony is a reserve police officer with that city and has been doing that service for 3 years. He is married and has a son and the entire family enjoys bow and rifle hunting, Cardinal games and spending time with each other. Anthony says that he was attracted to VIPS through his law enforcement background. He says he wanted to extend his service to the Rolla community and feels that the VIPS program is a wonderful experience and he feels honored to participate. Thanks Anthony for all you do!

This week’s Rolla Police Department Facebook site “Employee of the Week” winner is Animal Control Officer John Redshaw! John was born and raised in southern California, then moved to Salem, Oregon where he graduated from high school and enlisted in the U.S. Army. John served as a heavy equipment operator and combat engineer until 1984, at which time John separated from the Army and moved to Rolla to take a position with the Missouri National Guard. John retired from the Guard in 2002 and accepted an Animal Control Officer position with the Rolla Police Department in 2003. John is married and has one son who resides in Europe. John enjoys fishing, woodworking, camping and family time! Congratulations John on winning “Employee of the Week!”

On Wednesday night, Rolla Police Explorer Post #170 held their bi-monthly meeting here at the Rolla Police Department. Law Enforcement Exploring is a division of the Boy Scouts of America and is a volunteer program for young men and women between the ages of 15 and 21 yrs who are interested in learning more about law enforcement. The cadets meet twice a month and receive training on different aspects of a law enforcement officer’s role in the community. The cadets also participate in real life situations and community events that help build character, a sense of responsibility and community involvement. This week the Patrol Division provided the cadets with hands on training on traffic stop safety, traffic direction and control, and emergency response. If you are interested in learning more about our Explorer programs contact explorer post advisors Spo. Tony Lauth or Spo. Chrissy Smith at 308-1213!

The Department of Public Safety requires that all officers complete a minimum of 48-hours of continuing education every 3 years, to maintain their peace officer certification. All but 24 hours of this training may be in-house, but the remainder must be from an outside entity. These hours total 1,392 training hours per year to cover all of the officers in our department. If we were to set a goal to have all new officers certified in all our basic requirements, the officer would spend 28% of duty time in training. To comply with the minimum industry standards, the police department should be allocating 51 hours per year per person to maintain the required basic certification. This equals over one full week per year, dedicated to training alone. While this does not sound like a lot of training time, you will also need to consider call volume, shift work, schedule shortages and vacations, the training schedule is difficult to accomplish.

The total training time to meet the minimum industry standards for re-certifications, SWAT and continuing with in-service training of 1500 hours per year totals 4, 065 hours. Based on 2007 figures, training and travel costs and assuming 5 new officers are trained, the cost per year for the training is at a minimum of $150,000.00. In other words, we are investing a significant sum of money in employees, but with high turnover rates, we are not seeing a reasonable return on that investment. We currently have officers who are certified instructors in the following classes pepper spray, police tactics, handcuffing techniques, baton, Taser, ground fighting, police radar, use of force, active shooter response, defensive driving, breathalyzer, field sobriety testing, flash bang deployment, patrol rifle instruction and shotgun certification. These classes are provided in-house to reduce travel and lodging expenses and overtime costs.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday approved by City Council

Going green is something that the Rolla City Council is backing up with action as they demonstrated at Monday’s Rolla City Council meeting. The City Council unanimously approved an ordinance allowing the 2010 “Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday” to apply to the local sales taxes of the City of Rolla between April 19 through April 25.

In essences, the Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday encourages the purchase of certain qualifying energy efficient appliances by exempting them for sales tax, and thereby reducing the consumer’s cost for such appliances. By offering incentives that reward consumers for being energy efficient, it is hoped that consumer awareness will help reduce energy consumption across the state, and have the added benefit of promoting retail sales activity in the Rolla area.

Qualifying appliances, which must be Energy Star certified, include clothes washers and dryers, water heaters, trash compactors, dishwashers, conventional ovens, ranges, stoves, air conditioners, furnaces, refrigerators and freezers. An Energy Star certified appliance is any appliance approved by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The ordinance, however will not apply to any retailer when less than two percent of the retailer’s merchandise offered for sale qualifies for the sales tax holiday. In such instances, the retailer will offer a sales tax refund in lieu of the sales tax holiday.

After five months of sales tax remittances (October 2009 through February 2010), the City of Rolla has a positive sales tax growth of .31%, which is in the black, but off budget by.7% year-to-date, as the City Council set a goal of 1% growth in sales tax revenue for the current fiscal year budget.

Improving energy efficiency throughout our community, including City facilities, is something the City of Rolla is very committed to. To be successful, a green community needs to consider a variety of ways its citizens and businesses can reduce its carbon footprint, and promote an environmentally friendly way of living. Engineers from Siemens Technologies, Inc. are currently conducting an energy audit, consisting of the mechanical and electrical systems at Rolla City Hall, the Rolla Police Department, the Rolla Fire Stations #1 and #2, The Centre, SpalshZone, and the City’s three wastewater distribution systems. The assessments will range from lighting and water improvements to aeration system upgrades, and new energy efficiency systems, equipment and technology.

While all of the above mentioned energy saving initiatives are related to indoor activities, the City is also co-sponsoring outdoor energy saving programs such as the upcoming “Healthy Yards for Clear Streams” FREE workshop series. The City of Rolla’s Public Works Department and Phelps County Extension will host the workshops during the first three Mondays in March (March 1, 8 & 15) at 6:30 p.m. at The Centre (1200 N. Holloway Street). For more information or to register, please call Phelps County Extension at 573-458-6260.

In closing, I’d like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the members of the Public Works Department who have done a yeomen’s job clearing our streets of snow over the past four weeks. Rolla has received its fair share of snow this winter, and the members of the Public Works Department are to be commended for their diligence, hard work and efficiency. We appreciate all you do!

Police Chief Chat

This week has been one to remember! We were faced with some unusual situations, some potentially dangerous situations and then some rewarding situations as well. On top of everything else, we handled 629 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 19 accidents, 10 frauds, 50 hang up 911 calls, 2 suspicion of narcotics, 12 disturbance calls (domestic or other), 35 traffic complaints, 23 assists of other agencies, 4 funeral escorts, 3 trespassing calls, 127 traffic stops, 28 security checks, 24 arrests.

On Wednesday of this week at approximately 9:45 a.m., Central Dispatch received a call from the family member of a 56 year old male, reporting that the male was bi-polar and schizophrenic and may be having problems with his medication. The family member stated that the male was very depressed and had barricaded himself in his apartment. Family members feared that the male would harm himself if not treated. Spo. Luke Kearse and Pto. Casey Chapman responded to the address in the 1200 block of N. Pine St. and contacted family members at that location. The officers made several verbal attempts to convince the male to open the door and come out to talk with them, but met with negative results. Fearing that the male may have weapons or may harm himself or others, the SWAT team and staff members were called to the scene, as well as Cpl. Derrick Dillon who is certified in negotiation. Cpl. Dillon established a line of conversation with the barricaded male, and for several hours, tried to convince the male to open the door. The male refused.

Access was gained to an adjoining apartment through the cooperation of neighbors, and a plan was devised that included the use of a pole camera, the introduction of non-lethal tear gas and the SWAT entry team. The plan was initiated and within a very short time, the male was safely removed from the apartment and transported to a treatment facility. This situation was particularly difficult in that we had a barricaded male with mental issues that prevented rational behavior and thinking. We were unsure whether or not the male had weapons in his possession or if he would use them on himself or our officers. The combined cooperation between Rolla Fire and Rescue, Phelps County EMS personnel, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and Rolla Police and SWAT ensured that the male was safely removed and that all officers, fire and EMS personnel present, went home safely as well! Great job to all!

On Wednesday morning, officers received reports from 4 business owners, that sometime overnight, person(s) unknown, forced entry to their businesses and stole several items including cash. Investigating officers requested assistance from the Division of Criminal Investigations who completed the investigation. I am proud to announce that by the end of the week detectives have arrested 2 individuals for the business burglaries and have recovered some of the missing property. Great job to Patrol and DCI!

