Daily Digest

Rolla Daily Digest Sunday, July 05, 2026

Ty McDuffey

05 Jul 2026 — 1 min read

Ty's Take

The Fourth of July parade committee's already thinking eight months ahead, which either means they learned their lesson from last year's traffic snarl or they're just optimistic the way small-town folks tend to be when summer's still a ways off. Either way, it's worth noting—this is how Rolla keeps its calendar. The parade's the spine of the holiday here, the thing that draws families off the floats in from St. James and Newburg and the hollows south of town, the thing that makes us feel like we're still a place instead of just a collection of people living around a university. Start thinking about your entry now if you've got a business or a float idea, because by the time June rolls around, the route'll already be set and the town'll be moving.

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Phelps County Focus

SLIDESHOW: 2026 Fourth of July Freedom Parade

Rolla celebrated Independence Day Saturday with its annual Fourth of July Freedom Parade marching down Pine Street. The community event drew residents for the traditional holiday festivities.

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