Police chief chat

Chief Chat
 
 
               On Tuesday, June 21, 2011,  the Rolla Street Crimes Unit searched a residence. During the search, heroin, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia were located and seized. On Wednesday June 22, 2011, I accompanied officers from the Patrol Division, the Street Crimes Unit, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and the South Central Drug Task Force on the execution of a search warrant for illegal drugs at a residence in Rolla. The residence was occupied by one adult and 4 children under the age of 11. The adult was secured and the children were kept on a sofa in the living room of the residence. During the search the children indicated that they were hungry so officers on the scene went into the kitchen and prepared pizza and punch for the children. The officers did what they could to keep the children’s minds off the task at hand and soon we could hear the children laughing as they began to poke fun at one of the plain clothes officers pants. Both the officers and the children thought the male plain clothes officer was wearing girls pants. I wish all of you could have witnessed how the children were quickly transformed from being scared and hungry to having food and a good time. We are not as bad as we are made out to be sometimes. The search produced meth, syringes and other meth products in the home.  As a result of the investigation, the adult from the residence was arrested and incarcerated at the Phelps County Jail. 
·                    This past week, the Rolla Police Department handled 772 calls for service. Of these calls there were: 21 arrests, 22 alarms, 19 accidents, 36 traffic complaints, 12 check the well being calls, 110 traffic stops, 32 disturbance calls (including domestics), 18 suspicious nature calls, 20 assists of other agency requests, 5 narcotics violations, 34 stealing complaints, 69 security checks, 6 intoxicated persons reports, 1 order of protection violation, 11 destructions of property, 50 animal control calls and 16 escorts. This call total is up 34 calls from last week. Yet another busy week!
 
            During this time of year, it seems that we are subject to an increased frequency of power outages. Sometimes this is due to storm activity in the area and sometimes it just occurs for no apparent reason. Either way, please do not call Central Dispatch to report your power outage. We can only refer you to Rolla Municipal Utilities. RMU does not need your call as they can tell on their grid when the power is out and will take appropriate action. Your calls to Central Dispatch or RMU serve no purpose. It is best to just rely on your emergency plan until the power is restored. This will prevent a huge influx of calls both to the Central Dispatch and to the Rolla Municipal Utilities and will free up personnel at each entity to do their particular duties.
 
            I would like to take this opportunity to wish former Central Dispatch telecommunicator Clint Capps my best as he prepares to begin a new career in law enforcement with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Clint has accepted a position with this great agency and will begin his academy training on July 1st, 2011. Clint has served as a member of our RPD family for nearly 2 ½ years, coming to us from Salem, Missouri. Clint was a great employee and will be missed by all as he seeks out new challenges. The MSHP is fortunate to have him on board.
            Just one week from today, we will kick off one of our busiest weekends of the year with the upcoming 4th of July celebration. As you know, the country will be celebrating Independence Day next weekend and the Rolla community will follow suit. Traditionally part of the celebration involves the use of fireworks over this period. If you and your family decide to take part in this activity please use caution and a little bit of common sense. Parents should monitor all fireworks use and be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions when discharging the product. City ordinance under Section 14-2 of the Rolla City Code states that any individual or organization may discharge fireworks, without a permit, from July 1 to July 5 only! The discharge of fireworks during any other day of the year is prohibited. Please also remember that fireworks may not be discharged between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m., and no fireworks shall be discharged within 50 feet of any stand, booth, or other location where fireworks are being sold. It is also unlawful for anyone to discharge fireworks in City parks any day throughout the year (Section 31-1, Rolla City Code).

            Another 4th of July tradition is the annual Lion’s Club Carnival. This carnival has become one of the premiere carnivals in the area and is attended each year by thousands of participants who enjoy the rides, games and of course the outstanding fireworks display that seems to get better each year. This year the 76th Annual Rolla Lions Club Carnival will be held Friday, July 1 through Monday, July 4. The Rolla Police Department and Rolla Fire and Rescue will be on site with the Homeland Security Mobile Command Post that will be used to provide dispatch services in the event of an injury or mishap at the park. Central Communications telecommunicators will be utilizing the on-board dispatching system to relay information back to the 9-1-1 Center. We will also have officers patrolling the site so if you need assistance or need to report unsafe activity, please contact them. And please remember that traffic congestion in the area is extremely high during the carnival and motorists need use caution when traveling in or near the Lion’s Club Park. The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department will be assisting our patrol division with traffic control.
 