This week’s Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) spotlight is focused on Steve Volz. Steve was born and raised in Indianapolis, and came to Rolla in 1988 to accept a position with the Bureau of Land Management, as a geologist. Steve is married and he and his wife Deborah have 2 grown children. Steve enjoys playing his recorders, volunteering with the boy scouts and flint knap! Steve says that he believes volunteering is the lifeblood of a strong community and that VIPS provides that opportunity for him to serve. Steve helps us with home security checks, school, business and neighborhood patrol. Steve says that he and his wife believe moving to Rolla was a great decision! Thanks Steve, for all you do!



Our Facebook “Employee of the Week” winner is Staff Sgt. Rick Williams. Rick was born and raised in St. Louis and moved to Rolla in 1970. After 1 year he moved to St. James where he graduated high school. Rick then enlisted in the US Army and served 3 years at Ft. Leonard Wood as a motor transport operator. In 1978 Rick accepted a position with the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department where he served 22 years. In 2000, Rick left the Sheriff’s Department and joined the Rolla Police Department where he now serves as Division Commander of Emergency Services. Rick and his wife have 2 boys, Alex and Lucas. Alex has just recently become a Rolla Police Explorer. Congratulations Rick on Employee of the Week.

In closing, I would like to remind you to visit our Facebook site for up to date happenings, announcements and important information! Our fan base is now up over 1, 450 fans so thank you for subscribing and checking us out! I would also like to add that we are still in need of good volunteers from the community for our VIPS program. If you are interested in joining the program or would like to learn more about it, contact Dennis Noel or Vince Giacolone at 308-1213.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

City joins initiative to to promote sustainable environment

Rolla is blessed with some of the most beautiful scenery, forests, parkland, streams and landscapes in the entire country. Fresh air, clean water, and healthy creeks and streams are all aspects of a sustainable community where the environment is treasured as much as all the other cultural, educational and recreational assets that make Rolla one of the top places to live in the entire country.

In an effort to ensure that Rolla’s environment remains healthy and sustainable, the City of Rolla’s Public Works Department has joined the Missouri Water Utilities Partnership Initiative (MoWUP), along with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Missouri University of Science and Technology, Siemens and 10 other Missouri communities.

Through this partnership the City of Rolla is committed to promoting a safe, clean and sustainable environment in the most fiscally responsible manner while continuing to provide quality, cost-effective infrastructure for the citizens of Rolla. Through this initiative, the City’s Public Works Department, is developing a plan to achieve a 25% overall reduction in electricity consumption in all currently city owned and operated facilities; and reduce inflow and infiltration in the City’s wastewater collection system by 50% within the next five years. The City intends to accomplish this goal by partnering with Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., which is currently conducting a detailed, technical energy audit of City-owned facilities. From the audit, Siemens will prepare a list of potential energy conservation measures the City can use to save energy.

Included in the energy audit will be a detailed evaluation of the City’s three wastewater distribution systems, Rolla City Hall, Fire Stations #1 and #2, Rolla Police Station, The Centre and Splashzone. The assessments will range from lighting and water improvements to aeration system upgrades, and new energy efficiency systems, equipment and technology.

The Public Works Department, with City Council approval, would also like to engage a consultant to update the City of Rolla’s Wastewater Capacity, Management, Operation and Maintenance Plan with an emphasis on systematic evaluation and elimination on inflow and infiltration within the wastewater collection system. During this process a formal audit plan would be designed to monitor the progress and effectiveness of energy usage reduction methodologies. The in-house audit findings would then be used to enhance the City’s Energy Management Plan, which is intended to identify energy saving opportunities, and provide sustainability training for both City employees and the Rolla community at large.

The City’s commitment to a sustainable environment has also lead to the support and promotion of the “Healthy Yards for Clear Streams” FREE workshops. The City of Rolla’s Public Works Department and Phelps County Extension will once again team up together to host the workshops during the first three Mondays in March (March 1, 8 & 15) at 6:30 p.m. at The Centre (1200 N. Holloway Street). The “Healthy Yards for Clear Streams” program was developed by the University of Missouri Plant Sciences Division and University Extension to educate the community about non-point source water pollution and effective ways to prevent pollutants from entering waterways. All workshops will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., except the final one, which will last until 9 p.m. For more information or to register, please call Phelps County Extension at 573-458-6260.

In closing, please remember that this Monday, Feb. 15 is Presidents’ Day and Rolla City Hall will be closed. The Rolla City Council meeting, normally held the first and third Monday of the month, will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. Also please remember that the Environmental Services Department will be picking up Monday’s trash on Tuesday and Tuesday’s trash on Wednesday.

Police Chief Chat

We hope you had a great week and avoided any mishaps with all this snow. I know our Patrol Division and Central Communications have had their hands full with weather related mishaps. Last week the Rolla Police Department handled 799 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 36 accidents, 76 hang up 911 calls, 14 disturbance calls (domestic or other), 39 traffic complaints, 29 assists of other agencies, 6 transient aid requests, 94 traffic stops, 40 security checks, 36 arrests, 11 stealing reports, 5 funeral escorts, 16 check the well being or try to contact calls. The increase in traffic accidents is due to the increase in inclement weather. Please remember, if you must drive in inclement weather use extreme caution!

This week’s volunteer spotlight is on VIPS volunteer Keith LeCroix. Keith was born in Decatur, Alabama, but has lived in Missouri since 1999. Keith is an instructor/writer for the Dept. of the Army Civilian Police Academy, based at Fort Leonard Wood. Keith joined our Volunteers in Police Services program because, as Keith says “Rolla is a great place to live. I have traveled all across the U S and comparatively speaking, Rolla has tremendous community spirit. I feel that giving back to the community helps others that live here. I enjoy staying close to my chosen profession of law enforcement. I have been trained in all aspects of emergency services and still enjoy helping others in time of need.” Keith performs vacation security checks, school patrols and assists the patrol division on occasion. His hobbies include hunting and fishing and just about anything outdoors. Thanks Keith, for all you do!

This week’s winner of the “Employee of the Week” campaign on our Facebook site is Senior Patrol Officer Jason Copeland. Jason grew up in Blue Springs, Missouri, but was a frequent visitor to Rolla as most of his family is here. Jason attended college in Arizona where he met his wife Estera. In 2005 the Copeland’s moved to Columbia, Missouri so Jason could attend the Law Enforcement Training Institute to become a certified police officer. Jason and his family moved to Rolla in 2006 to take a position with the Rolla Police Department in May of that year, and has served proudly ever since. Jason is a firearms instructor, a member of the SWAT team and a police motor officer. Congratulations Jason in securing “Employee of the Week!” Be sure to visit our Facebook site and vote for your favorite Rolla Police Employee. Tell us who your favorite officer, telecommunicator, or employee is your favorite and why. Each week the winning Employee is spotlighted here in this column and also on our Facebook site, so be sure to check in often!

As you may have heard, Lowell Aughenbuagh, age 47, of Odell, IL., who was recently charged in Phelps County for terroristic threats, was taken into custody in McCook, IL., after a 12 hour standoff with local police and the ATF. You might remember reading about Aughenbaugh after searches were conducted by the Rolla Police Department and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department where a weapons cache was discovered in Rolla and Phelps County. At the time, Aughenbaugh had allegedly made threats to family members that he planned to come to Rolla, kill his estranged wife, his son and blow up the Rolla Police Department. In this recent incident an arrest warrant was issued and an attempt to serve that warrant at Aughenbaugh’s business, led to the stand-off. Fortunately no one was injured in the arrest.

