Rolla Daily Digest Friday, July 03, 2026
Ty's Take
You don't have to go far south of town to find what the Ozarks looked like before we put our stamp on it—those remnant prairies tucked into the forest are living reminders, the kind of thing our grandparents would've walked past without thinking twice. The Sustainable Ozarks Partnership's work rediscovering and protecting those grasslands matters more than it might sound; it's the difference between keeping some wild character in this country or watching it fade into managed timber and subdivision plots. Around here we're used to thinking about what we're building next, what's coming down the pike, so there's something worth pausing for in folks who are thinking about what we ought to save. That's not nostalgia talking—it's recognizing that an engineering town, a resource town, a place built on what we can extract and improve, still needs to remember what was here first.
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Weather Alerts
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 3 at 10:41AM CDT until July 3 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
* WHAT...For the Extreme Heat Warning today, dangerously hot conditions with peak heat index values up to near 110 degrees. For the Heat Advisory tomorrow, heat index values peak up to around 105 degrees. * WHERE...All of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missour...
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 3 at 10:41AM CDT until July 4 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Paducah KY
* WHAT...For the Extreme Heat Warning today, dangerously hot conditions with peak heat index values up to near 110 degrees. For the Heat Advisory tomorrow, heat index values peak up to around 105 degrees. * WHERE...All of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missour...
Phelps County Focus
SUSTAINABLE OZARKS PARTNERSHIP
The Sustainable Ozarks Partnership is hosting its annual meeting on August 12 at The ARK in Waynesville, featuring speakers including Governor Mike Kehoe, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, and military leaders discussing Fort Leonard Wood's role in national defense. The free, public event...
Rediscovering Rolla’s remnant prairies and grasslands
Rolla's landscape has transformed dramatically since its founding, evolving from farms and railroads to modern neighborhoods and highways. Local historians and conservationists are working to document and preserve the city's remaining native prairies and grasslands before they disappear entirely.
No changes in trash pick-up, but office closed
The City of Rolla Environmental Services Department office will close Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day, but trash collection will continue on its regular schedule. Residents can contact the department at 364-6693 or visit rollacity.org for holiday schedules.
Rolla City Council directed staff to investigate ways to prevent data centers from locating in the city, citing concerns about environmental and public health impacts raised by resident and former councilwoman Jody Eberly. The move comes as Governor Mike Kehoe promotes data centers as Missouri's...
The Ozark Patriots Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution will host a public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8 at the Phelps County Courthouse steps, mirroring the historical tradition when news of independence spread to communities days after July 4. The 5 p.m. event is...
Rolla Girlies creating positive connections for local woman
A local group called Rolla Girlies is helping combat the growing loneliness epidemic among adults by creating meaningful community connections. The initiative brings women together to build friendships and support networks in an era when digital algorithms often replace face-to-face relationships.
Five dead, two injured, due to suspected carbon monoxide
Five people died and two were injured in a suspected carbon monoxide incident at a residential duplex east of Rolla on June 19, with emergency responders from multiple agencies working through the morning. The ongoing investigation involves state police and coroners' offices as authorities work to...
The Phelps County area experienced mild June weather in the upper 70s with low humidity and light winds, with a 20 percent chance of showers expected through the weekend. Rainfall and thunderstorms are forecast for Sunday with highs near 82 degrees.
New book shares enduring wisdom of former Rolla coach Jon Clark
A new book titled "The Parts That Stay" honors the legacy of Jon Clark, a beloved former Rolla basketball coach and math teacher who defied a dire brain cancer prognosis by living more than 20 years beyond doctors' predictions. His daughter Jenna, now also a basketball coach, and co-author Arjun...
Gloria Walker, 90, of Rolla, passed away June 10 with funeral services scheduled for 11 a.m. June 27 at Rolla Church of Christ. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m.
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