Have a great week!           
 
Chief Mark Kearse

Rolla Downtown Historic Walking Tour Plaques

You can download a copy of all the Rolla downtown walking tour historic plaques in PDF format. The file is rather large (just over 8 megabytes in size) so its probably best if you right click on the following link and then select "Save as" or "Save file as..." and then save it to your computer before viewing the file.  

Download Rolla historic walking tour plaques HERE

You'll need the free Adobe PDF reader which you can download HERE.

Historic Walking Tour of Rolla photo exhibit on display at City Hall

The Historic Walking Tour of Rolla photographic exhibit that was part of the Rolla Sesquicentennial Celebration on June 4, is now on permanent display at Rolla City Hall, and open to the public.

The new exhibit includes 37 Historic Walking Tour of Rolla plaque replicas that are displayed along the stairway and the first and second floor lobbies of Rolla City Hall (901 N. Elm Street). The exhibit, created by Anne McClay, Project Coordinator in the City’s Engineering Division, will be available to the public to view anytime during normal business hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The exhibit will also be available for any school groups, historical societies or organizations who may be interested in viewing the exhibit and learning more about the rich history of Rolla and Phelps County.

The idea for the historic walking tour began as a joint project in 2008 among members of the Public Works Department, the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce, Phelps County Historical Society, Missouri S&T Historical Archives Department, and other interested citizens. The purpose of the project was to create a series of historical photos that would showcase Rolla’s rich history and heritage through a unique photographic exhibit that is accessible to the public.

The majority of the text and copy for the inscriptions on the signs, as well as the vintage black and white photographs, were generously provided by author and Rolla historian John F. Bradbury, Jr. who wrote “Rolla – The Old Town.” Mark Stauter, who like Bradbury is a long-time member of the Phelps County Historical Society, also provided valuable guidance, input and assistance.

If your school, club, businesses or civic group would like to schedule a group tour of the historic walking tour photographic exhibit, or take a tour of Rolla City Hall, please contact Scott Grahl, Communications Officer, at 426-6943 or at sgrahl@rollacity.org. 

You can download a PDF copy of all the plaques here.

  

Lions Club Carnival yet another Rolla tradition to be celebrated

   The Rolla Sesquicentennial Celebration and Route 66 Summerfest on June 4, 2011 gave us all plenty to celebrate, but summer just wouldn’t be summer in Rolla if it wasn’t for the annual Lions Club Carnival, which kicks off in just 13 days on Friday, July 1.

   Now in its 76^th season, it is among the most highly celebrated traditions and events in Rolla and South Central Missouri. It’s hard to believe from an historic perspective that the Rolla Lions Club’s 20^th Annual Carnival was moved from Buehler Park (located at Kingshighway and Fairgrounds Road) to Lions Club Park on Bishop Highway in July 1955. The enduring legacy of the carnival is evident by not only its duration, but the tens of thousands who attend the 4-day carnival.

   Set among the backdrop of scenic Lions Club Park, the carnival attracts generations of families, friends and neighbors, as well as thousands of visitors around the region who enjoy the sights, sounds, aromas, fun and fireworks that make the Lions Club Carnival an American and hometown experience. The carnival will be in full swing at Lions Club Park located at 1061 South Bishop Avenue (State Route 63 South) from July 1 through July 4 with carnival rides, game booths, great-tasting carnival food and free fireworks the evening of July 2 and July 4. Always one of the featured highlights of the Carnival, prize drawings will be held nightly culminating with the coveted drawing for a new 2011 Ford Mustang at midnight on July 4. And perhaps, best of all, the proceeds from the Carnival benefit the Rolla Lions Club Park, including vision and hearing programs, area youth activities and scholarships for local students.