In closing, I would like to welcome all of our 1,263 Facebook fans to our Rolla Police Department site. It is our intent to provide you with interesting topics, a look into our day to day operations, upcoming events, personnel spotlights, pertinent up to the minute crime and weather information and occasional trivia and other challenges. Please feel free to offer ideas and opinions on the site and let us know what you like and how we can make the site better.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

Public participation needed for important upcoming meetings

Community involvement and participation have always been one of hallmarks of a healthy and prosperous City, and here in Rolla there will be ample opportunity to show your community spirit by attending some of the community meetings that are scheduled for the upcoming week.

A series of important, educational meetings begin this Monday, Feb. 8 with a special Rolla City Council Workshop that begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Rolla City Hall Council Chambers (901 N. Elm Street) to review and provide an update on the multi-phase Rolla West project. The focus of the discussion will be primarily on the proposed Bryant Drive extension at Kingshighway, which will ultimately serve as one of the gateway entrances to the new Missouri S&T Innovation Tech. Park. A development agreement among the City of Rolla, Missouri S&T, McDonalds, Fairground Chevrolet and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to make this project a reality is being circulated for final signatures and approvals.

On Tuesday, Feb. 9 you are encouraged to attend the Missouri Historic Route 66 Project Public Meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Phelps County Courthouse, Community Room (located at 200 N. Main Street). Mark Stauter, Treasurer of the Phelps County Historical Society, reminds us that Historic Route U.S.-66 played an important role in the development of Phelps County, and that Route 66 has achieved Scenic Byway status in Missouri, as indicated by the "blue" historic byway signs now posted along the route. Mark says the next step is for Phelps County to achieve national scenic byway status, including designation as an All-American Road. This designation will qualify the roadbed, and the properties along it, for Federal funding for preservation, restoration, and tourism development.

The Phelps County Historical Society will serve as the host institution for the public meeting on Feb. 9 concerning the development of a Corridor Management Plan (CMP) for Route 66 that is being developed by the Great River Associates of Springfield. Similar public meetings will be held in 10 counties along the path of Route 66 in Missouri. Mark says the completed Corridor Management Plan will set forth guidelines (not restrictions) for the preservation, protection, and enhancement of the Missouri Historic Route 66 corridor and that it will be a milestone in the historic preservation effort in Phelps County. For more information regarding this meeting, please call 573-458-6000.

On Thursday, Feb. 11 there will be a very important meeting regarding the Missouri Transportation Alliance, and future funding for transportation improvements. The Community Meeting for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) District 9 will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall. Good attendance and discussion is extremely important, as there is no area of Missouri for which this discussion is more important at this point in time.

And if you love homemade pancakes and the company of good friends and neighbors, you don’t want to miss the annual Kiwanis Pancake Day on Saturday, Feb. 13 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m in the Rolla High School cafeteria. The food, entertainment, and service are top notch, and I think just about everyone in the community attends this popular event.

Looking ahead to the following week, Rolla City Hall will be closed for Presidents’ Day on Monday, Feb. 15. The City Council meeting usually held the third Monday of the month will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Rolla City Hall. Please remember, due to President’s Day, Monday’s trash will be picked up on Tuesday.

In March we’ll kick off the month with another City Council meeting on Monday, March 1 at 6:30 p.m. That same evening will be the first of three FREE Healthy Yards for Clear Streams workshops held Monday, March 1, 8, and 15 at 6:30 p.m. at The Centre, located at 1200 N. Holloway Street. On Wednesday, March 3, the City of Rolla will join the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce and other businesses and organizations at Rolla Day at the Capitol in Jefferson City. On Monday, March 8 the City, together with Rolla Channel 6, will host the Rolla Candidates Forum. The Rolla Community Teachers Association (RCTA) Candidates Forum will begin at 4 p.m., followed by the Rolla Municipal Candidates Forum at 6 p.m.

To punctuate the festivities in March, don’t forget the annual St. Pat’s Day parade on Saturday, March 13 at 11 a.m. on Pine Street in downtown Rolla. Just look for the street that is painted green in the downtown area, and you’ll have a front row street.

Police Chief Chat

This week, my staff and I met with local funeral directors to discuss our procedures when assigning patrol officers as funeral escorts. This is a service that we feel is not only a service to the community in the way of traffic safety but also a comforting and respectful message to the grieving families that the Rolla Police Department cares. Our biggest concern was the fact that there are times when there are only 3 patrol units on duty and with our typical call volume, it is difficult to provide this service as much as we would like. One solution of course would be to hire additional officers, but with the current budget constraints, that is not likely. Another solution considered was to assign the escort requests to our Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) personnel. The VIPS patrol cars are clearly marked and are equipped with emergency lights and siren and if our volunteer force is kept to or exceeds our current level, we should have the available manpower to provide this service. The primary concern of the funeral directors is the inattentiveness or indifference of some motorists in regards to laws governing the safety and respect shown to funeral processions. State law states that motorists shall not drive through or in between moving vehicles who are displaying headlights and flashers and traveling in a funeral procession. State law also prohibits passing of a funeral procession that is in motion. Violators may be subject to arrest! Let's remember state law and show respect for funeral processions.

Speaking of VIPS volunteers, our spotlight this week will focus on Don Rowland. Don was born in Salem, Nebraska but has resided in Rolla for the past 32 years. Don’s retired in 1996 from the Civil Service where he spent his last 3 years as a Physical Security Specialist (Crime Prevention Specialist). Don has been married to his wife Nikky for 52 years and they have 3 children, 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren! Don became interested in the VIPS program because, as he says “I was always taught to appreciate and support law enforcement. After receiving a heart transplant in 2003 I have been looking for a way to “pay back” some of what I have received. I thought volunteering to help the police department would be a way of partially doing that. Also, I was impressed with our Police Chief and what he is trying to do for Rolla!” Don works closely with our Criminal Investigation Unit where he establishes data, then analyzes the information and disperses that information to the proper police personnel. Thanks Don for all you do!

Our next featured spotlight will be on Senior Patrol Officer Chrissy Smith, who was voted “Officer of the Week’ on our Facebook site. Chrissy was born and raised in Salem, Missouri and began her law enforcement career as a jailer with the Dent County Sheriff’s Department in 1997. In 1998 Chrissy accepted a position in our Dispatch Center as a telecommunicator. Chrissy served in that capacity until 2005 when she applied and was appointed as a patrol officer. Since being assigned to the Patrol Division, Chrissy has served as a field training officer and is also one of our Explorer Post Advisors. Her current duty assignment is in our Traffic Division where she works traffic complaints, traffic enforcement and accident investigation. When Chrissy is off duty she enjoys spending time with her family. Congratulations on your win Chrissy!

This past week we had a meeting with the staff of Volunteers In Police Service (VIPs), to discuss any issues, our goals and objectives and what we need to do to get us to the next level of service to the community and to the team at the Rolla Police Department. The meeting went well with several great ideas that we are going to follow up on. As I mentioned last week, we will be conducted a recruitment drive beginning in the next couple weeks, seeking volunteers to join our VIPS program. We have a very good group of volunteers on board but still need others to supplement the intended programs we would like to provide. Currently we are seeking volunteers that have an interest in criminal investigation. Our plan is to create a diverse group of citizens within our VIPS program to work hand in hand with our Criminal Investigations Unit by conducting follow-up investigations, interviews, neighborhood canvass operations and investigative photography. If you have time on your hands, are interested in serving your police department and your community and are interested in this type of assignment, contact Dennis Noel or Vince Giacolone at 308-1213.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

Healthy Yards For Clear Streams Workshops begin March 1

With the typical unpredictable winter weather we experience this time of year in Rolla it may seem a bit early to start thinking about ways to make our yards, and subsequently the community’s streams and creeks healthier. But then again, for those who would rather see spring arrive in Rolla sooner than later, I’m going to mention early-on an important FREE workshop series that is sure to get you thinking about spring weather, green grass, and flowers blooming again.

The City of Rolla’s Public Works Department and Phelps County Extension will once again team up together to host a series of FREE, public workshops called “Healthy Yards for Clear Streams,” during the first three Mondays in March (March 1, 8 & 15) at 6:30 p.m. at The Centre (located at 1200 N. Holloway Street in Rolla).

The “Healthy Yards for Clear Streams program was developed by the University of Missouri Plant Sciences Division and University Extension to educate the community about non-point source water pollution and effective ways to prevent pollutants from entering waterways.

In the Ozarks we are blessed with reliable annual rainfall, deep aquifers, and clear streams and rivers. But we can't become complacent. Our water resources are also threatened by multiple sources of pollution. We can take action in our own homes and yards to contain runoff and keep pollutants from reaching streams.

Join us this March, on the first three Mondays, to learn how to have "Healthy Yards for Clear Streams” and attend the following FREE workshops at The Centre:

Session 1, March 1: •The "Why" Connection: Where Is Your Watershed? •Maintaining Healthy Lawns While Protecting Streams, Best Turf Varieties for Missouri, and What to Do About Pests
Session 2, March 8: •Building Healthy Soils that Hold and Retain Moisture
•Put the Right Plant in the Right Place and Use Chemicals Safely
Session 3, March 15: •Native Plant Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels: Using the Free Water From Your Roof •Compost, Bokashi, and Worm Farms: How to Improve Soil and
Keep Organic Waste Out of the Landfill

All workshops will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., except the final one, which will last until 9 p.m. For more information or to register, please call Phelps County Extension at 573-458-6260.

In closing, I’d like to mention that the City of Rolla Fire & Rescue has recently partnered with The Dance Studio in Rolla, and Coldwell Banker The Baker Group to announce “Step Up” – a shoe drive to benefit Soles4Souls, Inc. the Shoe Charity: Project Haiti.

In an effort to further help the victims of the Haitian earthquake, Rolla residents are invited to “Step Up” and recycle their ‘gently worn’ shoes for those people in need. The shoe drive will be held through Thursday, Feb. 11. Soles4Souls accepts all types of shoes: dance, athletic, running, dress, sandals, pumps, heels, work boots, cleats, flip flops.

Shoes may be dropped off at The Dance Studio, 1100 Hwy. 72 East, Monday thru Thursday, (5-7 p.m.); Coldwell Banker The Baker Group, 1025 Kingshighway, Monday thru Friday, (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and the Rolla Fire & Rescue, 1490 E. 10th Street, Monday thru Friday, (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.). The local contact for this drive is Miss Megan at (573) 364-0696 or you may contact Rolla Fire & Rescue at (573) 364-3989.

Police Chief Chat

I hope you had a great week and were able to avoid our winter weather woes! This past week has been somewhat busy in that we had several officers undergo cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training that was provided by Spo. Tony Lauth, who is a certified instructor. Most of the officers have already received some type of training in this life saving measure, but in some cases it has been a while so we decided to host the training. As you can probably imagine our patrol officers as emergency responders are in a position quite frequently, where they are the first to arrive on a medical emergency scene and it becomes necessary to administer aid until the EMS personnel arrive.

On Sunday, January 24th, 2010 at approximately 4:20p.m., Central Dispatch was notified of a robbery which had just occurred at the Country Mart grocery store located on Forum Drive. It was reported that a female age 51 of Rolla, had just had her purse stolen from her while she was shopping inside the store. It was reported that a male suspect snatched the victim’s purse, then ran from the store where the suspect got into a vehicle which was parked just outside the store and fled the scene.

An observant witness to the incident, followed the suspect vehicle while contacting Central Communications by cell phone. The witness kept telecommunicators abreast of the exact location of the suspect's vehicle as it was trying to escape. Noticing that they were being followed, the suspect vehicle eventually pulled off to the side of the road in rural Phelps County and one of the suspects got out of the car on foot. The suspect vehicle then fled from the area. The witness who had been chasing the suspect stayed with the suspect until officers from the Rolla Police Department and the Phelps County Sheriff's Department arrived on the scene and arrested him. Arrested was Joseph L. Howell age 30 of Rolla.

A few minutes later, a trooper from the Missouri State Highway Patrol located the suspect vehicle in this incident and detained the two additional suspects for Rolla Police Officers. Later the two additional suspects were arrested in connection with this incident. They were identified as Jonathan R. Baker age 23 and Jacqueline R. Baker age 22, both of Rolla. Joseph L. Howell, Jonathan R. Baker and Jacqueline R. Baker were all arrested for 2nd Degree Robbery and were later incarcerated in the Phelps County Jail pending warrant application. Had it not been for the keen eye of this Good Samaritan and the willingness to try to help a fellow citizen, this case may not have been solved. The Rolla Police Department wants to thank this individual for having the initiative to do what he did and provide precise details and locations which ultimately allowed us to apprehend all three of these suspects and retrieve the stolen purse. Great job to the brave witness, and to the responding officers from the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Rolla Police Department. The charges for which Joseph L. Howell, Jonathan R. Baker and Jacqueline R. Baker were arrested are merely accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

On Tuesday of this week, Central Dispatch received a call of a distraught female who may be attempting to harm herself in the 1900 block of N. Walnut. Cpl. Derrick Dillon, Spo. Jason Copeland and Spo. Frank Hawkins were the first to arrive on the scene and discovered a female inside a residence who had collapsed on the floor and was lethargic and nearly unresponsive. Officers, fearing for the safety of the female were able to force entry to the residence and allow EMS personnel access to the victim, who was transported to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center and treated. The female is expected to recover. Great job guys!

This past week our “Officer of the Week” campaign featured on the Rolla Police Department Facebook site produced a new winner. This week’s “Officer of the Week’ is telecommunicator Bob Nichols. Bob received the highest number of votes submitted by our Facebook fans to elect him to this week’s honors. Bob was raised in St. James where he graduated high school in 1978. Bob attended Linn Technical School before being hired at the Rolla Police Department in 1980 as a police dispatcher. In 1982 Bob became a patrol officer and served as a field training officer, traffic officer, accident reconstructionist, advanced driving instructor and breathalyzer trainer. Bob was promoted to the rank of Corporal and then to Sergeant where he served as a shift supervisor until his departure from law enforcement in 1995. Bob secured employment with Brewer Science and remained there over 14 years before returning to the Rolla Police Department as a telecommunicator. Bob is married and enjoys spending time with his family, hunting and fishing, watching sports and Nascar.

Each week I will feature one of our volunteers from our Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program. This week’s volunteer spotlight is on Dave Reynolds. Dave is originally from the state of Arkansas and has lived in Rolla the past 4 years. Dave recently retired as Lieutenant and assistant Division Director of Motor Vehicle Inspection with the Missouri State Highway Patrol where he served over 30 years. Dave is married to his high school sweetheart of 46 years and enjoys fishing, hunting, amateur radio operation and gardening.

Of the VIPS program, Dave states: “When I became aware, the Rolla Police Department was beginning the VIPS program. I felt it would be an avenue where I could share my law enforcement experience, as well as give some of my time to community service.” Dave assists our patrol division with vacation security checks, school and neighborhood patrols, traffic direction and officer presence. Dave also participates in special events, community awareness and recruitment. Dave says “I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to assist the Rolla Police Department, through the VIPS program, in their efforts to provide a safe environment to the citizens of Rolla.” Thanks Dave for all you do!

In closing, be sure to visit our Facebook site and continue to let us know better ways to help us better serve our community!