  To list all of the members of the Rolla Lions Club and Rolla Lioness members, and their family and friends who volunteer to host the carnival every year would be a near impossibility. Suffice it to say it would be a tall order to describe another event in our community that provides so much fun, entertainment and memories for such a good cause, for so many folks, at such an affordable price. So please plan to attend the 76^th annual Lions Club Carnival, show your support for this great and wonderful park, and have a great time doing it. For a complete list of happenings at the carnival, you can also visit www.rollalions.org/~lions/carnival.

   With the July 4^th holiday just around the corner I would be remiss to not remind residents and visitors to please exercise extreme caution if you discharge fireworks. July 4^th and fireworks may seem like they go together like apple pie and ice cream, but in reality the only time an individual or organization may discharge fireworks in Rolla, without a permit is from July 1 to July 5 (per Section 14-2 of the Rolla City Code). The discharge of fireworks during any other day of the year is prohibited. Please also remember that fireworks may not be discharged between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m., and no fireworks shall be discharged within 50 feet of any stand, booth, or other location where fireworks are being sold. The discharge of fireworks in any City park any day throughout the year is also prohibited. Parks and Recreation Director Ken Kwantes and his staff will once again post signs in City parks to alert the public. Please remember, that fireworks are considered dangerous explosives that can inflict injury and even death.

   The warmer than usual temperatures we experienced lately certainly remind us all that we live in Missouri, but fortunately there’s plenty of opportunity to cool off this summer at SplashZone – Rolla’s refreshing outdoor water park. Located in beautiful Ber Juan Park at 14^th and Holloway Streets, this fun-filled water park will remain open throughout the summer months Monday through Friday (noon-7 p.m.) and Saturday and Sunday (noon-6 p.m.). I’d like to also mention that Monday, July 4^th is “Independence Dollar Day” at SplashZone – and admission is only $1. Be sure to bring lots of sunscreen whenever you’re spending time outdoors – especially between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information, please call 364-8222 or 341-2FUN.

   The Rolla Public Library Summer Reading Program is still open for registration, and continues to be a popular way to spend time over the summer, as children up to age 12 travel around the world, learning about different people, places and cultures through stories, activities and crafts. The Summer Reading Program is held in the Leola Millar Children's Addition on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. through July 28, and is free of charge. For more information, please call 573-364-2604 or stop by the Rolla Public Library at 900 North Pine Street. Stay safe, and enjoy the weekend!

Independence Dollar Day at SplashZone is summer bargain

   The warmer than usual temperatures we experienced lately certainly remind us all that we live in Missouri, but fortunately there’s plenty of opportunity to cool off this summer at SplashZone – Rolla’s refreshing outdoor water park.

   Located in beautiful Ber Juan Park at 14^th and Holloway Streets, this fun-filled water park will remain open throughout the summer months Monday through Friday (noon-7 p.m.) and Saturday and Sunday (noon-6 p.m.). Please also mark your calendars for Monday, July 4, which is “Independence Dollar Day” at SplashZone – and admission is only $1.

   Be sure to bring lots of sunscreen whenever you’re spending time outdoors – especially between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information, please call 364-8222 or 341-2FUN.

  

Home Repair Grant program offered to Rolla residents

   The City of Rolla’s Community Development Department is pleased to announce a unique Home Repair Grant program being offered to qualified Rolla homeowners to make up to $20,000 in repairs and improvements to their homes in areas such as furnace, air conditioning, weatherization improvements, roofing, electrical, ADA accessibility improvements and flooring.

   The Meramec Community Enhancement Corporation’s (MCEC), that works in partnership with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission, has been awarded a grant for housing renovation projects in the region by the Missouri Housing Development Corporation. Since Rolla is a D.R.E.A.M. (Downtown Revitalization Economic Assistance Missouri) community, $150,000 has been set aside to improve housing within the city limits of Rolla.

   “Recipients of this grant program must reside in the residence where the home repairs are being completed for a period of five years to avoid having to repay the grant awarded,” said John Petersen, the City’s Director of Community Development. “If this condition is met, reimbursement of the grant monies will not be required by the homeowner.” Petersen added that we are thrilled to offer this unique opportunity to Rolla residents and look forward to seeing the grant funds disbursed to qualified Rolla residents in the future.  