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

Police Chief Chat

I hope everyone had the opportunity to enjoy the 3 day weekend and were able to spend quality time with friends and family. This week’s column will feature our first weekly edition where we will spotlight one of our 9 current Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) volunteers. Our first featured VIPS volunteer is not only our first volunteer, but so far, is our first and only female volunteer. I am speaking of none other than Katherine W. Mattison! Katherine joined our program in February of 2009 and expressed an interest in providing courtesy calls to our crime victims. This is a very valuable service to our agency in that we learn from the victims how they felt they were treated during this intense time and also learn how we can better serve them in the future. Katherine has a lengthy background in administration and has been employed with the Department of Geological Sciences & Engineering at Missouri S&T for over 31 years! Katherine lists her reason for joining VIPS as an opportunity to assist officers of the Rolla Police Department in a capacity that is not possible with such busy schedules. She correctly describes the courtesy call program as a vehicle to show the caring side of RPD. Katherine is originally from Birch Tree, Missouri but has been in Rolla since 1968. She is a St. Louis Cardinal fan and also supports MS&T basketball. Thanks Katherine, for all you do!

Our next featured spotlight is Cpl. Derrick Dillon of our Patrol Division. Derrick took 1st place in our Officer of the Week campaign featured on our Rolla Police Department Facebook page last week. Derrick grew up in Rolla and was hired at the Rolla Police Department as a patrol officer in January of 2004. Derrick graduated from the Law Enforcement Training Institute in Columbia with a certification in law enforcement in April of 2004. In April of 2006 Derrick was promoted to Senior Patrol Officer then to Corporal in September of 2006. Derrick serves as assistant shift supervisor and is a SWAT Team member. Derrick is also a Certified Chemical Munitions Instructor and Hostage Negotiator. He is married and has 4 children and enjoys carpentry, sports, photography and spending time with his family. Congratulations on your nomination for Officer of the Week!

Last week Spo. Jason Copeland and Spo. Jaime Solis initiated a traffic stop on an individual for a driving offense. When the officers approached the vehicle they detected the odor of marijuana. Investigation led to a consensual search of the suspects residence and with the assistance of Cpl. Derrick Dillon, Pto. Jessie Hoyt and Pto. Steve Roukie, several items considered drug paraphernalia and a quantity of marijuana was seized. 2 Missouri S&T students were arrested and later released on summons. Great work guys and gals!

On Thursday of this week, Allen C. May age 24, of Rolla was sentenced to 46 months in prison on federal charges of possession of child pornography. May plead guilty in September of 2009 to three felony counts of possession of child pornography. He appeared in court on Thursday before United States District Judge Donald J. Stohr for sentencing. In a separate unrelated case, Allen May’s father, James H. May age 51, of Rolla was sentenced to 41 months in prison on 5 felony counts of possession of child pornography. James May plead guilty in September of 2009 to felony possession of child pornography. Both defendants will be subjected to a lifetime of supervised release after serving their prison terms.

This case was brought as part of the Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May of 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. United States Attorney Richard G. Callahan commended the work on the case by the Rolla Police Department, Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Regional Computer Crimes Education and Enforcement Group and Assistant United States Attorney Rob Livergood, who handled the cases for the US Attorney’s Office.

Have a great week!

City sets stage for benchmark year in 2010

The signs that 2010 may be a benchmark year for Rolla were made clearer at Monday’s City Council meeting when the City Council unanimously approved several items of business that could very well have a far-reaching impact on the City’s economic future and quality of life.

The City Council approved a request for an ordinance establishing a zoning overlay district to include the Rolla Arts and Entertainment District, and a subsequent ordinance to amend the Rolla 2020 Comprehensive Plan Update by incorporating the Rolla Arts and Entertainment District (RA&ED) Urban Conservation and Redevelopment District Plan. These ordinances, which include the identification of boundaries for the RA&ED, will not only give stature and prominence to the new district, but also encourage the preservation, enhancement, expansion and integration of the arts and associated cultural activities, including arts-related support uses, within the area defined as the RA&ED. The overlay district also will provide a mechanism to tailor policies and regulations to address problems unique to the district that can unnecessarily delay desirable redevelopment.

During the challenging economic times we are facing as a community, it is noteworthy that the overlay district is intended to expand business and job opportunities by helping Rolla become a destination point for visitors. The designation also will strengthen the design character and identity of the district as a place devoted to promoting the arts and entertainment. Study after study shows that community’s across the country that have strong arts and cultural venues (i.e., theatres (Rolla has two), performing art centers, art galleries, antique shops, historical museums, etc.) tend to enjoy a higher quality of life, attract more visitors, and enrich the community.

With activity and interest building in the new Rolla Arts and Entertainment District, where the new Benton Square development, Ozark Actors Theatre (Cedar Street Center), and Orvall Reeves Art Gallery are located, the City’s Public Works Department identified the need for ample off-street parking – specifically parking for employees and special events. The department’s proposal for Phase 1 of the Rolla Arts & Entertainment Public Parking proposal was approved by City Council at Monday’s meeting. The Phase I parking improvements include numerous parking spaces in the parking lot located at the corner of 5th and Cedar Streets, and at the corner of 8th and Cedar Streets.

While the new RA&ED is a significant step forward toward making Rolla a “destination city”, it was equally noteworthy at Monday’s City Council meeting that the City Council approved a motion to sign a Scope of Services agreement under the DREAM (Downtown Revitalization Economic Assistance for Missouri) program with the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Rolla was selected in October 2009 to participate in the DREAM program – one of five communities selected in October 2009. The DREAM program was created to help small and mid-sized communities acquire the necessary expertise to advance downtown revitalization objectives based on the planning reports described in the Scope of Services and to help communities navigate through the various downtown revitalization, business development, and residential resources available through state government.

It is most encouraging that over $5 million in private investment has been made in the City’s downtown business district; over $3 million in private investment in the new Benton Square development, and hundreds of thousands more in the construction and renovation of several key businesses and restaurants in the area. Commercial construction and development has increased significantly in Rolla over the past year, and early indications in January 2010 point to a benchmark year for our community.

In addition to the new overlay district for the RA&ED, the DREAM Program, and two new parking areas for the RA&ED district, the City also is excited about the future redevelopment of the proposed Bryant Drive intersection that will provide the gateway entrance to the new Missouri S&T Tech Park, and improve traffic mobility on Kingshighway and Fairgrounds Road. Agreements between the City of Rolla, McDonalds, Missouri S&T, Fairground Chevrolet and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) for this intersection improvement are being drafted and upon completion, will set the groundwork for this significant project, which should begin sometime this spring.

City’s GIS software provides updates on City stats

The year 2010 marks a new decade that not only reminds us that we are in a Census year that is very important to the City of Rolla, but also that it’s time to update City statistical information that is beneficial to businesses, and the Rolla community at large. And if you love trivia, especially Rolla trivia, you will want to continue reading this article.

Thanks to a recent upgrade (as of Jan. 12, 2010) to the City’s GIS (Geographical Information System) by the City’s Engineering Division, much new, and valuable information and statistical data is now available to the public and can be viewed on the City’s Website at : http://rollacity.org/maps/maps.shtm. It is listed under the heading “City land use” and it’s titled “land use statistics (jan 2010).”

For instance, do you know how many miles of City maintained roads there are in the City of Rolla? If you guessed 110.36 you are correct. Of the 110 miles, 7.94 miles are considered principal arterial; 6.73 miles, minor arterial; 2.37 miles arterial; 30.36 miles, collector; and 81.63 miles, local streets. How about the number of square miles in Rolla? Did you guess 11.83-square -miles? If you did, you were correct again. That number includes 7,574 acres. The original town plat of Rolla consisted of 206 acres, so you can easily see how much our City has grown since it was officially incorporated in 1861.

If you really enjoy trivia you might like to know that Rolla also has 69.67 linear miles of sidewalk and 13.02 linear miles of bike trails, which are included primarily within the ACORN Trail pedestrian/bike trail system.

Before 1900s there were 7.56 miles of sewers in Rolla. Today there are over 131 linear miles of constructed sewer lines. How many linear miles of storm sewer do you think there are today in Rolla? If you guessed 61.18 linear miles you would be right again! This also includes 3,348 sewer manholes; nine sewer lift stations and three storm sewer treatment plants. Can you name all three of these? They are the Southeast Treatment Plant (off Hwy. 72 South); Southwest Treatment Plant (off Martin Springs Outer Road) and the Vichy Sewer Treatment Plant (located on Vichy Road, on the north side of I-44). For the fanatical trivia buffs, and Geological engineers out there, Rolla’s geographical coordinates are Latitude, 37dN; Longitude, 91dW.

Would you happen to know how many miles of waterways exist in Rolla’s corporate limits? If you guessed 13.27 miles you would be correct. There are exactly 10 waterways in Rolla, consisting of the Burgher Branch, Burgher Branch Tributary; East Fork Burgher Branch; Deible Branch; Dutro Carter Creek; Spring Creek; Love Branch; Little Beaver Creek; Green Acre Branch and Little Dry Fork. The watershed basins that effect Rolla include: Spring Creek (1,118 acres); Burgher Branch (3,174 acres); Dutro Carter (2,096 acres); Deible Branch (1,417 acres); and Martin Spring Branch (1,076 acres).

The population of Rolla in 1990 was 14,090. In 2000 it was 16,367. The projected population for Rolla in 2008 was 18,438. The City is hopeful, that the results of the 2010 Census, which will take place in March of this year, the City’s population will reach the 20,000 mark, bringing many new opportunities for economic development, retail expansion, grant funding and overall status to our community.

In closing I’d like to remind everyone that Rolla City Hall will be closed this Monday, Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.s’ Birthday. The Rolla City Council meeting, which is ordinarily held the first and third Monday of the month, will be held Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall (901 North Elm Street). The City of Rolla Environmental Services Department will also be closed Monday, Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday. Monday’s trash will be picked up on Tuesday and Tuesday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday. There will be no special pick-ups on Wednesday. If you have any questions, please call 364-6693.

For more information, please visit www.rollacity.org.

Police Chief Chat

I hope you had a great week and were able to avoid any weather related mishaps or extreme cold temperature situations. Our patrol division reported a modest decrease in weather related traffic crashes which reflects directly on the community exercising caution during extreme weather conditions. With weather related traffic crashes in mind, I would like to share with you, an email sent to me from Communications Supervisor Paula Volkmer addressing a 9-1-1 call received from an individual involved in a traffic crash and how the call was handled by the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center. Paula writes:

Yesterday at 0836 we took a cell 911 call from a gentlemen that had been involved in an accident while traveling from Rolla to St. Robert. He thought he could see the interstate, but had no idea where he was or when he had the accident, except that he had been on his way home the night before. (His wife had called the PD earlier inquiring if we had had any contact with him, that he had been expected home last night around midnight). He was laying across his pickup truck seat, unable to move, believed he had two broken legs, bleeding from the ear and was in the trees. His horn didn’t work so there was no way for him to signal to passing motorists. He was unable to describe anything he had last seen and just said he had gotten lost. The dispatcher was able to use the coordinates from his cell phone (info we didn’t have till this past year) and from the time the phone rang to the time the ambulance crew was speaking to him at the vehicle was 22 minutes. The coordinates were within 7/10’s of a mile (coordinates pinpointed 170.8 and he was located at the 170.1).

Paula continues: I just wanted to say “Good Job” regarding your cell 911 call Monday morning. Alicia, you did a great job staying with your caller, getting the little information he could provide, assuring him help was on the way and obviously most importantly navigating the computer system to FIND your caller. Tabitha and Amy, this had to be a group effort, getting responders on the way, calling his wife and trying to direct responders to coordinates for a vehicle that was over an embankment, that obviously hadn’t been seen since he went over the edge the night before.

I too would like to echo Paula’s thoughts and commend telecommunicators Alicia Hill, Tabitha Stanley and Amy King on a job well done. Needless to say, I am very proud of our Central Dispatch staff and realize how fortunate we the citizens of this community are, to have such a resourceful group of professionals, dedicated to keeping our community safe! Great job and thanks for all you do!

This past week, we have added 2 new volunteers to our Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) Program. The volunteers are former Rolla Fire and Rescue Fire Marshall Larry Seest and Rolla area Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine Keith Peterson. Larry Seest comes to us after serving over 30 years with Rolla Fire and Rescue and also served as a reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department. Larry has an extensive background in public service and will be a valuable asset to our VIPS team. Larry will be providing school and neighborhood patrols, assisting with special events and participating in our many public relations programs. Welcome aboard Larry!

Keith Peterson and his wife Diane are the owner’s of Peterson Chiropractic and Acupuncture Clinic in Rolla. Keith enjoys weightlifting, indoor cycling and just about any type of physical activity. Keith too will be a valuable asset to our VIPS team and will be providing school and neighborhood patrols, assisting with special events and participating in our many public relations programs. Welcome aboard Keith!

As you may already know, our Volunteers in Police Service Program is off to a great start. At the present time we now have 9 volunteers assigned to the VIPS unit. These volunteers are quality folks from right here in our community, who realized that they had something to offer to their Police Department and to their community and have proudly joined our ranks. Beginning next week, I will introduce you to each one of our volunteers by featuring a brief biographical summary and photo so you will know them when you see them in your neighborhoods. Our volunteers perform a very valuable service to our agency and we truly appreciate their efforts. If you are interested in learning more about the VIPS program, contact our VIPS Director Dennis Noel, or VIPS Coordinator Vince Giacolone at 308-1213.

On Sunday, January 10, 2010, Patrol Officer Leann Robertson received information through Crimestoppers, that a wanted person was walking somewhere between Steeplechase Drive and the Lee’s Chicken restaurant in Rolla. Officer Robertson checked the area and located an individual matching the description of the suspect walking near the Forum area on Hauck Drive. Officer Robertson contacted the suspect who denied his true identity and provided identification of an attorney from Festus, Missouri. Sgt. Jeremy Martens and Cpl. Tim Mayfield arrived on the scene to assist Robertson and also provided a photo of the wanted suspect. The photo matched the suspect and he was placed under arrest and incarcerated in the Phelps County Jail. Investigation revealed that the false identification provided by the suspect was actually stolen from the victim’s vehicle in Festus, Missouri. Good job to Robertson, Martens and Mayfield in locating this wanted person and getting him off the streets of Rolla.

In closing, I want to remind you to check our Facebook site for upcoming events, top news stories and severe weather information. Also be sure to sign up to receive information first hand from out Rolla Police Department Twitter site.

Have a great week!

Chief Mark Kearse

St. Pat’s Day Parade set for March 13 in downtown Rolla

The annual St. Pat’s Day Parade, one of the oldest and most celebrated St. Pat’s Parades in the state of Missouri, will be held Saturday, March 13 at 11 a.m. on Pine Street in downtown Rolla.

One unusual aspect of the St. Pat’s Parade is that the surface of Pine Street is actually painted green beginning at 6:30 a.m. the day of the parade. The St. Pat’s Street Painting Event, sponsored by the St. Pat’s Board, includes the volunteer services of several students from Missouri S&T that apply the water-based green paint with large mops, and buckets so Pine Street properly painted green for the parade later that morning at 11 a.m.

St. Pat’s Court will arrive at the bandshell in the City’s Downtown Festival Park on Wednesday, March 10 at 12-noon. St. Pat’s Court Arrival begins at 11:15 a.m. at the south end of Pine Street where they will proceed through the downtown area to the bandshell at 12-noon.

The St. Pat’s Coronation and Knighting Ceremony will be held on Friday, March 12 at 9 p.m. in Leach Theatre, located in the Castleman Hall Performing Arts Center on the Missouri S&T Campus on 10th Street.

The 101st St. Pat’s Ball, sponsored by the Ladies of Coterie, will be held Saturday, March 13 at 6 p.m. in the St. Pat’s Ballroom at the Havener Center, located on the Missouri S&T Campus. The St. Pat’s Ball honors a great Rolla tradition with a delightful evening of dinner and dancing on the Missouri S&T Campus. To make your reservations to attend, visit http://www.thestpatsball.com.