   To qualify for this program, the applicant’s home must be a single residence, owner-occupied, and located within the Rolla city limits. Up to $20,000 can be used per home for improvements. In addition, property taxes must be paid, and current property insurance is required.

   Homeowners interested in this grant program can make no more than the income requirements stated in the grant application that is available on request with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission. For more information or to request an application, please contact Maria Kardon, Community Development Specialist with MRPC, at 573-265-2993 or at mkardon@meramecregion.org. 

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Volunteers needed for Habitat for Humanity Blitz Build June 25

   Habitat for Humanity of Phelps County is inviting community members to participate in a Blitz Build on Saturday June 25, 2011.  During the blitz volunteers build up the house from a foundation by helping to put up the framing and complete the exterior of the home.  This is the Phelps County affiliates eighth build since its founding in 1996.

   The event will be held in Rolla at the Habitat property on Maple Wood Drive.  It will begin at 8a.m. and run until 4p.m.  Two shifts of volunteers are needed.  The first shift will be from 8a.m. to noon, and the second shift will begin at noon and conclude at 4p.m.

   All those interested in volunteering should contact Habitat of Humanity of Phelps County by phone at (573) 368-5110.  Please leave your name and phone number, and the Dan, our blitz volunteer coordinator, will contact you with more details.  Everyone is welcome!

   To stay aware of the latest happenings with Habitat for Humanity of Rolla, “like” our page on facebook

Directions from 63 N

Travel South on Hwy 63 towards Lions Club Park

Turn right onto Cottonwood Drive (located by Keysport)

Take the 1^st left onto Maplewood Drive

Directions from 63 S

Travel North on Hwy 63 towards Lions Club Park

Turn left onto Cottonwood Drive (located by Keysport)

Take the 1^st left onto Maplewood Drive

Ozark Actors Theatre opens 24th Season with Lend Me a Tenor

   Ozark Actors Theatre will present Ken Ludwig’s hilarious farce LEND ME A TENOR starting Thursday, June 16 and running through June 26, at the Cedar Street Playhouse, 701 North Cedar, Rolla, MO 65401.

   Critics call this zany comedy “uproarious”, “hysterical”, and “screamingly funny”, and Ozark Actors Theatre has assembled a madcap cast from New York, Florida, Indiana, and St. Louis, as well as Rolla, St. James, Steelville, and Cuba. 

   Producing Artistic Director Jason Cannon, who also directs LEND ME A TENOR, says of the play, “It’s simply one of the funniest scripts ever written.  It is perfectly constructed to deliver more laughs in two hours than you would think possible.”

   LEND ME A TENOR is generously sponsored by Brewer Science, and runs June 16-26:  Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays at 2pm and 8pm, Saturday the 18^th at 8pm, Saturday the 25^th at 2pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm.  Tickets can be purchased at www.ozarkactorstheatre.org or by calling (573) 364-9523.

   Ozark Actors Theatre is one of only two professional theatres in out-state Missouri, and operates under a contract with Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage manager in the United States.  Now in its 24^th season, Ozark Actors Theatre has a long history of presenting outstanding live theatre to south central Missouri.

   Ozark Actors Theatre will continue its 24^th season with THE 25^th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE July 7-17, and THE CRUCIBLE July 28-August 7.  More information about the entire season, the casts, and Ozark Actors Theatre can be found at www.ozarkactorstheatre.org.

2011 Hellbender Benton Square Criterium set for June 18

   The 2011 Hellbender Benton Square Criterium, a challenging, closed course located in the City of Rolla, will be held on Saturday, June 18 at 10 a.m. Benton Square is hosting the Criterium post-party with great eats, drinks, and live music – friends and family welcome!

   Registration for the Criterium, which will feature a prize purse of over $4,100, is now open at www.go.stlbiking.com/2011-hellbender. For additional details, please see the Rolla Multisport Club webpage at www.rollamultisportclub.org.

   The race is being sponsored by the Rolla Multisport Club and Benton Square. For any further questions, please contact Race Director, Paul Joyner at 573-429-2272 (day or evening), or at joyner@fidnet.com.

   More info is also available on the event Website at www.rollamultisportclub.org.