The tradition of St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in Rolla for over a century. St. Patrick, the patron saint of engineers, marked his first Rolla celebration in 1908 on what was then the Missouri School of Mines campus. Engineers rallied around St. Pat and began what is now one of the most noted and oldest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the nation.

For more information regarding the St. Pat’s Parade and related events and festivities, please visit the St. Pat’s Board homepage online at http://stpats.mst.edu/Events.html.

Rolla Animal Shelters "Name the Ferrets Contest"

Download entry form here

The public is encouraged to participate in a “Name the Ferrets Contest” for the two beautiful ferrets that are the official mascots at the Rolla Animal Shelter located at 1915 Sharp Road in Rolla.

The two winners of the contest, which ends on Jan. 25, will receive a free gift certificate from Panera Bread in Rolla, and the bragging rights for naming the ferrets.

Anyone interested in participating in the contest can fill out an entry form at the Rolla Animal Shelter, or e-mail the proposed mascot names to Inge Wilson, Animal Control Manager, at iwilson@rollacity.org. Please include your name and contact information when submitting entries. Entry forms should be either dropped off or mailed to the Rolla Animal Shelter at 1915 Sharp Road, Rolla, MO 65401.

The winners of the contest will be notified shortly after the contest ends on Jan. 25. The Rolla Animal Control Division in the Rolla Police Department looks forward to your participation and winning entries. A special thanks goes to Panera Bread for providing the free gift certificates to the winners of this “Name the Ferrets Contest.”

2010 Census Jobs available

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting temporary, part-time census takers for the 2010 Census. These short-term jobs offer good pay, flexible hours, paid training, and reimbursement for authorized work-related expenses, such as mileage incurred while conducting census work. Best of all, census takers work right in their own communities.

Census taker jobs are excellent for people who want to work part-time, those who are between jobs, or just about anyone who wants to earn extra money while performing an important service for their community.

Hundreds of thousands are needed for temporary jobs

Conducting the census is a huge undertaking. Hundreds of thousands of census takers are needed nationwide to help locate households and conduct brief personal interviews with residents. Most positions require a valid driver's license and use of a vehicle. However, use of public transportation may be authorized in certain areas.

Your community is counting on you

Every 10 years, the Census Bureau takes a snapshot of our population, determining how many people reside within the nation's borders, who they are, and where they live. The results help determine your representation in government, as well as how federal funds are spent in your community on things like roads, parks, housing, schools, and public safety. As a census taker, you'll play a vital role in making sure that everyone is counted.

Bilingual speakers are encouraged to apply

All census takers must be able to speak English, but people who have bilingual skills are needed in communities where a large number of residents primarily speak other languages. If you have the appropriate language skills and cultural knowledge to communicate well in your community, we encourage you to apply.

Apply today by contacting your Local Census Office or by calling 1-866-861-2010 .

Attend January workshops on landscaping with MO plants

Landscape professionals and enthusiasts are invited to attend “Landscape Design with Missouri in Mind” from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Jan. 29 or 30 at the Rolla Technical Center, 500 Forum Drive. The Jan. 29 workshop is for landscaping professionals. The Jan. 30 workshop is for gardeners, homeowners and other landscaping enthusiasts.

Each workshop will provide practical in-depth information on landscaping with native plants to create beauty and to support biodiversity. The workshops will focus on landscape design techniques, plant selection, installation methods and maintenance practices.

“Landscape Design with Missouri in Mind” is sponsored by Grow Native! and Rolla Public Schools. Grow Native! is a cooperative program of the Missouri departments of Conservation and Agriculture to help protect and restore our state's biodiversity by increasing conservation awareness of native plants and their effective use.

Author Dave Tylka will open the workshops with his presentation, “Native Landscaping – A Natural Way to Spice up Life.” Tylka will use his book, “Native Landscaping for Wildlife and People,” as the foundation of his presentation. As part of their registration fee, workshop participants will receive copies of the MDC companion book, “Tried and True: Native Plants for Your Landscape.”

MDC Natural History Biologist Lee Hughes will present “Know the Lay of Your Land.” Amy Hamilton of Hamilton’s Native Outpost will present “Put Plants in the Right Place.” MDC Private Land Conservationist Sarah Egly will present “Reconstructing Prairie.” MDC Resource Forester Mike Fiaoni will present “Native Trees for Landscapes Large and Small.”

The workshops will end with a hands-on application session that creates landscape designs for sites at the Rolla Technical Center. Participants also have opportunities to win prizes and visit with exhibitors displaying and selling related products and services.

Seating is limited. Registration deadline is Jan. 15. The registration fee, which includes lunch, is $25 if received by Jan. 8 and $35 after.
To register, visit GrowNative.org. For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Agriculture at 866-466-8283, tammy.bruckerhoff@mda.mo.gov, or barbara.fairchild@mdc.mo.gov.

RPD staff to participate in Safety Fair Jan. 23 at AL West Nissan

AL West Chrysler in conjunction with Premier Security Consultants, is hosting a FREE Safety Fair as a part of their customer appreciation days on Saturday, Jan. 23 from 12-noon until 4 p.m. The event is open to the public and will be held at AL West Nissan, 2540 North Hwy 63, in Rolla, MO.

Premier Security Consultants will have booths covering the following topics: Safety While Traveling Alone/As a Family; Safety for the Single Female; Self Defense Mindset; Self Defense Options (OC spray, Taser, and others); and Legal Aspects of Self Defense/CCW.
AL West will have a booth where instruction is provided on how to change a tire as well as the opportunity to practice under the instruction of one of their mechanics.

The Missouri Highway Patrol will be present with their roll-over simulator, and Vince Giacolone, with the Rolla Police Department’s VIPS program, will be present to discuss VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service).

The instruction at the booths will start every 30 minutes beginning at noon and run approximately 20 minutes. Attendees are encouraged to visit as many booths as they wish.

Beginning at 1:30 p.m. the booths will be reconfigured to provide women and young ladies instruction in: Strikes; Escape From Grabs; Escape from Chokeholds and Ground Fighting. Once again these booths will run every 30 minutes until 3:30 p.m. allowing interested parties to be able to attend all four booths. It’s not mandatory to attend all booths, but the most benefit will be achieved by attending all four sessions. The day will conclude with demonstrations of OC in self-defense applications and a civilian TASER.

Premier Security is a family-run business composed of three full-time law enforcement officers with a combined 30 years of experience. Their lessons and techniques are based upon this combined experience and what they teach their families after seeing what works and doesn’t work in the real world.

For additional information, please contact David West at davidwestmail@gmail.com or (573) 467-0003 or Jeremy Martens at martens813@hotmail.com or at (573) 201-9775.

Public Works crews ready for season's first snowstorm

The snowstorm that hit the Rolla area this week was a gentle reminder that we all need to be prepared for possible hazardous weather conditions that affect both road and driving conditions for everyone.

Be assured that the City’s Public Works Director, Steve Hargis, and snow removal crews were well informed of the storm through Accuweather reports, and preparing their fleet of snow removal trucks and salt spreaders to clear the roads well in advance of the storm – working 24 hours a day to get the job done.

Although it’s always hard to predict how much snow the City will receive during any given snowstorm, the Public Works Department is none-the-less up to the challenge of clearing the snow from the City’s 100 miles of streets, municipal parking lots and the many City facilities located around town such as Rolla City Hall, the Rolla Police Department, the two Rolla Fire and Rescue Stations, The Centre, Rolla Recycling Center, Vehicle Maintenance, Sanitation, Rolla Animal Shelter, Street and Traffic buildings, etc.

The main thoroughfares throughout town such as 10th Street, Forum Drive, Pine Street, Salem Avenue, Soest Road, Pinetree, etc. are first roads to be plowed, followed by the many side streets throughout town. Please be patient and be assured that the street that you live on in the City will be plowed as soon as conceivably possible, and that the Street crew works 24 hours a day to ensure the snow is removed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

As we begin the first weeks of a new decade (2010) I thought it would also be appropriate to mention again that our community’s success is based on the power of everyone working together. One sure way we can all help to make this community stronger and enhance our quality of life is very simple. The year 2010 is a census year, and by filling out and mailing back your 2010 Census form, which will be mailed to every household in Rolla during the month of March, we can ensure our community reaches the 20,000 population mark that I think better represents our City’s true population levels. Furthermore, the information collected helps ensure that we get the resources that we need and deserve.

Every year, the federal government can allocate more than $300 billion to states and communities based, in part, on census data. What’s at stake for our community is the loss of $1,300 per year for every person not counted for the next 10 years. This means we could lose out on vital resources for our friends, neighbors and our family.

Census data also determines how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives.

With only 10 questions, the 2010 Census questionnaire is one of the shortest questionnaires in history and takes just 10 minutes to complete. Census questionnaires will be delivered or mailed to households via U.S. mail in March 2010. Our community has a lot riding on this and it’s up to each of us to do our part, so please fill out your census form on April 1 and mail it in.

Police Chief Chat - Mark Kearse

The Rolla Police Department welcomed in the new year with a bang! This past week was a busy mixture of high profile arrests, criminal prosecutions, severe weather and budget concerns. Before reporting on the new events of 2010, as promised, I will provide a few stats derived from our patrol division activities during our New Year’s Eve operation. For the 24 hour reporting period, the patrol division consisted of 3 shifts of 4 officers per shift on days and evenings, and 5 officers on midnight shift for a total of 13 officers patrolling. The results of those shift activities include 187 calls for service, 32 traffic stops and 2 accidents, netting 18 arrests including 3 arrests for driving while intoxicated. The stats show that out of the 32 driver’s stopped for various traffic violations during the period, 3 were impaired. These numbers show a tremendous effort from you the community, in drinking responsibly and not getting behind the wheel impaired. Thank you!

Last week officers from the Rolla Police Department received complaints from family members of an Illinois man, who threatened to come to the Rolla area to kill his estranged wife and other family members. According to family members the suspect also purportedly threatened to shoot law enforcement officers and even bomb the police department. We learned that the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department had received similar intelligence so we combined efforts with them, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Division of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms along with several Illinois law enforcement agencies. The investigation revolved around 47 year old Lowell D. Aughenbaugh of McCook, Illinois who was formerly from Rolla and alleged to have several weapons and ammunition at his disposal.

On Sunday morning, the Rolla Police Department received a call that Aughenbaugh had just stolen a vehicle from a family member in Rolla and fled the scene. After a concentrated search by several area officers, Senior Patrol Officer Ben Tinsley returned to the scene to contact witnesses and spotted Aughenbaugh and another male in the suspect vehicle. After a short pursuit and a brief standoff Aughenbaugh was arrested and charged with Making a Terrorist Threat with Reckless Disregard and Causing the Evacuation/Closing of a Building. Bond was set at $100,000.00. A multi-agency investigation led to the search of several properties in Aughenbaugh’s control and the seizure of nearly 100 weapons, over 300,000 rounds of ammunition and a number of items closely associated with the manufacture of explosive devices. This investigation is still on-going and of course the charges for which Mr. Aughenbaugh has been arrested, are merely accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Great job to all officers and agencies involved!

We also learned this week that 2 Phelps County men were sentenced on multiple federal charges stemming from an investigation that began in 2008. Douglas Braidlow age 50, of Doolittle, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana, and one count of conspiracy to tamper with a witness by attempted murder. Jimmy Seest age 49 of Rolla was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Great job to all law enforcement agencies involved in getting 2 more predators off the streets!

Senior Patrol Officer Tony Lauth, our Explorer Post coordinator, has asked me to announce that the Rolla Police Department Explorer Post 170 is now accepting new applicants to the program. The Explorer Post is a branch of Boy Scout Troop 170, but is open to both boys and girls age 15 -20, who are interested in basic law enforcement, education, character building and leadership. Police Explorers serve as a community relations effort between the police department and the youth in the community. Police Explorers assist the police department in many ways such as event security, crowd control, traffic control and other community service events. They also participate in neighborhood patrol, traffic enforcement and many other functions to better prepare them for future roles as productive and active citizens and community members. The program offers youth with the desire, to see first-hand many of the day to day operations of the police department. Many of our current police officers began their career as a Police Explorer. If you are interested in learning more about this program contact Senior Patrol Officer Tony Lauth at 308-1213.

In closing we would like to wish Telecommunicator Lori Thurman, great success in her new position with the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department. Lori has been an asset to the Central Communications Division where she served, and especially to the Rolla Police Department. We will miss her cheerful personality, quick wit, dedicated professionalism, and wish her the best in her new family. Good luck Lori, drop by anytime!

And finally, we now have over 580 fans/friends on our Facebook site and the number grows almost daily. Be sure to check out the site at: http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/pages/Rolla-MO/Rolla-Police-Department/213180800465?ref=nf for all the latest happenings, events, stories, photos and personalities that are taking place right here at your police department! And please be sure to visit our friends on Rolla Fire and Rescue’s new Facebook site. This site too is filled with interesting photos, events and safety info. Good job guys!


Have a great week!

2010 to be promising year for Rolla

If the momentum that has been generated in 2009 for our community with the City’s DREAM (Downtown Revitalization Economic Assistance Missouri) designation, Benton Square Development, Arts and Entertainment District and the implementation of the first phase of Rolla West is any indication of what 2010 is going to be like then the beginning of the next decade looks promising for Rolla.

Like most cities and communities throughout the state, Rolla and Phelps County both have had our share of challenges with the downturn in the national economy, and the effects it has had on sales tax revenues, employment and future job creation. But as you look around town, including the downtown area, and along Hwy. 63 North with the new businesses and restaurants that are coming in, and the existing businesses that are renovating, it is encouraging to see new growth and development.

If 2009 was a year of developing and maintaining momentum for the revitalization of the City’s downtown business district, implementation of the first phase of the multi-phase Rolla West project, and the establishment of a new Arts and Entertainment District, then 2010 may well be the year of partnerships and collaboration.

The City, more than every before, is forging strong and productive partnerships with Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce, Rolla Regional Economic Commission (RREC), Rolla Downtown Business Association, Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), Missouri Highway Commission and Missouri Department of Economic Development. And during challenging economic times, there is no better place to be than in collaboration and partnering with other institutions, organizations and agencies that will provide the resources, insight, ideas and leverage to make things happen that might not otherwise be possible.

We are truly blessed in this community to have one of the world’s leading technological and research universities (Missouri S&T), cutting edge, high tech industries such as Brewer Science, Inc. and Mo-Sci Corporation, two theatres (Ozark Actors Theatre and Leach Theatre), outstanding arts and culture, a state of the art, 63,000-square-foot recreation complex at The Centre, blue-ribbon schools, a regional hospital (Phelps County Regional Medical Center), outstanding health care facilities (St. John’s Clinic and The Bond Clinic), a vast park system with over 30 parks and 10 miles of pedestrian and bike trails, and some of the strongest and most active service clubs and community organizations in the country.

Now, just imagine when the new Benton Square Development is completed, a new Arts and Entertainment District formed, the revitalizations of the downtown business district accelerated through the DREAM Initiative, and the improvements implemented for the new Bryant Drive intersection at Kingshighway that will be one of the gateway entrances to the new Innovation Tech Park at Missouri S&T. The momentum is there, the collaborations and partnerships are in place, and the energy, innovation and commitment to move forward are there. We have much to look forward to in 2010.

In closing, I’d like to wish everyone a safe, memorable and peaceful New Year. Lets make 2010 the “10” that we know we can be together as a community. Happy New Year!